GMC PLAB blueprint

We allow reproduction of the blueprint and of the additional information about the
blueprint as long as the material is reproduced unchanged and with a clear
acknowledgement of the GMC's copyright on any material reproduced.

Additional information about the blueprint

Vertical axis
The descriptors of disorders have been updated to include the terms used in
contemporary coding. For example gastro-intestinal category is now digestive
system disorder.

In exceptional circumstances, presentations have been duplicated. For example the

presentation of chest pain appears under both cardiovascular and respiratory
disorder.
Horizontal axis
To keep the titles on this axis relatively succinct, there is some additional information
below about some of them:

Applying and integrating scientific knowledge to make a diagnosis should

include recognising acutely ill patients and ensuring that no serious condition is
missed.

Disease factors should include inherited diseases and natural history of disease.

Management plan should include pre-operative, post operative and terminal care
and where appropriate complementary therapy.

Decision making supported by evidence should include applying the principles of

risk management and involving patients and where appropriate their relatives or
carers in decisions about their care.

Good practice in prescribing should include the appropriate use of drugs, route of
administration calculation of dose and fluid requirements and production of a safe
prescription.

Effective communication skills including listening, questioning, explaining,

involving patients in management should include listening and sharing
information, recognising that patients are knowledgeable, discussing options with
patients and explaining the effects of treatment and procedures.

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
Awareness and sensitivity of the needs and expectations of patients regardless
of their lifestyle, culture, beliefs, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, age or social
or economic status and understanding the patients’ environment and its effect on
their health.

Practising ethically and medico-legally should include understanding and

applying the principles of professional practice set out in Good Medical Practice and
supporting guidance including obtaining informed consent and apply the duties of
doctors under law including:

• Certification of sickness
• Death certification
• Dealing with the Coroner/Procurator Fiscal
• Procedures for cremation
• Statutory notifications.

Promoting, monitoring and maintaining health of individuals and groups

should include being able to audit and appraise epidemiological data.

Keep accurate medical records should include information literacy.

Performing clinical and procedural skills safely should include:

• Demonstrating competence in basic and advanced life support skills and

basic trauma support
• Using local anaesthetics
• Giving intramuscular and subcutaneous injections
• Preparing and administering intravenous medicines
• Measuring and interpreting blood pressure
• Performing and interpreting ECG
• Performing and interpreting peak flow rate
• Performing venous and arterial puncture
• Gaining intravenous access including setting up an ivi
• Complying with infection control
• Disposing of potentially dangerous instruments
• Assessing suicide risk
• Assessment of altered mental state
• Performing a cervical smear
• Dealing with aggression
• Using an ophthalmoscope
• Giving pain relief
• Using a speculum and performing a vaginal examination
• Suturing a wound
• Urine testing
• Using an auriscope.

PLAB Test Section 2

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
Patient safety and risk management should include promoting monitoring and
maintaining health and safety in the clinical setting and systems of quality assurance
including governance, audit, CPD, appraisal, revalidation. Dealing with complaints
remains a separate heading under relationships with patients.

Testing method
Many of these will be assessed as part of the PLAB test. Some skills are, however,
best assessed in the workplace and will form part of the appraisal process, which will
be used as a source of evidence for revalidation. Examples of these follow:

• Taking appropriate action if one’s own health, performance or conduct or that

of a colleague puts patients, colleagues or the public at risk

• Recognising personal and professional limits and asking for help from senior
colleagues and other health and social care professionals when necessary

• Developing a portfolio of evidence that records participation in educational

and clinical teaching sessions and allows one to identify learning needs and
develop a plan to meet these

• Contributing to audits and understanding how the results of audit can improve
one’s own practice and that of others

• Responding constructively to the outcome of appraisal and performance

review

• Contributing to the appraisal and review of students with whom one works

• Working with colleagues

• Teaching and training

• Probity

• Health

• Completing legal documents.

