We are reviewing the process of working as a certified dentist and dental professional in Australia.
In the previous slide, we have covered all the basic points related to the steps to be aware of before you start working on your dental career in Australia. (Related to VISA and others)
We also enumerated all 3 steps of the Australian Dental Examination.
We had a detailed look at the first step in the process – Initial Assessment by the ADC.
In this slide, we would have a review of the second step of the ADC Certification Process – The Written Examination
STEP 2: DENTIST WRITTEN EXAMINATION
The second stage of the assessment process is the Written Examination.
The written test evaluates a candidate’s knowledge of the dental science and practices of dentistry. The examination also assesses the application of clinical judgment and reasoning skills relevant to dental practice in Australia.
For exam related dates, always refer to the official website of ADC.
All the latest exam dates, result notifications, and other ADC related updates are published at the media center section of the website.
Tentative months for the written examination?
Two written examination sessions are scheduled each calendar year. These are usually held in March and September.
Written examination application periods are advertised on the ADC website and usually occur three to four months before the examination date.
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) written examination for dentists is a computer-delivered examination designed to test a candidate’s knowledge of the science and practice of the dentistry, and assess the application of clinical judgment and reasoning skills relevant to dental practice in Australia.
ADC has published an official handbook for you to refer and get all the necessary details to undertake the written exam. The official link to the ADC Written Exam handbook is displayed below.
Below you will find the summary of some of the important points from the handbook for your better understanding. Download the handbook and read it completely to have a detailed idea about the ADC Written Exams.
Each written examination session is held over two full consecutive days and two sessions are held each year, generally in early March and September. (Each is considered as one cycle). The examination is computer-delivered and is offered in multiple locations within Australia and overseas.
The written examination consists of four papers containing both scenario-based and single-best answer multiple-choice questions (MCQ).
The four papers must be completed in one examination session, i.e. it is not possible to sit in one of the papers in March (or September) and the remaining paper/s in September (or March).
There is no restriction on the number of attempts allowed for the ADC written examination, however, a new application is needed and the examination fee must be paid for each attempt.
A pass in the written examination is valid for three years only. This means that candidates who pass the written examination must sit and pass the practical examination within three years of notification of a successful result in the written examination.
Candidates who do not complete the practical examination in this timeframe must re-sit and pass the written examination to again become eligible to enter the practical examination.
How To apply for the written examination:
- To be eligible for the written exam, the candidate must have successfully completed the ADC Initial assessment of professional qualifications in general dentistry. Once all the certificates are successfully verified then the candidate can appear for the written exam.
- In a single calendar year – two written exams are usually scheduled. These are usually held in March and September.
- Hence the candidate needs to check the official ADC website for notification of written exams. The candidate must submit the Written Examination Application with the mentioned Date/Time limit of the published exam notification at the ADC website.
- Are there any official materials for exam preparation?
- Check the official link that explains the preparation of Written Exams for ADC. Written examination handbook for general dentistry (ADC)
- There are many private exam preparatory materials/coaching centers available that the candidates can use to get practiced in the ADC. (But such courses are not officially endorsed by ADC)
The assessment forms undergo minor modifications regularly and you always need to use the latest application form for every stage.
You can get the latest Written Exam Form at this official link https://www.adc.org.au/Publications-and-forms/Assessment-Forms
Assessment forms
(Latest ADC Forms)
Read the official Written Exam Application form below multiple times to understand the requirements and details asked for you. You will also find a CHECKLIST of all the documents required. Read the checklist thoroughly and arrange the documents as necessary and applicable for your application. As mentioned always download the latest version of the application form from the official ADC Forms Section at this official link https://www.adc.org.au/Publications-and-forms/Assessment-Forms
How to send the application form after filling it?
Please note: The application form cannot be e-mailed. As mentioned clearly at the end of the application form, after completing filling the form you need to physically post the application along with all the certified copies of your supporting documents.
Post applications and certified documents to: PO Box 13278, Law Courts Vic 8010, Australia.
If you plan on sending your documents via courier, please post to Level 6, 469 Latrobe Street, Melbourne Vic 3000, Australia
Process of Submitting for the Written Exam
Steps after your Written Exam Application gets approved
Congratulations first! If your application for Written Exam gets approved, now it is time to book your written exam.
What are the possible venues for booking a Written Exam
Can you request a change of venue?
Once an examination booking has been made, you may request a change in venue up until the closure of the booking period (subject to availability).
Changes to examination venues cannot be made after the booking period has closed.
All change of venue requests should be made directly to Pearson VUE.
Check your contact details properly
Venue details and urgent information will be communicated to you via your nominated email address. Please ensure the email address you provide is reliable and checked regularly. Candidates who use free internet providers (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) should properly maintain their mailboxes and check junk mail or other filters. The ADC/Pearson VUE will not be responsible for non-receipt of correctly addressed emails.
Additional information on Written Exams for General Dentistry
- ADC written exam consists of scenario-based multiple-choice questions (MCQs) for its written examinations.
- The use of scenario-based MCQs allows for the assessment of not only knowledge but also the application of knowledge.
