PLAB VaultSix weeks after the exam. The GMC publishes PLAB 1 results six weeks after each sitting, by 4pm, and emails you when they are ready. For example, the sitting on 20 February 2025 had its results due by 4pm on 3 April 2025. If results are delayed, the GMC says it will contact you directly.
Where you will find them
When your result is ready, the GMC emails you to explain how to view it in the My Tests section of GMC Online. It stays there afterwards, too, if you go on to gain registration.
The GMC does not give results by phone or at reception, so there is no point calling early. Watch your email and your GMC Online account.
What your result shows
Your PLAB 1 result shows:
- Your total score, which is the number of questions you answered correctly.
- The score needed to pass that sitting.
- The average score of all candidates.
- Feedback on how you did across ten clinical areas, such as cardiorespiratory, renal and urology, and reproductive health.
The area feedback is the most useful part if you need another attempt, because it shows where the work is. Read more in what is the PLAB 1 pass mark?
Your pass date is the day you sat
This catches people out. Your PLAB 1 pass date is the date you sat the exam, not the date the result came out. It matters because you have two years from your pass to pass PLAB 2. You cannot apply for PLAB 2 until your result has been issued, so the six-week wait comes out of that two-year window.
If you did not pass
You can rebook if you still meet all the requirements. You can keep sitting PLAB 1 until you have failed it four times. After that, one final attempt needs an application with evidence of 12 months of extra learning.
If you think something went wrong, the GMC's results page explains how to appeal a PLAB 1 result.
What to do while you wait
Six weeks is long enough to lose momentum. If you passed, the next step is PLAB 2, so use the wait to read about it and to plan the trip to Manchester. If you are unsure how it went, keep a light routine going: a few questions a day keeps the work warm without wearing you out.
Questions people ask
How long after PLAB 1 do results come out?
Six weeks after the exam, by 4pm.
How do I get my PLAB 1 result?
The GMC emails you, and you view the result in the My Tests section of GMC Online. It does not give results by phone or at reception.
Is my pass date the day I sat or the day results came out?
The day you sat the exam.
What should I do with my area feedback?
Use it to plan your next attempt, if you need one. The areas where you scored lowest are where your study time does the most good.