PLAB 2 exam: what it is and how it works
The PLAB 2 exam is the GMC's OSCE-style clinical and professional skills test for international medical graduates, made up of 16 stations of 8 minutes each. This page gives the facts and links to a page on each part. If you are new to the format, start with what an OSCE is.
Take a focused history.
Free · no sign-up · uses your one free station
Open the full station (charts, voice, result letter) →The exam at a glance
| Stations | 16 scenarios of 8 minutes each, plus at least 2 rest stations. About 3 hours in total. GMC |
|---|---|
| Time between stations | 1 minute 30 seconds to move to the next room and read the instructions. GMC |
| Domains marked | Three in every station: data gathering, technical and assessment skills; clinical management skills; interpersonal skills. GMC |
| Pass standard | A cut score is set for each station, and you must reach the overall total plus one standard error of measurement. You must also pass a minimum number of stations, which the GMC calculates for each exam and does not publish. GMC |
| Fee | 1,036 GBP from 1 April 2026 (998 GBP before that). GMC fees |
| Attempts | Four attempts. A fifth and final attempt is possible only after at least 12 months and extra clinical practice or a postgraduate clinical qualification. GMC |
| Centre | Two GMC Clinical Assessment Centre sites in Manchester. GMC |
| Eligibility | An acceptable overseas primary medical qualification and a valid PLAB 1 pass. You must pass PLAB 2 within two years of passing PLAB 1. GMC |
What the PLAB 2 exam tests
PLAB 2 checks the clinical and professional skills of a doctor about to start Foundation Year 2. The GMC bases its content on the Medical Licensing Assessment content map for exams from 17 May 2024. Drug names follow the latest BNF, and answers must follow published evidence rather than local practice.
Most stations use a simulated patient played by an actor. Others use a model, manikin or simulator, with a role player speaking through a microphone from outside the room. Some rooms hold telephone consultations, where the call is already connected and you must not touch the phone. See the PLAB 2 stations list for the types.
What happens on the day
An examiner watches in person, by phone or by remote camera, and rarely steps in. You state your name and GMC number at the start. The exam may be recorded. You may not bring books, devices or watches.
The GMC lists skills that can come up, including examination of the abdomen, chest, heart and joints, mental state examination, blood pressure, venepuncture, cannulation, drug dose calculation, injections, CPR, suturing, and reading an ECG or X-ray. Read PLAB 2 history taking and breaking bad news in PLAB 2 for two communication tasks.
Where to go next
- PLAB 2 fees: the fee, the dates it applies from and the cancellation rules.
- PLAB 2 pass rate: GMC candidate numbers by year.
- PLAB 2 mark scheme: how the three domains work.
- PLAB 2 mock test and PLAB 2 AI practice: ways to practise.
- UKMLA CPSA guide: how PLAB 2 differs from the UKMLA CPSA that UK medical students sit.
- PLAB 2 preparation: what other preparation costs.
You can try one station free with no sign-up, and the pricing page shows our plans. We are not affiliated with the GMC.
- PLAB 2 stations list: what you will meet
- PLAB 2 mock test: practise a station free
- PLAB 2 practice AI: an AI patient you can talk to
- PLAB 2 pass rate: GMC figures by year
- PLAB 2 fees: the cost in 2026
- UKMLA CPSA and PLAB 2: how they differ
- PLAB 2 history taking: an order that works
- Breaking bad news in PLAB 2: six steps
- PLAB 2 ethical scenarios: the principles
- PLAB 2 mark scheme: how stations are scored
- PLAB 2 preparation: time and courses online
40 original PLAB 2 practice stations
History taking
Examination
- Cardiovascular examination in a breathless man
- Respiratory examination in a woman with cough and fever
- Abdominal examination with a painful groin lump
- Neurological examination of the legs after back pain
- Examination of a swollen painful knee
- Thyroid examination in a woman with weight loss
- Examining a breast lump on a model
Mental health
Counselling & explanation
Breaking bad news
Ethics, consent & capacity
Acute management
Telephone consultation
Teaching
Common questions
How many stations are in PLAB 2?
The GMC says 16 scenarios of 8 minutes each, plus at least 2 rest stations, about 3 hours in total.
How long do you get between PLAB 2 stations?
You get 1 minute 30 seconds to move to the next room and read the instructions.
How much is the PLAB 2 exam?
1,036 GBP from 1 April 2026, according to an archived copy of the GMC fees table. It was 998 GBP before that.
How many times can you take PLAB 2?
Four times. A fifth and final attempt needs at least 12 months and either 12 months of clinical practice with direct patient care or a postgraduate clinical qualification.
Practise every day until it feels routine.
One pass opens every exam on the site, including the PLAB 2. From US$25 for 7 days, with no automatic renewal.
See passesSources
- GMC: What is the PLAB 2 exam
- GMC: What can you expect on the day
- GMC: Understanding your results
- GMC: Fees for doctors
- GMC: Are you eligible for an additional PLAB 2 attempt
- GMC: When and where can you take PLAB 2
Checked 2026-11-06. Fees and rules change, so confirm them with the regulator before you book.