- Significance of the Written Exam: ADC candidates must successfully complete the written examination before being able to progress to the practical examination. To ensure currency of knowledge, the practical examination must be completed within three years of successful completion of the written examination.
Format of the Written Exam
The written exam goes on for TWO days.
Candidate needs to clear the Written exam successfully to be eligible to appear for the Practical Exams.
The questions in each paper will focus on, but not be limited to, the disciplines listed in the table below. For example, Paper 2 will mainly focus on Prosthodontics and Implantology but will also require knowledge from other disciplines.
Books for Preparing for the Written Exams
How the Written Exam is conducted
- The candidate is supposed to reach the examination venue at the stipulated time. The usual time for both the days of examination is 8 AM to 5PM. Hence you will need to plan your accommodation and travel as per the required timing.You must be at the examination center usually 30-60 minutes before the examination starts. Once the examination has commenced no candidate will be granted late entry, regardless of the reason. If you fail to sit a paper, this will be counted as a withdrawal from the examination and you will not receive any examination results.
- You will be provided with a copy of the Candidate Rules Agreement at the examination venue and will be asked to provide a sample of your signature at registration, signifying that you understand and accept these rules.
- You may view the Candidate Rules Agreement on the ADC website. Any candidate found to be in breach of the examination rules will be subject to the processes outlined in the ADC Misconduct Policy.
- The written examination will be delivered via a computer screen. Each candidate will be allocated a workstation.
- At the start of each day, you will be presented with a tutorial guiding you through the format of the examination. You will be provided with all the materials necessary for the examination.
- Calculators or other electronic or mechanical aids are neither required nor permitted. Scrap paper is neither provided nor permitted for the Written Examination papers.
Documents to carry for verification in Written Exam
Candidates are required to bring the evidence of identity as authorization to sit the examination. These documents will be checked before you will be allowed to sit for the examination.
You must present two forms of identification (ID).
You may present either two forms of Primary ID or one form of Primary ID and one form of Secondary ID.
Primary ID: Primary ID documents must be government-issued with your name, a recent recognizable photograph and a signature, such as an International Travel Passport.
Secondary ID: Secondary ID documents must contain either your name and a recent, recognizable photograph or your name and signature such as a debit/credit card, or your driver’s license (if not used as primary ID).
- The ID documents that you present at the examination must be original (i.e. no photocopies) and current at the time of the examination.
- The first and last names 7 that you used to register for the examination must exactly match the first and last names on the ID documents that you present.
- Other than your international passport, all forms of identification must be issued in the country you are testing in. Any non-English documents must be accompanied by an appropriate translation as outlined in the ADC translation of document guidelines.
How will you access the results of the Written Exams?
Candidates will receive their result in the written examination via the ADC Candidate Portal.
To access the Portal you will be provided with your own unique login and password prior to the release of results. First-time examination candidates will not be able to access the candidate portal until results have been released. If you are a repeat examiner, you will already have the login and password.
Written examination results will be released approximately 6 weeks after the date of the examination. It will be announced/notified on the ADC website.
Results for the ADC Exams are mentioned as PASS or FAIL. (You will also recieve grades) ADC written examination results will appear on your Results Profile. To access your examination grades please click on your PASS or FAIL result.
To be awarded a PASS in the written examination, candidates must PASS all four written papers. The Results Profile also provides a grade for each paper attempted.
Grades A, B, and C are PASS grades and grades D and E are FAIL grades.
Withdrawl and Verification of Exam Results
Can a candidate withdraw from the Written Exam?
Yes, withdrawal from an ADC examination can be made by submitting a Notification of withdrawal form. Candidate needs to submit this withdrawal form directly to ADC, stating that you are withdrawing from the written exam.
Will you receive a Refund?
Yes, if you submit the withdrawal form before the conduction of the written exam, you are eligible for a refund. However, the amount of refund depends on at which stage you have applied from the refund and withdrawal. For example, if you withdraw from a booked examination up to two (2) weeks before the examination date you will be eligible to receive a 50% refund of the examination 6 fees. Check the two links below from ADC site:
Will I incur a financial penalty if I withdraw from the written examination?
Verification of Exam Results
Candidates who wish to have their results verified must submit an Application for Verification of Written Examination Results, together with the required fee, within 28 days of the date that results are posted. The application form and current fee are available on the ADC website. The ADC does not release examination material to candidates. The verification process does not provide candidates with the questions and answers from the examination.
The Timeframe and Cost of Written Examination
| ACTIVITY | TIMEFRAME |
|---|---|
| Written examination application period | Approximately 3 to 4 months before the examination |
| Authorisation to test emails sent | 8 weeks before examination |
| Pearson VUE bookings open | 8 weeks before examination |
| Pearson VUE bookings close | 5 weeks before examination |
| Notification of examination results | 6 weeks after examination |
| Application for verifications and appeals close | 28 days from notification of results |
Cost of Written Exam: AUD$ 2000
Dentist written examination
We have covered all the basic points related to the steps to be aware of before you start working on your dental career in Australia. We also enumerated all 3 steps of the Australian Dental Skill Assessment Examination.
In the next slide, we will have a review of the 3rd Step in the Australian Dental Journey (Practical Examination).