August 2025 PLAB & UKMLA Exam Update: Latest Questions, Key Changes, and Expert Insights
The August 2025 PLAB 1 exam, fully aligned with the MLA content map, continued to challenge candidates with a broad array of high‑yield clinical scenarios and some unexpected twists. Now a year since the PLAB blueprint transitioned to the MLA format (in August 2024) the exam is firmly anchored in up-to-date UK practice guidelines – meaning candidates must be prepared across all disciplines with the most current knowledge. The August test upheld the trend toward integrated, case-based questions and detailed ethical scenarios, underscoring the need for comprehensive and current preparation.
MedRevisions has once again responded swiftly, incorporating the latest August exam insights into our PLAB/UKMLA question bank preparation resources so you can stay ahead. Our team has promptly updated the question bank with new questions and explanations reflecting all the topics tested in the August 2025 exam, ensuring you’re always practicing with relevant, up-to-date material (New to MedRevisions? You can try out a selection of our questions for free to experience the Q-bank in action, or take a demo to preview our updated study notes!)
What’s New in the August 2025 Exam?
Broad Multidisciplinary Scenarios: The August exam featured intricate case-based questions spanning multiple specialities, requiring candidates to integrate knowledge across disciplines. You often had to synthesise information from various fields (e.g. paediatrics, neurology, and pharmacology within a single case to solve complex clinical problems. This reflects the exam’s continued emphasis on applied problem-solving rather than isolated fact recall.
Nuanced Answer Options: Many questions came with very closely related answer choices designed to test attention to detail and depth of understanding. Candidates frequently had to distinguish between look-alike conditions or treatments – for example, differentiating various causes of dysphagia or types of haematuria – based on subtle clues. This deliberate nuance ensured that only a mastery of core concepts would lead to the correct answer.
Core Knowledge Emphasised: In addition to advanced scenarios, the exam revisited fundamental topics in medicine. Basic science and anatomy made a noticeable appearance – for instance, knowledge of dermatomes and upper limb nerve anatomy was directly tested in clinical contexts. Similarly, key pediatric investigations (like the workup for UTIs and reflux in children) were highlighted. These questions served as a reminder that even foundational knowledge can be crucial for success.
Ethics and Guidelines in Play: As with recent PLAB sittings, several questions wove in professional ethics, communication skills, and current management guidelines. Candidates were expected to apply GMC ethical principles and the latest NICE recommendations within clinical scenarios. Whether it was handling a capacity assessment in a psychiatric patient with schizophrenia or choosing a management plan aligned with the newest malaria treatment guidelines, the exam reinforced the importance of staying current with UK medical standards.
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Newly Added Questions and Topics
In response to the August 2025 PLAB 1 exam, we’ve enriched our question bank and notes with brand-new questions and explanations covering the latest topics that appeared on the test. Our team has meticulously crafted questions on the following key areas from the exam:
Dermatology: Psoriasis
Endocrinology: Diabetic ketoacidosis, Corticosteroids
Gastroenterology: Dysphagia
Gynaecology: Ovarian tumours
Infectious Disease: Malaria
Nephrology: Alport syndrome, Haematuria, Bladder cancer
Neurology: Dermatomes
Obstetrics: Antepartum haemorrhage
Ophthalmology: Keratitis
Orthopaedics: Upper limb anatomy (two questions)
Paediatrics: Urinary tract infection in children, Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR), Autism spectrum disorder
Psychiatry: Schizophrenia
Surgery: Preparation for surgery
Each new question comes with a detailed explanation (and references where appropriate), so you’ll understand not only which answer is correct but why it’s correct – and why the other options are not. These additions keep our question bank fully aligned with what you’ll face on the PLAB 1 and UKMLA, ensuring you’re revising the exact topics and scenarios that current candidates are expected to know.
Study Essential Mode for PLAB/UKMLA exam: Efficient and Targeted Revision
Our updated Study Essential Mode lets you prepare efficiently by focusing on the highest-yield material first. This specialised mode filters our question bank to ~1800+ essential exam-style questions with accompanying explanations and updated notes, so you can cover all core PLAB 1/UKMLA topics in a fraction of the time. Once you’ve mastered these fundamental concepts, you can reinforce your knowledge by tackling the remaining 3000+ questions in our bank to ensure thorough coverage.
✅ Learn how to maximise your prep with Study Essential Mode – this game-changing feature is designed to help you grasp all essential topics needed to ace the exams.
Continuously Updated Study Notes: Your Perfect Revision Companion
Our continuously updated study notes are the ultimate companion to the question bank – perfect for both quick reviews and deep dives into tough topics. Here’s what makes MedRevisions’ notes stand out:
Always Current: We constantly update our notes to reflect the latest NHS and NICE guidelines, as well as any changes to the MLA content map. You’re always studying the most up-to-date recommendations and protocols. (In fact, we rolled out a major notes refresh in early 2025 to align with new guidelines across multiple subjects, and we’ve kept updating through August!)
