PLAB 2 results: when they come out and how to read them
The GMC publishes PLAB 2 results within a month of your exam date, in the "My Tests" section of your GMC Online account, with quantitative and qualitative feedback. You pass if you meet or exceed the overall pass mark and pass a minimum number of stations. If you don't pass, you can rebook, as long as you are within two years of passing PLAB 1 and within the limit of four attempts (a fifth and final attempt can be applied for).
Last checked Nov 1, 2026 against the GMC PLAB 2 guide pages listed under Sources.
The short version
- When: "within a month of your exam date" [1].
- Where: GMC Online, "My Tests" [1].
- What you get: quantitative and qualitative feedback [1].
- How the pass is decided: overall pass mark AND a minimum number of passed stations; you won't be told the exact number of stations required [2].
- If you fail: book again through "My Tests"; you must pass within two years of passing PLAB 1, and you have four attempts, with a fifth and final attempt available on application [3].
How the result is calculated
The GMC explains its method on its results page [2]:
- In each of the 16 stations, examiners mark you in three domains: data gathering, technical and assessment skills; clinical management skills; interpersonal skills [4].
- Examiners also judge your overall performance in the station as Unsatisfactory, Borderline, Satisfactory or Good.
- Using those judgments across all candidates, the GMC sets each station's pass score with the borderline regression method.
- The overall pass mark is the sum of all station pass scores plus one standard error of measurement.
- To pass, you need a total at or above that mark and a minimum number of passed stations.
So two candidates with the same total can get different results if one passed too few stations.
How to read your feedback
The GMC says results include quantitative feedback (scores) and qualitative feedback [1]. The GMC pages we read don't show the exact layout, so we don't reproduce one. Whatever the layout, look for three things:
- Total vs pass mark: how far above or below were you?
- Stations passed vs required: the GMC won't tell you the exact minimum [2], but your count of passed stations tells you whether breadth was the problem.
- Domains: which of the three domains is lowest across stations. That points to a skill, not a topic.
Worked example: from feedback to a resit plan
This is a made-up example written by Confetto to show the method. It is not a real candidate or a real GMC result.
Imagine your feedback suggests you were close to the overall pass mark, passed most history stations, and lost marks mainly in interpersonal skills in emotional stations (bad news, an upset relative) and in clinical management in explaining stations.
| What the feedback suggests | What is usually behind it | What to drill |
|---|---|---|
| Interpersonal skills low in emotional stations | Rushing to information; missing or not following cues; no pause after the news | Bad news with SPIKES; acknowledge emotion before facts; silence after the key sentence |
| Clinical management low in explaining stations | Jargon; too much information at once; no check of understanding | Plain-English explanations; chunk and check; teach-back |
| Data gathering fine, but time ran out | Long history leaves no time for the plan | Hard stop for the history at about 4 minutes in mixed stations |
| Passed total but too few stations | Uneven across station types | One station of every type each week, not only favorites |
Then re-measure: after two weeks, do the same station types again under time and compare.
Checklist: the week after a fail
- Read the whole feedback twice, a day apart. Write down your lowest domain and your weakest station types.
- Check your dates: two years from your PLAB 1 pass, and how many attempts you have used [3].
- Book a date that gives you enough practice time, through "My Tests" [3].
- Make a list of the station types you avoided in practice last time. Start there.
- Practice under exam time from week one. Untimed practice hides the problem.
- Get feedback that names what you said, not "good communication".
- Rewatch the GMC's PLAB 2 overview video and redo its sample station [5].
Practice the stations you lost marks on
Confetto isn't affiliated with the GMC.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get PLAB 2 results?
The GMC says results are published within a month of your exam date [1].
Where do I find my PLAB 2 result?
In the "My Tests" section of your GMC Online account [1].
Does the PLAB 2 result say how many stations I passed?
You get quantitative and qualitative feedback [1]. The GMC says you won't be told exactly how many stations were needed to pass [2].
I failed PLAB 2. How many more attempts do I have?
The limit is four attempts, and you can apply for a fifth and final attempt [3]. You must also pass within two years of passing PLAB 1 [3].
Can I appeal a PLAB 2 result?
The GMC pages we read for this guide don't cover reviews or appeals. Check the GMC's PLAB pages or contact the GMC.
What is the PLAB 2 pass rate?
59.8% of candidates passed in 2025 (8,787 of 14,689), per the GMC [6]. See PLAB 2 pass rate.
Sources
Read on November 1, 2026.