The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) is now the standard route to GMC registration — UK medical students sit it within finals, and international medical graduates sit it as the PLAB pathway (PLAB 1 is now the MLA AKT for IMGs). The Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) draws on the GMC's MLA content map, and preparing for it properly means question banks and references that add up quickly.
This guide covers how iMD App supports UKMLA/AKT preparation, which included resources map to the MLA content map, and a 3-month study plan.
UKMLA AKT at a Glance (2026)
- Format: two papers of 100 single-best-answer questions each (200 total)
- Content: the GMC MLA content map — patient presentations, conditions, and professional knowledge (ethics, law, patient safety)
- For IMGs: the AKT is sat at Pearson VUE centres worldwide as part of the PLAB/MLA route; fee £268
- Emphasis: NICE guidelines, UK management pathways, and "next step in an NHS context" — knowing medicine is not enough; you need the UK version of it
UKMLA Resources Inside iMD App
| Resource | Role in AKT Prep | Retail | In iMD? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PassMedicine | The most-used UK QBank — questions written to UK guidelines and mapped to the MLA content map | £89 | ✅ |
| Plabable | PLAB/MLA-specific bank with exam-style recall alignment — the standard IMG pairing with PassMedicine | £99 | ✅ |
| AMBOSS | Systematic library for filling knowledge gaps found in QBank review | $448/yr | ✅ |
| UpToDate | Reference check on management questions (cross-read with NICE) | $599/yr | ✅ |
| Osmosis | Video review for weak presentations | $299/yr | ✅ |
| Sketchy | Micro/pharm retention | $330/yr | ✅ |
NICE guidance itself is free online — the QBanks above teach you how the AKT tests it. Retail total for this stack exceeds £1,400; through iMD App it starts at $50.
3-Month UKMLA AKT Study Plan
Month 1 — Content Map Coverage
- Download the GMC MLA content map and use it as your syllabus checklist
- PassMedicine first pass, system by system — read every explanation, not just the answer
- AMBOSS or Osmosis for topics where explanations expose a gap
Month 2 — Second Bank & UK Specifics
- Add Plabable mixed blocks daily — its question style is closest to the IMG AKT experience
- Focus UK-specific content: NICE first-line treatments, 2-week-wait cancer referral criteria, UK screening programmes, safeguarding, mental capacity and consent law
- Ethics and professionalism questions — heavily represented and answerable with GMC Good Medical Practice principles
Month 3 — Consolidation
- Second pass of incorrects in both banks
- Timed 100-question paper simulations weekly
- Final fortnight: big-mock style revision + rapid recall review; no new topics in the last week
Pricing
| Plan | Price | ≈ GBP | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Months | $50 | ~£39 | AKT within 6 months |
| 1 Year | $75 | ~£59 | AKT + start of PLAB 2/CPSA preparation |
| 2 Years | $129 | ~£101 | Full pathway: AKT → PLAB 2 → FY references |
All plans include the full 45,000+ library, no auto-renewal, and a 7-day money-back guarantee. Note that PassMedicine and Plabable alone cost more at retail than a full year of iMD.
FAQs
Is PLAB 1 the same as the UKMLA AKT?
Since 2024, PLAB 1 has been delivered as the MLA AKT for international candidates — same content map, same standard as UK finals. If you find older "PLAB 1" resources, they remain relevant, but preparation should be anchored to the MLA content map.
Are the PassMedicine and Plabable inside iMD genuine?
Yes — iMD provides access to the real platforms through the Lab Range app, with identical questions and explanations.
I'm weighing USMLE vs UKMLA. Which does iMD cover?
Both, in one subscription — the full USMLE stack (UWorld, AMBOSS, Sketchy, Boards & Beyond) and the UK stack (PassMedicine, Plabable). For undecided IMGs, that flexibility alone justifies the cost.
Bottom Line
The UKMLA AKT rewards focused QBank work against the MLA content map. PassMedicine, Plabable, AMBOSS and UpToDate — the complete stack — costs from $50 through iMD App, with a 7-day money-back guarantee.