NEET PG vs PLAB
Exam Comparison
Overview
These exams serve entirely different purposes. NEET PG is for Indian postgraduate specialty admission — a domestic competitive exam. PLAB is for international medical graduates wanting to practise in the UK. Indian doctors often take both: NEET PG for Indian specialty training, and PLAB if they wish to move to the UK later.
Exam Profiles
NEET PG
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate
Full Name
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate
Country
India
Eligibility
Indian MBBS graduates who have completed internship; valid NEET PG score required for all MD/MS/diploma admissions
Format
200 single best answer MCQs across all clinical and pre-clinical subjects (3 hours 30 min, computer-based)
Pass Mark
Variable cut-off (50th percentile for general category; lower for reserved categories). Highly competitive — only top ranks get preferred specialties.
Cost
INR 4,500 (~GBP 45) for general category; INR 3,500 for reserved categories
Frequency
Once per year (typically March/August)
Career Path
MD/MS/diploma admission in Indian medical colleges; determines specialty allocation through centralised counselling (MCC + state)
PLAB
Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board
Full Name
Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board
Country
United Kingdom
Eligibility
International medical graduates with a recognised primary medical qualification and IELTS 7.5/OET B
Format
PLAB 1: 180 SBA MCQs (3 hours). PLAB 2: 16-station OSCE (3 hours 20 min)
Pass Mark
PLAB 1: variable (~60-65%); PLAB 2: variable (standard-setting per diet)
Cost
~GBP 1,200 total (PLAB 1 + PLAB 2)
Frequency
PLAB 1: 4 times/year; PLAB 2: continuous booking
Career Path
GMC full registration, then NHS employment and specialty training applications via Oriel
Key Differences
| Category | NEET PG | PLAB |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Postgraduate specialty admission in India | Licence to practise medicine in the UK |
| Competitiveness | Extremely competitive — ~200,000 candidates for ~45,000 seats | Less competitive — pass/fail, not ranked |
| Cost | ~GBP 45 (very affordable) | ~GBP 1,200 |
| OSCE component | No — purely MCQ | Yes — PLAB 2 is a clinical OSCE |
| Subjects tested | All 19 subjects of MBBS (pre-clinical + clinical) | Clinical medicine, surgery, and applied sciences only |
| Outcome | Rank-based specialty allocation | Pass/fail — GMC registration |
| Frequency | Once per year | 4 times per year |
Purpose
Postgraduate specialty admission in India
Licence to practise medicine in the UK
Competitiveness
Extremely competitive — ~200,000 candidates for ~45,000 seats
Less competitive — pass/fail, not ranked
Cost
~GBP 45 (very affordable)
~GBP 1,200
OSCE component
No — purely MCQ
Yes — PLAB 2 is a clinical OSCE
Subjects tested
All 19 subjects of MBBS (pre-clinical + clinical)
Clinical medicine, surgery, and applied sciences only
Outcome
Rank-based specialty allocation
Pass/fail — GMC registration
Frequency
Once per year
4 times per year
Our Verdict
NEET PG is for postgraduate training in India — a high-stakes ranking exam. PLAB is for UK practice — a pass/fail licensure exam. They are not alternatives to each other. Indian doctors targeting both countries should plan for both, noting PLAB's clinical OSCE component requires different preparation.
Disclaimer: Exam details, costs, and formats are based on the most recent publicly available information and may change. Always verify directly with the examining body (GMC, NBME, NBE, Royal Colleges) before making decisions.
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