PLAB Test Section 3

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Including
haematological
Blood and Abnormal blood Adult/ Acute/
malignancies and
lymph film Child Chronic
myeloproliferative
disorders
Blood and Adult/ Acute/
Blood loss Any cause
lymph Child Chronic
Bruising/
Blood and Adult/ Acute/
bleeding/ Any cause
lymph Child Chronic
purpura
Any cause
Blood and Enlarged lymph Adult/ Acute/
including
lymph nodes Child Chronic
splenomegaly
Blood and Adult/ Anaemia of any
Pallor Chronic
lymph Child cause
Acute myocardial
Cardiovascular Chest pain Adult Acute infarction, acute
coronary syndrome
Coronary heart
Cardiovascular Chest pain Adult Chronic
disease: angina
Arrhythmias and
Acute/ heart conduction
Cardiovascular Palpitations Adult
Chronic defects including
AF
Including
Peripheral Acute/ aneurysms,
Cardiovascular Adult
arterial disease Chronic ischaemic limb and
occlusions
Peripheral Heart failure
Adult/ Acute/
Cardiovascular oedema, including valvular
Child Chronic
breathlessness heart disorder
Peripheral
VTE/ DVT including
Cardiovascular venous Adult Acute
risk factors
problems

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
1 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Peripheral Including varicose
Cardiovascular venous Adult Chronic veins and leg ulcers
problems of any cause
Primary Hypertension and
Cardiovascular Adult Chronic
prevention risk factors
Acute/
Cardiovascular Stroke Adult Including TIA
Chronic
Developmental
Child health delay/ failure to Child Chronic Including NAI/CSA
thrive
Including heart,
Congenital
Child health Child Chronic neural tube and
abnormalities
musculoskeletal
Abdominal
Acute/
Digestive mass Adult Including ascites
Chronic
generalised
Including
Abdominal Adult/ Acute/
Digestive organomegaly and
mass localised Child Chronic
hernias
Including acute
Adult/ Acute/ abdomen,
Digestive Abdominal pain
Child Chronic appendicitis and
pancreatitis
Any cause
Altered bowel
Digestive Adult Chronic including
habit
constipation
Anorexia and Adult/ Acute/
Digestive Any cause
weight loss Child Chronic
Any cause
Adult/ Acute/ including
Digestive Diarrhoea
Child Chronic inflammatory bowel
disease

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
2 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Including GORD,
Adult/ Acute/
Digestive Dyspepsia peptic ulcer and
Child Chronic
hiatus hernia
Digestive Dysphagia Adult Chronic Any cause
Including oral
Facial pain and Adult/
Digestive Acute disease and
swelling Child
toothache
Including rectal
GI bleeding Acute/
Digestive Adult pain, masses and
(lower) Chronic
bleeding
GI bleeding Acute/
Digestive Adult Any cause
(upper) Chronic
Adult/ Including biliary
Digestive Jaundice Chronic
Child tract problems
Any cause
Nausea and Adult/
Digestive Acute including pyloric
vomiting Child
stenosis
Adult/ Including obestiy
Digestive Nutrition Chronic
Child and malnutrition
Adult/ Intra-abdominal
Digestive Trauma Acute
Child injury
Adult/
ENT Earache Acute Any cause
Child
Hearing Adult/ Acute/ Including foreign
ENT
problems Child Chronic body
Adult/ Acute/
ENT Hoarseness Any cause
Child Chronic
Including
Nasal Adult/ Acute/
ENT rhinorrhoea and
symptoms Child Chronic
epistaxis
Adult/ Acute/
ENT Speech disorder Any cause
Child Chronic
Acute/ Including Menières
ENT Vertigo Adult
Chronic disease

