What is the MLA Content Map?
The MLA Content Map is the GMC's published list of conditions and presenting complaints that every UK medical graduate is expected to recognise and manage at a safe, generalist level. For both the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and the PLAB 1 written exam, the content map is the single source of truth for what can be tested.
The map has two axes. The first is a list of presenting problems — the symptoms and signs a patient walks in with. The second is a list of conditions of clinical importance — the specific diagnoses candidates are expected to recognise and manage. Every exam item is anchored to at least one item from each axis.
Why the map matters for revision
If a topic is not on the Content Map, it is not testable. Revision that is mapped to the blueprint is revision you know counts. Revision that isn't — no matter how interesting — is leaking your time.
How we cover every item
Each question in our bank is tagged against the MLA axis pairs it tests. Each expert note is anchored to the condition it covers. And the Content Map dashboard inside the app shows coverage in both directions — so you can see, at a glance, every condition we have questions for, and every presenting complaint still to attempt.
- 1Our editorial team maps every new question against the current Content Map before it's released into the bank.
- 2Every note in the library carries the MLA condition ID and links back to the map.
- 3The coverage dashboard shows progress by specialty, so you can see, for example, that you've attempted 78% of cardiovascular items but only 42% of gastroenterology.
- 4When the GMC updates the map (typically once per year), we re-verify every question against the new version and add any newly included conditions.
Practising against the map
From any practice or mock session you can filter questions by specialty, presenting complaint, or MLA condition. The filter chips update live — you see exactly how many questions are in each subset, and a real progress bar against the items you still haven't attempted.
- Filter by presenting complaint (e.g. acute chest pain, breathlessness, headache)
- Filter by specialty or organ system
- Filter by MLA condition ID to drill into a specific diagnosis
- Filter by attempt status — unattempted, correct, wrong, or bookmarked
How this helps you pass
The number one cause of failed attempts at the UKMLA and PLAB is patchy coverage — candidates who have revised hard but missed a specialty. The Content Map guarantees that doesn't happen. By exam day, you'll have seen at least one question, one note, and one explanation for every condition the GMC lists.
- ✓No blind spots by exam day
- ✓Prioritise specialties you haven't touched in weeks
- ✓Finish your revision with quantitative proof of coverage
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2026 MLA Content Map the same as the syllabus?+
The Content Map is the published blueprint; the syllabus is the full scope of UK undergraduate medical education. The Content Map is narrower and more specific. All UKMLA and PLAB 1 items are drawn from the Content Map, which is why we prioritise it.
How often is the map updated?+
The GMC publishes an updated Content Map roughly annually, though small changes can happen between major versions. Our editorial team re-verifies the bank against the latest map each quarter.
If I complete 100% coverage, am I guaranteed to pass?+
No platform can guarantee a pass. Coverage is a necessary condition, not a sufficient one — you also need accuracy, mock practice, and exam stamina. What 100% coverage means is that nothing on your exam will be a topic you haven't seen.
Does the Content Map apply to PLAB 2 too?+
PLAB 2 is a clinical OSCE, not a written paper. Its blueprint is skills-based rather than knowledge-based, though the same conditions of clinical importance apply. This feature is focused on written-exam preparation (UKMLA AKT and PLAB 1).