Every cardiology condition in the GMC Content Map is covered with dedicated SBA questions and full clinical explanations.
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
STEMI vs NSTEMI vs unstable angina. Troponin interpretation, ECG changes, NICE NG185 management pathway.
Heart Failure
Systolic vs diastolic failure. BNP, echocardiography, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, NICE NG106.
Atrial Fibrillation
Rate vs rhythm control, CHA₂DS₂-VASc scoring, anticoagulation, cardioversion, NICE NG196.
Hypertension
ABCD rule, first-line antihypertensives by age and ethnicity, target BP, NICE NG136.
Aortic Stenosis
Murmur characteristics, symptom triad, echocardiography, valve replacement indications.
Infective Endocarditis
Duke criteria, blood cultures, empirical antibiotics, prophylaxis guidance, NICE NG100.
Pericarditis & Pericardial Effusion
Saddle-shaped ST elevation, friction rub, Beck's triad, pericardiocentesis indications.
ECG Interpretation
Rate, rhythm, axis, P waves, PR interval, QRS morphology, ST changes, T wave abnormalities.
Bradyarrhythmias
Heart blocks (1st, 2nd, 3rd degree), sick sinus syndrome, pacing indications.
Tachyarrhythmias
SVT, VT, VF, WPW syndrome, DC cardioversion vs pharmacological management.
Peripheral Arterial Disease
ABPI, Fontaine classification, intermittent claudication, critical limb ischaemia, management.
Deep Vein Thrombosis & PE
Wells score, D-dimer, CTPA, anticoagulation, thrombolysis indications, NICE NG158.
Every cardiology question explanation references the relevant NICE guideline. Here are the four most important ones.
Dual antiplatelet therapy, early invasive strategy for NSTEMI, primary PCI for STEMI
ACE inhibitor + beta-blocker first-line, loop diuretics for fluid overload, CRT indications
Rate control first-line, CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥2 (men) or ≥3 (women) → anticoagulate
Step 1: ACE-i/ARB (under 55) or CCB (over 55/Afro-Caribbean). Target <140/90 mmHg
Start with the highest-yield conditions
ACS, heart failure, AF, and hypertension account for the majority of PLAB 1 cardiology questions. Master these four conditions first before moving to less common presentations.
Learn the NICE management pathways
PLAB 1 tests UK-specific management. For each condition, learn the first-line treatment, when to escalate, and which investigations to order. NICE guideline summaries in our platform give you this in 3 bullet points per condition.
Practise ECG interpretation separately
ECG questions require pattern recognition. Practise reading ECGs systematically: rate → rhythm → axis → P waves → PR interval → QRS → ST/T changes. Aim to identify the 10 most common PLAB 1 ECG patterns.
Do topic-specific question blocks
Practise 20–30 cardiology questions in a single session before moving to the next specialty. This builds systematic knowledge and identifies gaps more efficiently than random question practice.
Review every explanation
Read the full explanation for every cardiology question — including those you answered correctly. Understanding why each distractor is wrong is as important as knowing the correct answer.
Cardiology is one of the highest-yield specialties in PLAB 1, typically accounting for 15–20% of the exam (approximately 27–36 questions out of 180). The GMC Content Map lists over 40 cardiology conditions that can appear in PLAB 1, including ACS, heart failure, arrhythmias, and valvular disease.
The highest-yield PLAB 1 cardiology topics are: acute coronary syndrome (STEMI/NSTEMI), heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, ECG interpretation, and infective endocarditis. These conditions appear in multiple PLAB 1 sittings and should be prioritised in your revision.
Yes. ECG interpretation is regularly tested in PLAB 1. You should be able to identify: STEMI (ST elevation, new LBBB), AF (irregularly irregular, no P waves), heart blocks (prolonged PR, dropped beats, complete dissociation), VT (broad complex tachycardia), and SVT (narrow complex tachycardia).
The most important NICE guidelines for PLAB 1 cardiology are: NG185 (ACS), NG106 (heart failure), NG196 (atrial fibrillation), NG136 (hypertension), and NG158 (VTE). You do not need to memorise guideline numbers, but you must know the first-line management recommendations.
The most effective approach is: (1) learn the key conditions from the GMC Content Map, (2) practise SBA questions by topic (not randomly) until you can consistently identify the correct management, (3) review NICE guideline summaries for each condition, and (4) practise ECG interpretation separately using a dedicated resource.