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
3 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Acute/
Eye Eye pain Adult Including glaucoma
Chronic
Acute/ Including eyelid
Eye Orbital swelling Adult
Chronic disorders
Including corneal
Acute/
Eye Red eye Adult lesions and
Chronic
conjunctivitis
Visual Adult/ Acute/ Gradual or sudden,
Eye
impairment Child Chronic including cataracts
Abnormal blood Adult/ Acute/
Homeostatic Diabetes mellitus
sugar Child Chronic
Acid-base Adult/
Homeostatic Acute Acidosis/alkalosis
imbalance Child
Any cause
Electrolyte Adult/ Acute/ including excessive
Homeostatic
abnormalities Child Chronic thirst and
dehydration
Adult/
Homeostatic Shocked patient Acute Any cause
Child
Thyroid Adult/ Acute/ Hyper/hypothyroidis
Homeostatic
abnormalities Child Chronic m and goitres
Infectious Adult/ Acute/ Including pyrexia of
Fever
disease Child Chronic unknown origin
Including HIV,
Infectious Serious Adult/ Acute/
AIDS, Hepatitis B
disease infection Child Chronic
and TB
Travel medicine
Infectious Adult/
and tropical Acute Including malaria
disease Child
infections
Alcohol and
Including other
drug mis-use Acute/
Mental health Adult habit disorders and
and Chronic
co-morbity
dependence

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
4 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Including
Acute/ generalised anxiety
Mental health Anxiety Adult
Chronic disorder, phobias
and OCD
Confusion, poor
concentration
Mental health Adult Chronic Including dementia
and memory
loss
Overdoses,
Deliberate self
Mental health Adult Acute
poisioning and
harm
other self harm
Including obesity,
Adult/
Mental health Eating problems Chronic anorexia and
Child
bulimia nervosa
Learning and
Adult/ Including mental
Mental health communication Chronic
Child impairment
problems
Including
Mood (affective) Acute/ depression, suicidal
Mental health Adult
problems Chronic risk and bi-polar
disorder
Including psycho-
social and
Psychological Adult/ Acute/
Mental health associated with
problems Child Chronic
certain ages e.g.
adolescence
Including
Severe confusional states,
Acute/
Mental health behavioural Adult psychoses and
Chronic
disturbance personality
disorders
Musculoskeleta Back and neck Acute/
Adult Any cause
l problems Chronic

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
5 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Musculoskeleta Foot and ankleAdult/ Acute/
Any cause
l problems Child Chronic
Musculoskeleta Fractures and Adult/
Acute Any site
l dislocations Child
Musculoskeleta Hand and wrist Acute/
Adult Any cause
l problems Chronic
Musculoskeleta Adult/ Acute/
Hip problems Any cause
l Child Chronic
Musculoskeleta Acute/
Knee problems Adult Any cause
l Chronic
All causes including
Musculoskeleta Rheumatologica Adult/ Acute/
joint pain of any
l l problems Child Chronic
cause
Musculoskeleta Shoulder/upper Adult/ Acute/
Any cause
l limb problems Child Chronic
Including disorders
Musculoskeleta Skeletal Adult/ Acute/
of calcium
l problems Child Chronic
homeostasis
Musculoskeleta Strains and Adult/
Acute Any site
l sprains Child
Any cause
Adult/
Neurological Coma Acute including head
Child
injury
Blackouts,
Adult/ Syncope of any
Neurological faints and falls Acute
Child cause
(funny turns)
Cranial nerve Adult/ Acute/
Neurological Any cause
problems Child Chronic
Any cause
Adult/ Acute/ including raised
Neurological Headache
Child Chronic intracranial
pressure

