PLE Subjects: The 12 Subjects and What to Focus On

The Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) covers twelve subjects spanning the entire medical curriculum, and knowing exactly what each one includes is the first step to planning an efficient review. Because passing depends on both a general weighted average and a minimum grade in every subject, no subject can be safely ignored. This guide lists the twelve PLE subjects, explains what each covers, and shows how to focus your preparation across all of them.

How the PLE subjects are organized

The twelve PLE subjects, each examined with 100 multiple-choice questions, are grouped into two halves: the basic sciences, which test the scientific foundation of medicine, and the clinical sciences, which test the practice of medicine across the major specialties. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Medicine distributes these subjects across the examination days. Each subject contributes to your overall weighted average, and the rule that no grade may fall below 50 percent means every subject genuinely counts.

The basic science subjects

The basic sciences establish the scientific grounding that underpins safe clinical practice:

• Anatomy and Histology: the structure of the body from gross anatomy to tissues, and the relationships that explain clinical findings and procedures.
• Physiology: how the organ systems function normally, from the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to the renal, endocrine and nervous systems.
• Biochemistry: the molecular and metabolic basis of health and disease, including nutrition and inborn errors of metabolism.
• Microbiology and Parasitology: the organisms that cause disease, their identification, and the principles of infection relevant to the Philippine setting.
• Pathology: the mechanisms of disease, from inflammation and healing to neoplasia, across the organ systems.
• Pharmacology: drug classes, their mechanisms, uses and adverse effects, and the principles of safe prescribing.

The clinical science subjects

The clinical sciences test the application of that foundation to real patients across the major specialties:

• Internal Medicine: the diagnosis and management of the broad range of adult medical conditions, a foundational and high-yield subject.
• Surgery: the assessment and management of surgical conditions, including peri-operative care and common emergencies.
• Obstetrics and Gynecology: care in pregnancy and childbirth and the management of gynecological conditions.
• Pediatrics: the care of infants, children and adolescents, including growth, development and nutrition.
• Preventive Medicine and Public Health: population health, epidemiology, prevention and the public-health priorities relevant to the Philippines.
• Legal Medicine and Ethics: medical jurisprudence, ethics and the legal responsibilities of a physician.

Which subjects deserve the most attention?

Every subject carries the same weight and the same no-grade-below-50 requirement, so in one sense all twelve matter equally. In practice, the broad clinical subjects, particularly Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics, reward the most time because they are large, high-yield and integrate knowledge from the basic sciences. That said, the smartest strategy is defensive as well as offensive: identify the subjects you are weakest in, whether a basic science you have not touched since early medical school or a clinical subject you found difficult, and give them enough attention to clear the 50 percent floor comfortably. A single neglected subject is the most common avoidable threat to a pass.

How to review across twelve subjects

Covering twelve subjects is a logistical challenge as much as an academic one, so structure matters. Build a schedule that rotates through every subject rather than lingering on your favorites, and pair a concise review of each subject with daily question practice on it. Keep a simple record of your performance in each subject so you can see at a glance which are lagging, and return to your weakest subjects repeatedly rather than hoping they improve on their own. As the exam nears, mix subjects together in timed practice so your recall works across the whole curriculum, the way the real papers demand.

How to get the most from a question bank

A question bank that covers all twelve PLE subjects is the most efficient way to prepare, because it lets you build coverage and monitor balance at the same time. Work subject by subject, read the reasoning behind every option, and use performance tracking to spot the subjects at risk of falling below the 50 percent floor. Because the PLE is entirely multiple-choice, the more well-explained questions you work across every subject, the more prepared you are, both for the overall average and for the per-subject minimum.

Passmed's PLE question bank covers all twelve subjects in PRC-aligned style, written by qualified doctors, with per-subject performance tracking so you can keep every subject above the line and focus your time where it counts. Explore the question bank →

Top tips for covering the PLE subjects

• Rotate through all twelve subjects rather than lingering on your strongest.
• Give the broad clinical subjects the most time, but never neglect a basic science.
• Identify your weakest subjects early and clear the 50 percent floor comfortably.
• Pair a concise subject review with daily questions on that subject.
• Track performance per subject so nothing slips below the line.
• Mix subjects in timed practice near the exam to match the real papers.

Frequently asked questions

How many subjects are in the PLE?

Twelve, grouped into the basic sciences (Anatomy and Histology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Parasitology, Pathology, Pharmacology) and the clinical sciences (Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and Legal Medicine and Ethics).

How many questions are in each PLE subject?

Each of the twelve subjects has 100 multiple-choice questions, and each contributes to your overall general weighted average.

Which PLE subjects are most important?

All twelve carry equal weight and a minimum-grade requirement, but the broad clinical subjects, especially Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics, reward the most time. Your weakest subjects also need attention to clear the 50 percent floor.

Can I skip a PLE subject I am weak in?

No. Because no grade may fall below 50 percent in any subject, a single neglected subject is one of the most common avoidable reasons candidates fail. Every subject needs enough preparation to clear the floor.

How should I review across all twelve subjects?

Rotate through every subject on a schedule, pair concise review with daily questions, track your performance per subject, and mix subjects in timed practice near the exam.

Exam format, subjects and passing requirements were checked against the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and its Board of Medicine (accessed July 2026). Specifications, dates and fees change, always confirm the current details on the official PRC website before you sit.