ADC Written Exam vs Practical Exam: What's the Difference?
Overseas-trained dentists seeking general registration in Australia sit two separate ADC examinations — the Written Examination and the Practical Examination. They test very different things, in a fixed order, and confusing them is a common early mistake. Here's how they compare.
Where each exam sits in the pathway
For most candidates the ADC pathway runs in three stages: an Initial Assessment of your qualifications, then the Written Examination, then the Practical Examination. The order is fixed — you must pass the Written Examination before you are eligible to sit the Practical Examination.
The Written Examination — knowledge
The Written Examination is a computer-delivered, multiple-choice exam that tests your underpinning clinical knowledge against the standard of a graduating Australian dentist. It runs over two consecutive days in four sections (two per day), built from clinical scenarios and weighted across the five ADC competency domains and thirteen disciplines.
- Format: computer-delivered MCQ, four sections over two consecutive days
- Tests: clinical reasoning and knowledge across the whole blueprint
- Prep: scenario-style question practice, blueprint-weighted study, mock exams
The Practical Examination — clinical skills
The Practical Examination is a separate, hands-on assessment of your clinical skills and judgement — a different kind of exam entirely from the knowledge-based Written paper. Preparation is practical and skills-based rather than question-bank-based, and is outside the scope of written-exam practice.
Because the format and requirements of the Practical Examination are set by the ADC and can change, confirm the current details on the official ADC website before planning your preparation.
What this means for you
- Focus first on passing the Written Examination — it's the gate to everything that follows.
- Use knowledge-based, blueprint-weighted question practice and mock exams for the Written.
- Plan Practical preparation separately, once the Written is behind you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I sit the ADC Written or Practical exam first?
The Written Examination comes first. You must pass it before you are eligible to sit the Practical Examination.
Is the ADC Practical exam multiple choice?
No. The Practical Examination is a hands-on assessment of clinical skills and judgement — a different format from the knowledge-based, multiple-choice Written Examination.
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