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
6 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Movement
disorders Abnormalities of the
Adult/
Neurological including tremor Chronic motor nervous
Child
and gait system
problems
Including
Peripheral Adult/ Acute/
Neurological neuropathies of any
nerve problems Child Chronic
cause
Adult/ Acute/ Including epilepsy
Neurological Seizures
Child Chronic and convulsions
Including
Abnormalities of Adult/ Acute/
Renal haematuria and
the urine Child Chronic
proteinuria
Groin/scrotal
Adult/ Acute/ Including torsion of
Renal pain and/or
Child Chronic testis and hernias
swelling
Acute/ Including renal
Renal Renal problems Adult
Chronic failure
Urethral
Renal Adult Acute Including STI
discharge
Including UTIs,
Urinary Adult/ Acute/
Renal incontinence and
symptoms Child Chronic
enuresis
Urinary tract Adult/ Acute/ Including prostate
Renal
obstruction Child Chronic and calculus
Fertility Both male and
Renal Adult Chronic
problems female
Any acute
respiratory illness
Adult/
Respiratory Breathlessness Acute including
Child
pneumonia and
bronchiolitis

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
7 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Including COPD,
asthma,
Adult/
Respiratory Breathlessness Chronic occupational lung
Child
disease and sleep
apnoea
Acute/ Including any
Respiratory Chest pain Adult
Chronic pleuritic cause
Any cause
including tumours
Adult/ Acute/
Respiratory Cough and upper
Child Chronic
respiratory tract
problems
Including
Acute/
Respiratory Haemoptysis Adult pulmonary
Chronic
embolism
Adult/ Acute/
Respiratory Wheeze/Stridor Any cause
Child Chronic
Any cause
including serious
Seriously ill Adult/ infection,
Collapse Acute
patient Child anaphylaxis,
multiple trauma,
septicaemia
Adult/ Including
Skin Bites and stings Acute
Child infestations
Adult/ Any severity or
Skin Burns Acute
Child cause
Including
Adult/ exanthemata,
Skin Infections Acute
Child herpes zoster and
bacterial infections
Including eczema
Itchy and/or Adult/
Skin Chronic and dermatoses
scaly rashes Child
(psoriasis etc.)

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
8 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Nodular lesions
Adult/
Skin Lumps Chronic including skin
Child
tumour
Moles and
Adult/ Including malignant
Skin pigmented Chronic
Child melanoma
lesions
Other
rashes/nail Adult/ Acute/
Skin Any cause
and/or hair Child Chronic
problems
Localised or
Acute/ generalised
Skin Pruritus Adult
Chronic including pruritis
ani/vulvae
Any cause
Skin Ulcers Adult Chronic
including malignant
Including
antepartum
Women's Bleeding in haemorrhage,
Adult Acute
health pregnancy postpartum
haemorrhage and
miscarriage
Normal
Women's Including prenatal
pregnancy and Adult Acute
health diagnosis
care
Including ectopic
pregnancy, pre-
Women's Problems in
Adult Acute eclampsia,
health pregnancy
eclampsia and
hyperemesis
Including cancer,
Women's Breast lump
Adult Acute abscess and
health and/or pain
benign lump

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
9 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Good clinical care: clinical and

Disorder Presentation Condition Good clinical care: diagnosis Good clinical care: management
Child Chronic procedural skills

Promoting, monitoring
Identifying, requesting

and using appropriate

Patient safety and risk

common emergencies

treatment in specified
knowledge to make a

and procedural skills

including identifying
integrating scientific

health of individuals
Clinical examination

Performing clinical
Management plan

Keeping accurate
Decision making

Good practice in

and maintaining
and interpreting

management of
Disease factors
Applying and

History taking

supported by
investigation

management
key findings

appropriate

and groups
prescribing
conditions
diagnosis

including

evidence

records
safely
Women's
Contraception Adult Chronic Any method
health
Any cause
Women's
Irregular periods Adult Chronic including the
health
menopause
Including cervical
cancer and
Pain and
Women's Acute/ menstrual disorders
abnormal Adult
health Chronic and/or bleeding
vaginal bleeding
from any other
cause
Women's Including ovarian
Pelvic mass Adult Chronic
health cancer
Including pelvic
Women's Acute/
Pelvic pain Adult inflammatory
health Chronic
disease
Women's Vaginal Acute/
Adult Any cause
health discharge Chronic

