PRES LEVEL 2

PRES 2 Exam Ireland: Complete Guide to Format, Syllabus & Preparation

PRES 2 is the written multiple-choice exam set by the Irish Medical Council (IMC), the first sat component of Ireland's Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES) for international medical graduates seeking Irish registration. It tests clinical knowledge across obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and medicine/general practice through clinical-scenario-based questions. Candidates must pass PRES 2 before attempting PRES 3, the OSCE component.

What is PRES 2?

PRES 2 is the written knowledge component of Ireland's Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES), set by the Irish Medical Council (IMC). It is required for international medical graduates who qualified outside the EU/EEA and who do not hold a qualification or internship the IMC recognises as an exemption, before they can register to practise medicine in Ireland.

PRES 2 must be passed before a candidate can attempt PRES 3, the OSCE and data interpretation component — the two levels are sat in a fixed, IMC-enforced sequence.

Subscribe to SmartQBank for PRES 2

FAQS

PRES 2 FAQs

PRES 2 is the written multiple-choice exam component of Ireland's Pre-Registration Examination System, testing clinical knowledge across five core specialty areas.

Yes. The Irish Medical Council enforces a fixed sequence — PRES 2 must be passed before a candidate can sit PRES 3.

The Irish Medical Council generally recognises a PLAB 1 pass as equivalent to PRES 2 in practice. Confirm your specific exemption eligibility directly with the Irish Medical Council, as individual circumstances vary.

Medicine/general practice, surgery, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, and psychiatry.

Approximately 3 hours.

See the comparison section below.

Still have a questions?

Can't find the answer to your question? Send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!

Contact us

COMPARISON

PRES 2 vs PLAB 1 Comparison

Equivalence note (verify against Irish Medical Council before publish — evolving area)

The Irish Medical Council currently treats a PLAB 1 pass as PRES-2 equivalent in practice, allowing many PLAB 1 pass holders to progress directly to PRES 3.
PRES 2 and PLAB 1 remain separate exams, booked and run independently by their respective regulators (Irish Medical Council vs GMC), even where mutual recognition applies.

FEATURE

PRES 2

PLAB 1

Governing body

Irish Medical Council (IMC)

GMC (UK)

Format

Written MCQ, clinical scenarios, ~3 hours

180 SBA questions, 180 minutes

Registration granted

Ireland

UK (GMC)

Recognised equivalence

Irish Medical Council recognises PLAB 1 pass as PRES 2-equivalent

PLAB 1 ≈ PRES 2 (exemption in practice)

Candidates targeting Ireland who don't yet hold a PLAB 1 pass should sit PRES 2 directly; candidates who already hold a PLAB 1 pass should check current IMC exemption rules before booking PRES 2, as they may not need to sit it separately.

PLAB 1

EXAMS