Integrated Learning: Topics aren’t siloed in our materials. We thoughtfully group related conditions and concepts together, fostering an integrated understanding and helping you avoid common mix-ups. For example, our notes on pediatric UTIs are linked with vesicoureteric reflux and renal scarring, giving you the full picture of how these topics connect.
High-Yield Highlights: Crucial facts and “must-know” exam points are clearly highlighted throughout the notes. This lets you quickly identify the most important details for the exam – ideal for last-minute revision and boosting retention of key information.
Common Pitfalls Addressed: We call out frequently confused topics and clarify them in simple terms. Whether it’s distinguishing between different types of urinary incontinence or the nuances of corticosteroid side effects, our notes ensure you won’t fall for typical pitfalls that can cost marks.
Exam-Oriented Tips & Examples: Scattered through the notes you’ll find practical MCQ tips and even sample question snippets. These show you how examiners might test a concept (e.g. a short case of a patient with malaria symptoms, or an example PLAB question stem on antepartum haemorrhage) and teach you strategies to decode tricky questions effectively.
Differential Diagnoses Simplified: For overlapping conditions, our notes include side-by-side comparisons with key differences and specific clues to look for. These differential diagnosis tables strengthen your clinical reasoning – so when a question asks you to pick between, say, psoriasis vs. seborrheic dermatitis, you’ll confidently recall the distinguishing features and make the right choice.
With MedRevisions’ notes, you get a comprehensive yet concise resource that makes studying both efficient and effective. Every update we make to the notes has one goal in mind: helping you succeed on exam day by studying smarter, not harder.
Why Choose MedRevisions for PLAB & UKMLA?
When it comes to preparing for PLAB 1 or the UKMLA, MedRevisions offers an unparalleled suite of resources to boost your confidence and score. Here’s why thousands of candidates choose us:
Realistic Exam Simulation: Our question bank closely mirrors recent PLAB/UKMLA exams in style and difficulty. You’ll go into the exam feeling as if you’ve seen it all before, familiar with the question formats and level of complexity in each topic area.
Always Updated: Content is continuously aligned with the latest MLA content map and UK medical guidelines – we update promptly after each exam and after any guideline change. This means you’re always revising with relevant, up-to-date material, and never studying outdated advice or superseded protocols.
Proven Success: We have a strong track record of helping candidates excel in the PLAB and UKMLA exams on their first attempt. Our users’ successes are a testament to the effectiveness of our approach – and your success is our success.
5000+ Exam-Style Questions: Gain access to a vast question bank with over 5,000 exam-like MCQs, including all the newest August 2025 additions. Each question comes with a detailed explanation for every answer option, so you can learn from your mistakes and reinforce your understanding with each practice session.
30+ Full Mock Exams: Hone your exam technique with our library of full-length mock exams. We offer over 30 realistic mocks that simulate the actual PLAB 1, so you can practice under exam conditions. Even better, you can reset and retake these mocks as many times as you want – each attempt will bring a new mix of questions, giving you virtually endless practice and helping build your stamina for the real exam.
Study Essential Mode: Use our specialised high-yield Study Essential Mode to focus on the ~1,800 most essential questions first (as discussed above), then tackle the remaining questions for complete coverage. This feature helps you prioritize efficiently, solidifying core topics before moving on to more advanced or niche areas – a perfect antidote to feeling overwhelmed.
Tailored Study Notes: Our comprehensive notes cover all key PLAB 1/UKMLA topics with clear explanations and highlighted take-home points. They’re designed to complement the question bank and reinforce your knowledge, making your revision as efficient as possible. Every important guideline, investigation, and management point you need to know is distilled for quick understanding.
Spaced Repetition Tools: Retain what you learn with our built-in spaced repetition system. Important facts you’ve covered can be reviewed at optimal intervals to transfer them into your long-term memory. This science-backed technique means you’ll recall critical information more easily during the exam, even under pressure.
Together, these features provide a one-stop solution for your PLAB/UKMLA preparation – from up-to-date learning content to realistic practice questions and exams – all continuously updated to the latest standards. With MedRevisions, you can be confident that your study resources are 100% exam-focused and current.
Maximise Your Exam Preparation
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Unlock Complete Access: Ready for the full experience? Subscribe for full access to 5300+ exam-style questions, all 30+ mock exams, the complete notes library, and advanced revision tools – everything you need to boost your score and pass PLAB 1 and UKMLA with confidence.
Success Awaits
Don’t leave your future to chance – prepare confidently and strategically with MedRevisions. With the latest questions, updated notes, and expert-guided resources at your fingertips, you’ll be fully equipped to conquer the PLAB 1 and UKMLA exams!
