Best Physician Associate Question Banks 2025 – Matrix vs Plabable vs Pa2Be (Full Comparison)

A solid question bank is still the fastest route to a first-time PARA pass. This review ranks the main UK-focused options on size, price, blueprint alignment and analytics so you know exactly where to invest your study hours.

At-a-Glance Comparison (August 2025)

Platform Questions† Curriculum Mock Exam Analytics Price*
Matrix 7 000+ PARA 2025 Yes (200 SBAs) Peer percentile, weakness heat-map £6.99 / mo
£49.99 / yr
Plabable for PA ≈ 4 300 source PANE 2023 Yes Raw score only £20 / 3 mo  or  £25 / 5 mosource
PassPA ≈ 700archived PANE 2023 No — £36 / yrarchived
Pa2Be ≈ 1 000source Older matrix (2020) No — £19.99 / yrsource
PassMedicine 10 000+ (generic)source Medical finals / PLAB Yes Peer histogram From £25 / 4 mosource

*Public prices at time of writing. Always confirm on the provider’s site.
†Rounded to the nearest hundred.

Platform Deep-Dive

Matrix

  • Only bank fully rewritten for the PARA 2025 blueprint.
  • AI Study Planner auto-builds a weekly timetable.
  • Mock exam instantly shows your percentile vs other users.
  • Slick iOS/Android app.

Plabable for PA

  • Slick mobile app and active WhatsApp study groups.
  • Blueprint still labelled “PANE” – missing new geriatrics & peri-op domains.
  • Analytics limited to raw score; no percentile or topic breakdown.

PassPA

  • Very small bank – you’ll run out of new SBAs quickly.
  • No progress tracker or mobile app.
  • Website intermittently offline; support slow.

Pa2Be

  • 1 000 SBAs with monthly additions, but interface feels dated.
  • Based on the 2020 matrix; gaps in dermatology and geriatrics.

PassMedicine

  • Massive database aimed at doctors – good for broad knowledge.
  • Question style (and distractors) differ from PA best-of-five wording.
  • Best used as a supplementary resource for difficult specialties.

Verdict – What Should You Choose?

If your goal is a first-time PARA pass, you need:

  • Enough volume to avoid repeats (>5 000 SBAs).
  • Content mapped to the 2025 blueprint.
  • Mock exams with percentile analytics.

Matrix is the only option that ticks all three boxes. Plabable adds extra practice but omits newer topics, and the smaller banks are best kept for quick spot-checks. PassMedicine remains excellent for widening medical knowledge but isn’t tailored to PA exam phrasing.

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Frequently Asked Questions ⭐️

How many SBAs should I complete before the PARA?

Aim for at least 2–3× the exam length every week—around 400-600 SBAs—for six weeks.

Is Plabable still useful if it follows the old PANE matrix?

Yes for core topics, but you’ll need a PARA-aligned bank to cover new domains such as peri-operative care and geriatrics.

Why does Matrix have more questions than the others?

New SBAs are added after every exam sitting and outdated questions are retired, keeping the live pool large and current.

Sofia