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
10 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Including
haematological
Blood and Abnormal blood Adult/ Acute/
malignancies and
lymph film Child Chronic
myeloproliferative
disorders
Blood and Adult/ Acute/
Blood loss Any cause
lymph Child Chronic
Bruising/
Blood and Adult/ Acute/
bleeding/ Any cause
lymph Child Chronic
purpura
Any cause
Blood and Enlarged lymph Adult/ Acute/
including
lymph nodes Child Chronic
splenomegaly
Blood and Adult/ Anaemia of any
Pallor Chronic
lymph Child cause
Acute myocardial
Cardiovascular Chest pain Adult Acute infarction, acute
coronary syndrome
Coronary heart
Cardiovascular Chest pain Adult Chronic
disease: angina
Arrhythmias and
Acute/ heart conduction
Cardiovascular Palpitations Adult
Chronic defects including
AF
Including
Peripheral Acute/ aneurysms,
Cardiovascular Adult
arterial disease Chronic ischaemic limb and
occlusions
Peripheral Heart failure
Adult/ Acute/
Cardiovascular oedema, including valvular
Child Chronic
breathlessness heart disorder
Peripheral
VTE/ DVT including
Cardiovascular venous Adult Acute
risk factors
problems

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
11 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Peripheral Including varicose
Cardiovascular venous Adult Chronic veins and leg ulcers
problems of any cause
Primary Hypertension and
Cardiovascular Adult Chronic
prevention risk factors
Acute/
Cardiovascular Stroke Adult Including TIA
Chronic
Developmental
Child health delay/ failure to Child Chronic Including NAI/CSA
thrive
Including heart,
Congenital
Child health Child Chronic neural tube and
abnormalities
musculoskeletal
Abdominal
Acute/
Digestive mass Adult Including ascites
Chronic
generalised
Including
Abdominal Adult/ Acute/
Digestive organomegaly and
mass localised Child Chronic
hernias
Including acute
Adult/ Acute/ abdomen,
Digestive Abdominal pain
Child Chronic appendicitis and
pancreatitis
Any cause
Altered bowel
Digestive Adult Chronic including
habit
constipation
Anorexia and Adult/ Acute/
Digestive Any cause
weight loss Child Chronic
Any cause
Adult/ Acute/ including
Digestive Diarrhoea
Child Chronic inflammatory bowel
disease

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
12 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Including GORD,
Adult/ Acute/
Digestive Dyspepsia peptic ulcer and
Child Chronic
hiatus hernia
Digestive Dysphagia Adult Chronic Any cause
Including oral
Facial pain and Adult/
Digestive Acute disease and
swelling Child
toothache
Including rectal
GI bleeding Acute/
Digestive Adult pain, masses and
(lower) Chronic
bleeding
GI bleeding Acute/
Digestive Adult Any cause
(upper) Chronic
Adult/ Including biliary
Digestive Jaundice Chronic
Child tract problems
Any cause
Nausea and Adult/
Digestive Acute including pyloric
vomiting Child
stenosis
Adult/ Including obestiy
Digestive Nutrition Chronic
Child and malnutrition
Adult/ Intra-abdominal
Digestive Trauma Acute
Child injury
Adult/
ENT Earache Acute Any cause
Child
Hearing Adult/ Acute/ Including foreign
ENT
problems Child Chronic body
Adult/ Acute/
ENT Hoarseness Any cause
Child Chronic
Including
Nasal Adult/ Acute/
ENT rhinorrhoea and
symptoms Child Chronic
epistaxis
Adult/ Acute/
ENT Speech disorder Any cause
Child Chronic
Acute/ Including Menières
ENT Vertigo Adult
Chronic disease

