1,178+ PLAB 1 SBA questions — each with a full clinical explanation covering diagnosis, investigations, UK management guidelines, and NICE summaries. The fastest way to build the reasoning skills that pass PLAB 1.
No credit card required · 10 free questions with full explanations
Most question banks give you a one-line answer. Ours give you the full clinical picture — the reasoning you need to pass PLAB 1 on your first attempt.
Every PLAB 1 question explanation covers the diagnostic reasoning — why the correct answer is right and why each distractor is wrong.
Understand which investigations to order and why. Each explanation covers the evidence base for first-line investigations in the UK.
Explanations reference NICE guidelines by name (e.g. NG28, CG185), so you learn the evidence-based UK management approach for every condition.
After each correct answer, 3 concise bullet points summarise the relevant NICE guideline — the fastest way to learn UK clinical management.
Questions you explain incorrectly are surfaced more frequently. Explanations are shown each time, reinforcing clinical reasoning over time.
Every PLAB 1 question with explanation is mapped to a specific GMC Content Map condition — ensuring complete coverage of the exam blueprint.
A 58-year-old man presents with a 3-month history of progressive exertional dyspnoea and a dry cough. He is a non-smoker. Chest X-ray shows bilateral basal reticular shadowing. Spirometry shows FVC 62% predicted, FEV1/FVC ratio 0.82. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most likely diagnosis. The combination of progressive exertional dyspnoea, dry cough, bilateral basal reticular shadowing on CXR, and a restrictive pattern on spirometry (reduced FVC with preserved or elevated FEV1/FVC ratio) is classic for IPF. The patient is male, over 50, and a non-smoker — the typical demographic. COPD would show an obstructive pattern (FEV1/FVC <0.7). Cardiac failure typically causes bilateral basal crackles with cardiomegaly and pleural effusions. Sarcoidosis more commonly affects the upper lobes. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis requires an exposure history.
NICE Guideline Summary (NG163)
PLAB 1 tests reasoning, not recall
The exam presents novel clinical scenarios. You need to understand the underlying principles — not just memorise answers. Explanations build the transferable reasoning skills that work on any question.
UK guidelines differ from international practice
PLAB 1 tests UK-specific management. Explanations that reference NICE guidelines by name (e.g. NG28, CG185) help IMGs learn the UK approach, which often differs from their home country's guidelines.
Explanations accelerate learning
Research shows that retrieval practice with feedback is the most effective learning technique. Attempting a question and then reading a full explanation creates stronger memories than passive reading.
"The explanations on this platform are the best I've found. They don't just tell you the answer — they explain the clinical reasoning step by step. I passed PLAB 1 first time."
Dr A. Khan
IMG from Pakistan · Passed PLAB 1
Simply memorising correct answers is not enough for PLAB 1. The exam tests clinical reasoning — you need to understand why an answer is correct, not just which letter to choose. Detailed explanations covering diagnosis, investigations, and management help you apply knowledge to novel presentations you have not seen before.
Every explanation covers: (1) why the correct answer is right, (2) why each incorrect option is wrong, (3) the relevant NICE guideline or clinical guideline, and (4) key investigations and management steps. NICE Guideline Summaries provide 3 concise bullet points from the official guidance after each correct answer.
The platform contains 1,178+ PLAB 1 questions, each with a full explanation. Every question is mapped to one of the 430 conditions and 217 patient presentations in the GMC UKMLA Content Map, ensuring complete exam coverage.
Yes. All questions and explanations are written and reviewed by UK-trained doctors who have passed PLAB 1 and the UKMLA. Explanations are based on current NICE guidelines and UK clinical practice.
Yes. You can attempt up to 10 PLAB 1 questions with full explanations for free — no credit card required. This gives you a genuine feel for the explanation quality before subscribing.