Acute & Emergency
51 MCQsAnaphylaxis · Electrolytes · Poisoning · Resuscitation · Shock & Sepsis · Trauma
GMC UK · 286 practice MCQs
PLAB 1 practice questions and mock papers
PLAB 1 is the GMC's written test for international medical graduates who want to work in the UK. Mashq has single-best-answer questions based on current UK practice and a complete 180-question, 3-hour paper at the real pace of one minute per question.
PLAB 1 paper pattern
| Conducted by | General Medical Council (GMC), UK |
|---|---|
| Questions | 180 single-best-answer questions, 5 options each |
| Time | 3 hours |
| Content | Aligned to the UK MLA content map and UK practice (NICE, BNF, GMC guidance) |
| Centres in Pakistan | Islamabad and Karachi |
| Fee | £283 (bookings from 1 April 2026) |
Based on the latest official notices we could check (2026). Rules can change each session, so always confirm with the official notice before your exam.
Subjects and chapters on Mashq
Practise any subject, or tap a single chapter in the app.
Medicine
80 MCQsCardiology · Dermatology · Endocrinology · Gastroenterology · Haematology · Infectious Disease · Neurology · Renal · Respiratory · Rheumatology
Paediatrics & O&G
46 MCQsGynaecology · Obstetrics · Paediatrics
Surgery
38 MCQsENT & Ophthalmology · General Surgery · Hepatobiliary · Orthopaedics · Urology
Psychiatry
35 MCQsAnxiety · Medication Monitoring · Mood Disorders · Psychosis · Substance Misuse
Ethics & Law
36 MCQsCapacity · Consent & Confidentiality · Death & Certification · Professionalism · Safeguarding
Try three sample questions
Acute & Emergency · Electrolytes
A 44-year-old woman had a total thyroidectomy yesterday. She has tingling around her mouth and spasm of her hands when the BP cuff is inflated. Adjusted calcium is 1.68 mmol/L and QTc is 510 ms. What is the most appropriate immediate treatment?
AIV 10% calcium gluconate over 10 minutes with ECG monitoring
BOral calcium carbonate with alfacalcidol, then recheck in 24 hours
CRebreathing into a paper bag to correct alkalosis
DIV magnesium sulfate over 20 minutes
EIV 0.9% sodium chloride 1 L over 1 hour
Show answer
A. IV 10% calcium gluconate over 10 minutes with ECG monitoring: Symptomatic hypocalcaemia with a prolonged QT after parathyroid damage needs IV calcium gluconate given slowly with cardiac monitoring, followed by an infusion. Oral calcium and alfacalcidol are started too but act too slowly for tetany. Trousseau sign here is from low calcium, not hyperventilation.
Medicine · Dermatology
A 38-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis knocked her shin 2 weeks ago. A small pustule appeared and has become a very painful 4 cm ulcer with a ragged, purple, undermined edge. It got bigger after a nurse tried to debride it. Wound swabs grow only skin commensals and 7 days of oral flucloxacillin did not help. What is the most likely diagnosis?
AErythema nodosum
BEcthyma
CVenous leg ulcer
DPyoderma gangrenosum
ENecrotising fasciitis
Show answer
D. Pyoderma gangrenosum: A rapidly enlarging painful ulcer with a violaceous undermined edge, worsening after minor trauma or debridement (pathergy), in a patient with inflammatory bowel disease is pyoderma gangrenosum. Erythema nodosum is also linked to IBD but causes tender nodules, not ulcers. Lack of response to antibiotics and sterile swabs argue against infection.
Paediatrics & O&G · Gynaecology
A 35-year-old woman has had no periods for 5 months, with hot flushes and vaginal dryness. Her periods were previously regular. A pregnancy test is negative. Serum FSH is 52 IU/L, and prolactin and TSH are normal. What is the most appropriate next step to confirm the diagnosis?
APelvic ultrasound for antral follicle count
BMeasure serum oestradiol and LH
CRepeat serum FSH in 4–6 weeks
DDiagnose ovarian insufficiency and start HRT now
EMeasure serum anti-Müllerian hormone
Show answer
C. Repeat serum FSH in 4–6 weeks: NICE diagnoses premature ovarian insufficiency in women under 40 from menopausal symptoms with absent or infrequent periods plus a raised FSH on two samples taken 4–6 weeks apart. One raised FSH is not enough, because levels fluctuate in this age group. AMH and ultrasound are not used to make the diagnosis.
PLAB 1 questions answered
What is the PLAB 1 format?
180 single-best-answer questions in 3 hours. Each question is a short clinical scenario with five options and one best answer.
Can I take PLAB 1 in Pakistan?
Yes, PLAB 1 has test centres in Islamabad and Karachi. The GMC has said the February 2027 sitting will run only in UK and EU locations, so check dates in your GMC Online account.
Are Mashq's PLAB answers based on UK guidelines?
Yes. Questions follow current UK practice, including the February 2026 NICE update for type 2 diabetes. They are for exam practice only, not clinical advice.
Is Mashq's PLAB practice free?
Yes, during the launch beta, with no sign-up.
Start your PLAB 1 practice now.
Free during the launch beta. No sign-up.