Free PLAB 1 / UKMLA AKT mock
One PLAB 1 / UKMLA AKT paper in the real exam format: 180 questions across one timed section, 3 hr on a server-controlled clock.
About the real exam PLAB 1 is the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) that international medical graduates sit as their route into the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) and GMC registration.
Free, reversible until you begin · one attempt per account · no retake, no card.
The paper, start to finish
180 question markers · +1 per correct answer, no negative marking
Navigation: move freely between questions within a section.
One attempt, explicitly
Adding this mock to your account is free and reversible - you can change the exam any time before you begin. Only the confirmed Begin action uses your one attempt. No retake, no reset, no card.
What you get back
You get your raw marks and per-section scores. No scaled score, band, rank or percentile is estimated for this paper.
- Scored out of 180 raw marks, with per-section totals.
- There is no negative marking anywhere in this paper.
How the real PLAB 1 / UKMLA AKT is reported
PLAB 1 is reported as Pass/Fail. There is no negative marking, so every question is worth attempting. The pass mark is not a fixed percentage: it is set for each sitting by modified Angoff standard-setting and has historically fallen around 110-118 out of 180 (roughly 60-65%). The real pass decision is made by the GMC after each sitting.
Context only - this free mock returns: You get your raw marks and per-section scores. No scaled score, band, rank or percentile is estimated for this paper.
The PLAB 1 / UKMLA AKT in four panels
The exam
PLAB 1 is the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) that international medical graduates sit as their route into the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) and GMC registration. It is a computer-based paper of 180 single-best-answer clinical MCQs answered in three hours, delivered at Pearson VUE centres in the UK and via the British Council internationally. From September 2026 every sitting is mapped to the GMC MLA content map -- the same blueprint UK medical students are assessed against -- covering the areas of clinical practice and professional knowledge, weighted toward common and important conditions, patient safety and prescribing. There is no negative marking; the pass mark is set for each sitting by standard-setting rather than a fixed percentage. PLAB 2 (the CPSA/OSCE) is a separate practical exam and is not covered here.
The format
Practice is organised into the GMC MLA areas of clinical practice: Acute & Emergency; Cancer; Cardiovascular; Child Health; Clinical Haematology; Dermatology; ENT & Eyes; Endocrine & Metabolic; Gastrointestinal & Liver; Infection; Medicine of the Older Adult; Mental Health; Musculoskeletal; Neurosciences; Obstetrics & Gynaecology; Renal & Urology; Respiratory; Sexual Health; and Surgery -- plus a cross-cutting Professional Knowledge area (ethics, law, prescribing and patient safety). Items are single-best-answer clinical vignettes with five options, anchored to current UK guidance. No images, audio or written-answer tasks -- PLAB 1 is entirely SBA MCQ.
The candidates
- International medical graduates (India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and beyond) seeking GMC registration to work in the UK.
- Doctors preparing for PLAB 1 as the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test route.
- Candidates rebuilding UK-specific knowledge (NICE, BNF, GMC guidance) before booking their sitting.
How people prepare for it
- Work through the common, high-yield areas first -- Acute & Emergency, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, GI and Child Health carry many marks.
- Drill first-action and single-best-next-step questions; PLAB 1 rewards prioritisation, not recall of rare facts.
- Cover the Professional Knowledge area (consent, capacity, confidentiality, safe prescribing) -- it is reliably tested and easy to under-prepare.
- Learn management to UK standards -- NICE pathways and BNF first-line drug choices differ from other countries' practice.
Figures about the real exam, as recorded in the Myndaq course. They describe the real sitting, not this free mock paper - check current details with the exam body before you book.
What it opens up
- A step toward GMC registration and eligibility to work as a doctor in the UK.
- Fluency with UK-standard management (NICE, BNF, Resuscitation Council UK, GMC Good Medical Practice).
Course context for the real PLAB 1 / UKMLA AKT.
How this mirrors the real format
- The paper structure is the real format: a single timed section, 180 questions in total.
- Timing is server-controlled for the full 3 hr -- closing the tab does not pause the clock, exactly like our paid mock series.
- Marking follows the published paper: the per-section marks shown in the paper map are the marks the scorer applies.
- Navigation is free within a section: you can review and change answers before you submit.
"Real format" means the paper shape, timing, marking and navigation above - not the official exam software, its visual identity, or any affiliation with the exam body.
What differs or is limited
- This free mock follows the same paper shape, timing, marking scheme and navigation as our paid PLAB 1 (GMC) mock series. It is scored automatically. It does not include tutor explanations, analysis dashboards or practice content.
Device and setup checklist
- A stable internet connection for the full duration.
- A laptop or desktop is recommended for the closest exam experience.