1. What is the UKMLA?
The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) is the standardised licensing examination introduced by the General Medical Council (GMC) for all doctors wishing to obtain GMC registration and practise medicine in the United Kingdom. It was introduced as part of the GMC's commitment to ensuring a consistent, high standard of clinical competence across all doctors entering the UK medical workforce, regardless of where they trained.
The UKMLA represents a significant change to the UK medical licensing landscape. Previously, UK medical graduates were assessed through their medical school finals examinations, while international medical graduates (IMGs) sat the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) examination. The UKMLA replaces both pathways with a single, standardised assessment that all candidates must pass.
The examination is designed to test whether a candidate has the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to practise safely as a foundation doctor in the UK. It is closely aligned with the GMC UKMLA Content Map, which provides a comprehensive syllabus of the clinical conditions and patient presentations that all candidates must be able to manage.
In brief: The UKMLA is the single standardised examination that all doctors — whether UK graduates or international medical graduates — must pass to obtain GMC registration and practise medicine in the UK.
2. Who Has to Sit the UKMLA?
The UKMLA must be passed by all doctors seeking GMC registration to practise in the UK. There are two main groups of candidates:
UK Medical Graduates
Medical students graduating from UK medical schools from 2024 onwards are required to pass the UKMLA as part of their path to GMC registration. The UKMLA AKT is typically sat in the final year of medical school, integrated into the medical school finals process.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
Doctors who qualified outside the UK and wish to obtain GMC registration must pass the UKMLA. The UKMLA AKT replaces PLAB Part 1 for IMGs. Candidates must also demonstrate English language proficiency (IELTS or OET) and pass the CPSA.
3. UKMLA vs PLAB — What Changed?
For international medical graduates, the UKMLA replaces the PLAB examination. Understanding the key differences helps candidates adapt their revision strategy accordingly.
| Feature | PLAB 1 (old) | UKMLA AKT (new) |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 180 SBA questions | 120 SBA questions |
| Duration | 3 hours | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Syllabus | GMC Good Medical Practice | GMC UKMLA Content Map (430 conditions, 217 presentations) |
| Who sits it | IMGs only | UK graduates and IMGs |
| Standardisation | Separate from UK finals | Single standardised assessment for all |
| Content map | Less prescriptive | Detailed, publicly available content map |
The most significant change for candidates is the introduction of the detailed GMC UKMLA Content Map. Unlike PLAB, which had a less prescriptive syllabus, the UKMLA provides candidates with a comprehensive, publicly available list of every condition and patient presentation that may be tested. This makes systematic revision considerably more straightforward.
4. The Two Components: AKT and CPSA
The UKMLA consists of two separate components, both of which must be passed to obtain GMC registration:
Applied Knowledge Test (AKT)
The AKT is a computer-based written examination consisting of 120 single best answer (SBA) questions sat over 2 hours 30 minutes. Questions are presented as clinical vignettes — patient scenarios with history, examination findings, and investigation results — requiring candidates to select the single best answer from five options.
The AKT tests clinical knowledge and reasoning across all specialties covered by the GMC UKMLA Content Map. It is the component that most candidates find most challenging to prepare for, as it requires comprehensive knowledge of 430 conditions and 217 patient presentations.
Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA)
The CPSA is an OSCE-style practical examination that tests clinical skills in a simulated clinical environment. Candidates rotate through a series of stations, each testing a different clinical skill — such as history taking, physical examination, communication, or practical procedures.
The CPSA is designed to assess whether candidates can apply their knowledge safely in a clinical setting, complementing the knowledge-based assessment of the AKT.
5. The GMC UKMLA Content Map
The GMC UKMLA Content Map is the official syllabus for the UKMLA AKT. It is a publicly available document that specifies every condition and patient presentation that may be tested in the examination. Understanding the content map is the foundation of effective UKMLA revision.
The content map is organised around 430 conditions and 217 patient presentations. Conditions are grouped by specialty and assigned a curriculum level (A, B, or C) indicating the depth of knowledge expected:
| Level | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Level A | Able to diagnose and initiate management independently as a foundation doctor |
| Level B | Able to diagnose and refer appropriately; understands principles of management |
| Level C | Aware of the condition; able to recognise and refer |
StethosUK maps every question to the relevant condition and curriculum level in the GMC Content Map, allowing candidates to track their coverage systematically and identify gaps in their knowledge before exam day.
6. How to Prepare for the UKMLA
Effective UKMLA preparation requires a systematic approach built around the GMC Content Map. The most important steps are:
Use the Content Map as your syllabus
Download the GMC UKMLA Content Map and use it to structure your revision. Every question in the AKT is drawn from this document.
Practise SBA questions as your primary revision tool
Active recall through SBA questions is far more effective than passive reading. Aim for 30–50 questions per day during your dedicated revision period.
Read every explanation — not just for questions you got wrong
The explanation for a question you answered correctly may contain additional clinical pearls. Pay particular attention to NICE guideline references.
Use spaced repetition
Review questions at increasing intervals as you become more confident. StethosUK's built-in spaced repetition system automates this process.
Sit timed mock exams
Full timed mock exams build stamina and time management skills. Analyse results by specialty to identify remaining weak areas.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
What does UKMLA stand for?▾
Who has to sit the UKMLA?▾
What replaced PLAB?▾
What is the difference between the UKMLA AKT and CPSA?▾
When was the UKMLA introduced?▾
Is the UKMLA harder than PLAB 1?▾
Ready to pass the UKMLA?
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