PLAB 1 study planner
Your weeks, hours and confidence, turned into hours per area.
180 hours in all: 170 for the ten areas and 10 for two full practice exams with review.
| Area | Hours |
|---|---|
| Cardiorespiratory | 17 |
| Gastrointestinal | 17 |
| Endocrine, metabolic and clinical haematology | 17 |
| Child and adolescent health | 17 |
| Mental health | 17 |
| Musculoskeletal | 17 |
| Neurosciences and senses (including skin) | 17 |
| Renal and urology | 17 |
| Reproductive health | 17 |
| Ethics and other | 17 |
- Week 1 Cardiorespiratory
- Week 2 Cardiorespiratory, Gastrointestinal
- Week 3 Gastrointestinal, Endocrine and haematology
- Week 4 Endocrine and haematology, Child health
- Week 5 Child health, Mental health
- Week 6 Mental health, Musculoskeletal
- Week 7 Musculoskeletal, Neuro and senses
- Week 8 Neuro and senses, Renal and urology
- Week 9 Renal and urology, Reproductive health
- Week 10 Reproductive health, Ethics and other
- Week 11 Ethics and other
- Week 12 Full practice exams and review
Check your confidence first
The free 15-question diagnostic scores you in all ten areas.
Questions people ask
How should I split my PLAB 1 study time?
By weakness. The GMC publishes no weighting for its ten areas, so the planner starts them equal and gives more time where you feel weak.
How does the planner split the hours?
5 hours go to each full practice exam and its review (two from 40 hours, one from 20). The rest is shared by confidence: 1.5 for weak, 1 for fair, 0.6 for strong.