PLAB Test Section

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The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
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 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Acute/
Eye Eye pain Adult Including glaucoma
Chronic
Acute/ Including eyelid
Eye Orbital swelling Adult
Chronic disorders
Including corneal
Acute/
Eye Red eye Adult lesions and
Chronic
conjunctivitis
Visual Adult/ Acute/ Gradual or sudden,
Eye
impairment Child Chronic including cataracts
Abnormal blood Adult/ Acute/
Homeostatic Diabetes mellitus
sugar Child Chronic
Acid-base Adult/
Homeostatic Acute Acidosis/alkalosis
imbalance Child
Any cause
Electrolyte Adult/ Acute/ including excessive
Homeostatic
abnormalities Child Chronic thirst and
dehydration
Adult/
Homeostatic Shocked patient Acute Any cause
Child
Thyroid Adult/ Acute/ Hyper/hypothyroidis
Homeostatic
abnormalities Child Chronic m and goitres
Infectious Adult/ Acute/ Including pyrexia of
Fever
disease Child Chronic unknown origin
Including HIV,
Infectious Serious Adult/ Acute/
AIDS, Hepatitis B
disease infection Child Chronic
and TB
Travel medicine
Infectious Adult/
and tropical Acute Including malaria
disease Child
infections
Alcohol and
Including other
drug mis-use Acute/
Mental health Adult habit disorders and
and Chronic
co-morbity
dependence

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
14 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Including
Acute/ generalised anxiety
Mental health Anxiety Adult
Chronic disorder, phobias
and OCD
Confusion, poor
concentration
Mental health Adult Chronic Including dementia
and memory
loss
Overdoses,
Deliberate self
Mental health Adult Acute
poisioning and
harm
other self harm
Including obesity,
Adult/
Mental health Eating problems Chronic anorexia and
Child
bulimia nervosa
Learning and
Adult/ Including mental
Mental health communication Chronic
Child impairment
problems
Including
Mood (affective) Acute/ depression, suicidal
Mental health Adult
problems Chronic risk and bi-polar
disorder
Including psycho-
social and
Psychological Adult/ Acute/
Mental health associated with
problems Child Chronic
certain ages e.g.
adolescence
Including
Severe confusional states,
Acute/
Mental health behavioural Adult psychoses and
Chronic
disturbance personality
disorders
Musculoskeleta Back and neck Acute/
Adult Any cause
l problems Chronic

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
15 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Musculoskeleta Foot and ankleAdult/ Acute/
Any cause
l problems Child Chronic
Musculoskeleta Fractures and Adult/
Acute Any site
l dislocations Child
Musculoskeleta Hand and wrist Acute/
Adult Any cause
l problems Chronic
Musculoskeleta Adult/ Acute/
Hip problems Any cause
l Child Chronic
Musculoskeleta Acute/
Knee problems Adult Any cause
l Chronic
All causes including
Musculoskeleta Rheumatologica Adult/ Acute/
joint pain of any
l l problems Child Chronic
cause
Musculoskeleta Shoulder/upper Adult/ Acute/
Any cause
l limb problems Child Chronic
Including disorders
Musculoskeleta Skeletal Adult/ Acute/
of calcium
l problems Child Chronic
homeostasis
Musculoskeleta Strains and Adult/
Acute Any site
l sprains Child
Any cause
Adult/
Neurological Coma Acute including head
Child
injury
Blackouts,
Adult/ Syncope of any
Neurological faints and falls Acute
Child cause
(funny turns)
Cranial nerve Adult/ Acute/
Neurological Any cause
problems Child Chronic
Any cause
Adult/ Acute/ including raised
Neurological Headache
Child Chronic intracranial
pressure

