100+ Free UKMLA CPSA Practice Questions

Pass your UKMLA Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

100+ Questions

100% Free

1 / 100

Question 1

Score: 0/0

A 19-year-old presents with low mood. As part of a safe psychiatric history in the CPSA, which question must you not omit?

Their favourite type of music

A sensitive enquiry about thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Whether they prefer tea or coffee

How many siblings their parents have

to track

Same family resources

Explore More UK Medical Licensing (PLAB & UKMLA)

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Sample UKMLA CPSA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your UKMLA CPSA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1You enter a CPSA station where the examiner may be observing remotely via camera. What is the recommended first action when you begin any PLAB 2 / CPSA station?

A.Immediately start examining the patient

B.Confirm your name and GMC number

C.Ask the actor what is wrong with them

D.Wash your hands and put on gloves

Explanation: The GMC advises candidates to begin each station by confirming their name and GMC number, because the examiner may not be physically present and may be watching remotely via camera. This also models real-world professional identification.

2A 28-year-old woman presents with a 3-day history of dysuria and increased urinary frequency. To efficiently gather data in a CPSA history station, which screening question best helps you exclude pyelonephritis as a complication?

A.Do you have any loin pain or fever?

B.How many cups of coffee do you drink?

C.Have you changed your washing powder?

D.Do you exercise regularly?

Explanation: Loin (flank) pain and fever/rigors are red-flag features suggesting upper urinary tract infection (pyelonephritis) rather than uncomplicated lower UTI. Eliciting these targets safe data gathering and changes management toward systemic antibiotics and possible admission.

3In a CPSA history-taking station for chest pain, which feature in the patient's account most strongly raises concern for acute coronary syndrome rather than musculoskeletal pain?

A.Sharp pain reproduced by pressing on the chest wall

B.Pain worse on twisting the trunk

C.A localised tender spot over a rib

D.Central crushing pain radiating to the jaw with sweating

Explanation: Central, crushing or heavy chest pain radiating to the jaw or arm and associated with diaphoresis (sweating) and nausea is the classic presentation of myocardial ischaemia. Recognising this pattern triggers urgent ECG and troponin in your management plan.

4You are taking a history from a 55-year-old man with new headache. Which combination of features would prompt you to escalate urgently for suspected raised intracranial pressure?

A.Bilateral tight band-like headache relieved by rest

B.Unilateral throbbing headache with photophobia lasting hours

C.Headache worse in the morning and on coughing, with vomiting

D.Pain over the sinuses worse on bending forward with coryza

Explanation: Headache that is worse in the morning, worsened by coughing/straining (Valsalva) and accompanied by vomiting are classic red flags of raised intracranial pressure, warranting urgent imaging. Demonstrating recognition of these features is key to safe data gathering and management.

5During a focused cardiovascular history station, a patient reports breathlessness. Which item from the social history is most directly relevant to estimating their cardiovascular risk?

A.Number of pets at home

B.Smoking history in pack-years

C.Preferred holiday destinations

D.Type of mobile phone used

Explanation: Smoking is a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor; quantifying it in pack-years allows risk stratification and informs counselling. Capturing this in the social history demonstrates structured, relevant data gathering.

6A patient presents with palpitations. To structure an effective history within the 8-minute station, which approach best captures the nature of the arrhythmia?

A.Ask them to tap out the rhythm and describe onset, regularity and associated symptoms

B.Ask only whether they have chest pain

C.Spend the whole station listing every drug in the BNF

D.Avoid asking about caffeine or alcohol to save time

Explanation: Asking the patient to tap out the rhythm and describe onset (sudden vs gradual), regularity, duration and associated symptoms (syncope, chest pain) efficiently characterises palpitations and distinguishes benign from dangerous causes. This targeted approach maximises data-gathering marks.

7A 19-year-old presents with low mood. As part of a safe psychiatric history in the CPSA, which question must you not omit?

A.Their favourite type of music

B.Whether they prefer tea or coffee

C.How many siblings their parents have

D.A sensitive enquiry about thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Explanation: Risk assessment, including a direct but sensitive enquiry about thoughts of self-harm and suicide, is mandatory in any mental health history. Omitting it is a serious safety failure that can cause a station to be failed regardless of other performance.

8You are eliciting a drug history in a patient admitted with a fall. Which question is most important for medication-related fall risk?

A.Do you take your tablets with water or juice?

B.What colour are your tablets?

C.Are you taking any sedatives, antihypertensives or anticoagulants?

D.Do you store your medicines in the kitchen or bathroom?

Explanation: Sedatives and antihypertensives increase fall risk (sedation, postural hypotension), and anticoagulants raise the risk of serious bleeding after a fall. Identifying these guides medication review and safety planning.

9In a CPSA paediatric history station, a parent describes their 2-year-old as feverish and 'not themselves'. Which feature would you treat as a red flag for serious illness?

