May 2025 NICE Guidelines Update: Key Changes for PLAB & UKMLA Exam Prep

May 5

Following the NICE/CKS guideline update, we have meticulously updated our PLAB/UKMLA study notes and question explanations to reflect the new NICE/CKS guidance. We’ve even added brand-new questions targeting these guideline changes so you can practice applying the updated recommendations in a question format before you encounter them in the real exam.

Updated Subjects Include:

COVID-19
Epilepsy
Smoking Cessation
UTI
AKI
Meningitis
Breast Cancer

We have completely revamped our notes and several key sections to help you master key concepts. Whether you need a quick review or in-depth study our updated notes offer the best of both worlds. Learn more about the updated note

Why Staying Current with Guidelines Matters

Medical licensing exams like PLAB 1 and the UKMLA are not static – they evolve with the medical field. Examiners expect candidates to be aware of contemporary clinical guidelines and to apply them in scenario-based questions. If a guideline changes, what was the “correct” answer last year might not be correct now. For example, treatment protocols for conditions like COVID-19 or epilepsy can shift when new evidence emerges or drug recommendations change. A PLAB question on managing COVID pneumonia or an AKI scenario in the UKMLA will be keyed to the latest recommended approach in the UK. This means that being even a few months out-of-date could lead you to choose an answer that NICE would no longer endorse.

Staying current is especially important now that the PLAB blueprint transitioned to the MLA content map in August 2024, unifying standards for UK graduates and IMGs. Essentially, the exam is designed around up-to-date UK practice guidelines. As a candidate, you are expected to know recent changes – whether it’s a new first-line medication in a NICE guideline or an updated screening recommendation. Recognising this, MedRevisions continuously updates its question banks and notes to mirror guideline changes. With our platform, you can be confident that you’re studying the latest recommended practices, not last year’s news.

In summary, keeping pace with guideline updates is not an extra task for exam prep – it’s a core part of being ready to answer questions accurately.

MedRevisions Keeps You Aligned with the Latest Guidelines

As you can see, staying on top of guideline changes can be a daunting task – but that’s exactly where MedRevisions shines. Our team monitors updates from NICE, CKS, and other authorities year-round and swiftly integrates relevant changes into our content. Following the May 2025 updates covered above, our editors have meticulously updated our PLAB/UKMLA study notes, revision notes, and question explanations to reflect the new NICE/CKS guidance. We’ve even added brand-new questions targeting these guideline changes. So you can practice applying the updated recommendations in a question format before you encounter them in the real exam.

Staying true to our mission of being the most current and dependable exam resource, MedRevisions constantly aligns its question bank with the latest MLA content map and UK medical guidelines. What does this mean for you? It means every time you log in, you can trust that the questions and notes are up-to-date with current practice. Studying with MedRevisions, you won’t inadvertently learn outdated dosing, or an obsolete diagnostic criterion – we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the key features that make MedRevisions an ideal partner in your exam preparation:

5000+ Exam-Style Questions, Always Updated: You’ll have access to thousands of PLAB Part 1/UKMLA questions that closely mirror the style and difficulty of recent exams. We continually update these questions to reflect new exam trends and guideline changes (even the Feb 2025 exam insights are incorporated!). This means you can stay ahead of the curve with practice that evolves alongside the exam itself.
Realistic Mock Exams: We offer 30+ full-length mock exams that simulate the real test conditions. Our system allows unlimited retakes, shuffling in new questions each time so no two mocks are identical. By practising under exam-like conditions and timing, your readiness and confidence will skyrocket. You’ll know exactly how it feels to sit for the real PLAB/UKMLA, and you’ll have data to track your scores and improvement.
Comprehensive, Updated Study Notes: MedRevisions provides an extensive library of study notes that cover high-yield topics in depth. These notes are constantly updated to include the latest NHS, NICE, and SIGN guidelines distilled into exam-relevant points. We highlight crucial changes (for example, new NICE recommendations will be flagged in the notes), and we organise content by clinical topics in an integrated way to aid understanding. You’ll also find special sections in our notes addressing common exam pitfalls, mnemonic tips, and even guidance on MCQ strategies– all tailored for the PLAB/MLA context. In short, our notes ensure you’re learning the right material in the right way.
Targeted Learning Modes (Study Essential Mode): Preparing for these exams can be overwhelming, which is why we introduced the Study Essential Mode for focused revision. This mode curates about 1800+ must-know questions covering the breadth of the syllabus with high yield concepts, so if you’re short on time or want to cover the fundamentals efficiently, you can concentrate on those first. After that, you can tackle the remaining questions to deepen and solidify your knowledge. Study Essential Mode is perfect for targeted preparation – ensuring you don't miss core topics while still allowing plenty of practice. (Of course, all questions, essential and advanced, are updated with the latest info too!)
Performance Tracking and Spaced Repetition: As you practice, our platform intelligently tracks your performance, highlighting areas of weakness. We utilize a Spaced Repetition Learning Tool that will reintroduce questions you got wrong or topics you haven’t reviewed in a while, at optimal intervals. This evidence-based technique helps move information (like those pesky guideline details) from short-term to long-term memory. By exam day, you’ll find that you can recall key facts – like the new valproate restrictions or the proper antibiotic duration for UTIs – much more easily thanks to this reinforced learning.

Crucially, all of these features work in harmony to keep you 100% aligned with current standards while improving your mastery of exam-style questions. MedRevisions essentially takes the guesswork out of “what do I need to know?” – we make sure you’re studying exactly what the examiners expect a competent doctor in 2025 to know. No more worrying if the book or website you used is out of date; our content is synced with the latest guidelines by design.

Success Stories: Proven Results with MedRevisions

It’s one thing for us to claim that our platform keeps you ahead – but it’s far more powerful to hear it from those who have walked the path and succeeded. MedRevisions has helped thousands of candidates pass PLAB 1 (and now the UKMLA) on their first attempt. Many of them were in your shoes: juggling busy schedules, perhaps years out of medical school, or anxious after hearing how tough the exam can be. With diligent practice using our up-to-date materials, they not only passed – they excelled.

Our users routinely report that the actual exam felt familiar after practicing with MedRevisions. “Loved the experience. Almost everything that came in the exam was covered here,” wrote one recent PLAB passer. Another successful candidate said, “Easily the best source available. I owe my success to it honestly,” when describing her preparation. These testimonials highlight a common theme: accuracy and completeness. We strive to cover all the topics and twists that the exam might throw at you – including the newest material. In fact, candidates often tell us they were pleasantly surprised to see questions on exam day about very recent guidelines or studies that they had encountered on MedRevisions. That’s the advantage of an adaptive, up-to-date question bank – you won’t be caught off guard by new developments.

Prepare confidently and strategically with MedRevisions – and go into your PLAB/UKMLA exam knowing you’re ready for whatever they throw at you. As we like to say, don’t just aim to pass, aim to excel. With the latest knowledge in your arsenal, success awaits you. Good luck, and happy revising!

References (Guideline Updates and Sources)

NICE COVID-19 guideline NG191 – updated 01 May 2025, restricting antivirals like nirmatrelvir/ritonavir to high-risk patients nice.org.uk.
NICE Epilepsy guideline NG217 – updated Jan 2025, incorporating MHRA advice on valproate/topiramate use and restrictions nice.org.uk
NICE Tobacco dependence guideline NG209 – updated Feb 2025, now recommending cytisinicline as a stop-smoking intervention medscape.co.uk.
NICE Quality Standard on UTI – emphasizes clinical diagnosis in women (no dipstick) and 3-day antibiotics for uncomplicated cystitis medscape.co.uk
NICE AKI guideline NG148 – updated Oct 2024 with new recommendations on assessing risk before iodine contrast to prevent AKI nice.org.uk.
NICE Early Breast Cancer guideline NG101 – updated Feb 2025, adds comprehensive advice on lymphoedema prevention post-surgery associationofbreastsurgery.org.uk.

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