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
16 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Movement
disorders Abnormalities of the
Adult/
Neurological including tremor Chronic motor nervous
Child
and gait system
problems
Including
Peripheral Adult/ Acute/
Neurological neuropathies of any
nerve problems Child Chronic
cause
Adult/ Acute/ Including epilepsy
Neurological Seizures
Child Chronic and convulsions
Including
Abnormalities of Adult/ Acute/
Renal haematuria and
the urine Child Chronic
proteinuria
Groin/scrotal
Adult/ Acute/ Including torsion of
Renal pain and/or
Child Chronic testis and hernias
swelling
Acute/ Including renal
Renal Renal problems Adult
Chronic failure
Urethral
Renal Adult Acute Including STI
discharge
Including UTIs,
Urinary Adult/ Acute/
Renal incontinence and
symptoms Child Chronic
enuresis
Urinary tract Adult/ Acute/ Including prostate
Renal
obstruction Child Chronic and calculus
Fertility Both male and
Renal Adult Chronic
problems female
Any acute
respiratory illness
Adult/
Respiratory Breathlessness Acute including
Child
pneumonia and
bronchiolitis

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
17 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Including COPD,
asthma,
Adult/
Respiratory Breathlessness Chronic occupational lung
Child
disease and sleep
apnoea
Acute/ Including any
Respiratory Chest pain Adult
Chronic pleuritic cause
Any cause
including tumours
Adult/ Acute/
Respiratory Cough and upper
Child Chronic
respiratory tract
problems
Including
Acute/
Respiratory Haemoptysis Adult pulmonary
Chronic
embolism
Adult/ Acute/
Respiratory Wheeze/Stridor Any cause
Child Chronic
Any cause
including serious
Seriously ill Adult/ infection,
Collapse Acute
patient Child anaphylaxis,
multiple trauma,
septicaemia
Adult/ Including
Skin Bites and stings Acute
Child infestations
Adult/ Any severity or
Skin Burns Acute
Child cause
Including
Adult/ exanthemata,
Skin Infections Acute
Child herpes zoster and
bacterial infections
Including eczema
Itchy and/or Adult/
Skin Chronic and dermatoses
scaly rashes Child
(psoriasis etc.)

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
18 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Nodular lesions
Adult/
Skin Lumps Chronic including skin
Child
tumour
Moles and
Adult/ Including malignant
Skin pigmented Chronic
Child melanoma
lesions
Other
rashes/nail Adult/ Acute/
Skin Any cause
and/or hair Child Chronic
problems
Localised or
Acute/ generalised
Skin Pruritus Adult
Chronic including pruritis
ani/vulvae
Any cause
Skin Ulcers Adult Chronic
including malignant
Including
antepartum
Women's Bleeding in haemorrhage,
Adult Acute
health pregnancy postpartum
haemorrhage and
miscarriage
Normal
Women's Including prenatal
pregnancy and Adult Acute
health diagnosis
care
Including ectopic
pregnancy, pre-
Women's Problems in
Adult Acute eclampsia,
health pregnancy
eclampsia and
hyperemesis
Including cancer,
Women's Breast lump
Adult Acute abscess and
health and/or pain
benign lump

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
19 of 20
 Blueprint for PLAB Test

Adult/ Acute/ Relationships with patients and working with Maintaining good Teaching and
Disorder Presentation Condition Probity
Child Chronic colleagues medical practice training

communication skills

explaining, involving
including listening,

Practising ethically
and medico-legally
Systems of quality

Working in teams
sensitivity of the

expectations of
Awareness and
management
questioning,

patients in

needs and
assurance
Effective

patients
Women's
Contraception Adult Chronic Any method
health
Any cause
Women's
Irregular periods Adult Chronic including the
health
menopause
Including cervical
cancer and
Pain and
Women's Acute/ menstrual disorders
abnormal Adult
health Chronic and/or bleeding
vaginal bleeding
from any other
cause
Women's Including ovarian
Pelvic mass Adult Chronic
health cancer
Including pelvic
Women's Acute/
Pelvic pain Adult inflammatory
health Chronic
disease
Women's Vaginal Acute/
Adult Any cause
health discharge Chronic

PLAB Test Section

© Copyright General Medical Council 2008. All rights reserved.
The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750)
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