The Bottom Line
- PLAB fees are published with <strong>effective dates</strong> (often changing from <strong>1 April</strong>). Always check the current table before paying or cancelling.
- PLAB 1: cancellations <strong>42 days or less</strong> can cost <strong>100%</strong> of the test fee.
- PLAB 2 has <strong>three</strong> cancellation tiers: >42 days (10%), 42–29 days (50%), and ≤28 days (100%).
- If you’re cancelling due to exceptional circumstances, the GMC indicates there’s a process to consider refunds—don’t assume it’s automatic.
Fee-related searches (“PLAB 1 fee”, “PLAB 2 fee”, “PLAB cancellation fee”) are high intent because candidates are budgeting and committing. This page is designed to stay evergreen by anchoring everything to the official fee table and its effective dates.
Snapshot (effective from 1 April 2026, per GMC fee tables)
PLAB 1 test fee: <strong>£283</strong>. PLAB 2 test fee: <strong>£1,036</strong>. Cancellation tiers: PLAB 1 >42 days (10% = <strong>£28.30</strong>), PLAB 1 ≤42 days (100% = <strong>£283</strong>). PLAB 2 >42 days (10% = <strong>£103.60</strong>), 42–29 days (50% = <strong>£518</strong>), ≤28 days (100% = <strong>£1,036</strong>).
1
Step 1 — Treat fees as time-sensitive data
Don’t rely on screenshots or old blog posts. The GMC publishes fee tables with effective dates—use those as your source of truth.
2
Step 2 — Decide using the cancellation tier, not your stress level
If you’re close to a threshold (especially the 42-day mark), check the table first, then decide. This single behaviour prevents most expensive cancellations.
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Step 3 — Keep a clean audit trail
Keep booking confirmations, payment receipts, and cancellation confirmations in one folder. If you later need to explain an exceptional circumstance, clarity matters.
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Step 4 — If something disrupts your sitting (illness/disruption)
Use the official guidance in the PLAB 1/2 guides around disruptions and exceptional circumstances. The existence of a process does not mean you qualify automatically—follow the documented route.
Practice
Test your knowledge
Apply this concept immediately with a high-yield question block from the iatroX Q-Bank.
SourceGMC: Fees for doctors (PLAB fees + cancellation tiers; effective from 1 April 2026)
Open Link SourceGMC: PLAB 1 guide (cancellations, disruptions, and process)
Open Link SourceGMC: PLAB 2 guide (cancellations, disruptions, and process)
Open Link