A.Mild runny nose for one day

B.Reduced wet nappies, drowsiness and a non-blanching rash

C.Refusing one meal but otherwise playful

D.A single episode of vomiting after coughing

Explanation: Reduced urine output (fewer wet nappies), drowsiness/lethargy and a non-blanching rash are red flags on the NICE traffic-light system for a feverish child, raising concern for sepsis or meningococcal disease. Recognising these escalates urgent assessment.

10A patient mentions during the consultation that they feel unsafe at home because of their partner. What is the most appropriate immediate response in the station?

A.Acknowledge their disclosure, ensure privacy, and ask directly and sensitively about their safety

B.Tell them to leave their partner immediately

C.Change the subject to avoid embarrassment

D.Reassure them it is probably nothing to worry about

Explanation: Domestic abuse disclosure requires you to acknowledge it, ensure confidentiality and a safe environment, and ask direct, sensitive questions about immediate safety and children. This patient-centred, non-judgemental approach scores highly in interpersonal and safeguarding domains.

About the UKMLA CPSA Exam

The CPSA is the second, performance-based component of the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA), alongside the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT). It is an OSCE that assesses clinical and professional skills, knowledge and behaviours against the GMC MLA content map. For international medical graduates the CPSA is delivered as PLAB 2, a 16-station OSCE at the GMC Clinical Assessment Centre in Manchester.

Assessment

Performance-based OSCE blueprinted to the GMC MLA content map. For IMGs (PLAB 2) it is 16 stations of 8 minutes each, including at least 2 rest stations; UK medical schools run an equivalent OSCE/OSLER meeting GMC standards.

Time Limit

About 3 hours total; each scored station lasts 8 minutes with roughly 90 seconds-2 minutes reading time between stations.

Passing Score

Criterion-referenced; the pass mark is set per sitting using borderline regression, plus a minimum number of stations passed. There is no fixed percentage.

Exam Fee

IMGs (PLAB 2): GBP 1,036 per attempt from April 2026. UK students: no separate GMC fee, as the CPSA forms part of the medical degree. (General Medical Council (GMC) / UK medical schools)

UKMLA CPSA Exam Content Outline

33%

Data gathering, technical and assessment skills

Focused history taking, physical examination, practical procedures and investigations leading to a diagnosis. Scored at every CPSA/PLAB 2 station.

33%

Clinical management skills

Formulating diagnoses, explaining results, safe prescribing, escalation (ABCDE, NEWS2, SBAR) and safety-netting management plans.

34%

Interpersonal skills

Rapport, empathy, shared decision-making, consent, safeguarding, confidentiality and professional and ethical conduct under GMC Good Medical Practice.

How to Pass the UKMLA CPSA Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Criterion-referenced; the pass mark is set per sitting using borderline regression, plus a minimum number of stations passed. There is no fixed percentage.
Assessment: Performance-based OSCE blueprinted to the GMC MLA content map. For IMGs (PLAB 2) it is 16 stations of 8 minutes each, including at least 2 rest stations; UK medical schools run an equivalent OSCE/OSLER meeting GMC standards.
Time limit: About 3 hours total; each scored station lasts 8 minutes with roughly 90 seconds-2 minutes reading time between stations.
Exam fee: IMGs (PLAB 2): GBP 1,036 per attempt from April 2026. UK students: no separate GMC fee, as the CPSA forms part of the medical degree.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

UKMLA CPSA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practise full timed OSCE circuits with a partner: rehearse opening every station by confirming your name and GMC number, then structuring 8 minutes across data gathering, management and closing.

2Drill core practical skills and safe prescribing (cannulation, catheterisation, BLS, drug and infusion calculations, ABCDE, NEWS2 escalation and SBAR handover) until they are slick and error-free.

3Blueprint your revision to the GMC MLA content map, covering common presentations, red flags, safeguarding, capacity, consent and confidentiality so no high-yield ethics or communication scenario catches you out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CPSA the same as PLAB 2?

For international medical graduates, yes. Since 17 May 2024 PLAB 2 is delivered against the UKMLA content map and meets the CPSA requirements. UK medical students sit an equivalent CPSA (often called an OSCE or OSLER) run by their own medical school to GMC standards.

How many stations are in the CPSA?

Sitting it as PLAB 2, the CPSA has 16 stations, each lasting 8 minutes, including at least two rest stations, and the full circuit takes roughly three hours at the GMC Clinical Assessment Centre in Manchester. UK schools set their own station numbers within GMC requirements.

How is the CPSA marked?

Each station is scored across three domains: data gathering, technical and assessment skills; clinical management skills; and interpersonal skills. The pass mark is set per sitting using the borderline regression method, so it varies between exam days.

How much does PLAB 2 / the CPSA cost?

From April 2026 the GMC PLAB 2 fee is GBP 1,036 per attempt for IMGs. UK medical students do not pay a separate GMC fee because the CPSA is part of their degree assessment.