ADC Practical Examination: Clinical Skills Assessment Guide

The ADC Practical Examination is the second and final hurdle in the ADC examination process. This clinical assessment evaluates your hands-on skills, clinical decision-making, and ability to communicate effectively with patients.

Overview of the ADC Practical Examination

The Practical Examination is a 2-day simulation-based assessment designed to test whether you can safely and competently provide dental care to Australian patients. Per ADC's official Practical Examination page, the assessment uses simulated patients, video-based clinical scenarios, and manikin tasks — there is no live patient treatment. The ten-station OSCE is held at the ADC Examination Centre, Level 6, 469 La Trobe Street, Melbourne. Candidates cannot sit consecutive practical examination periods, so a re-sit means waiting a period out.

Reform note: The amalgam placement task has been removed from Period 2, 2026 onwards (per ADC's announcement). If your preparation materials still emphasise amalgam, treat that content as historical.

Exam Structure

Component	Format	What's tested
Day 1 — Technical Skills	Manikin-based tasks	Restorative preparations and restorations, endodontic access, prosthodontic preparations
Day 2 — Clinical Skills	10-station OSCE with simulated patients + video scenarios	History-taking, examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, communication, professionalism

What the two days actually look like

The practical examination runs over a technical skills day and a clinical skills day. You sit both, and you should be prepared to complete either day first.

The pass rule is the part to internalise. In the ADC's own words:

To obtain an overall "pass" in the practical examination candidates must pass both days of the examination at a single attempt. The clinical skills day and technical skills day are assessing fundamentally different competencies and a strong performance on one examination day cannot compensate for a substandard performance on the other.

There is no banking a good day and re-sitting the weak one.

Technical skills day

You complete six tasks on typodont models mounted in a manikin.

• Each task is marked against a checklist. For every criterion you receive one of four grades — very good, satisfactory, borderline or unsatisfactory — scoring 3, 2, 1 or 0 respectively.
• Each task also receives an overall grade on a five-point named scale: outstanding, pass, borderline, fail or bad fail. It is not a 0–4 numeric scale.
• The handbook's worked examples are resin composite preparations and restorations, a metal-ceramic crown preparation, a provisional crown and an endodontic access cavity — no amalgam. The amalgam placement task was removed from Period 2, 2026 under the Minamata Convention on mercury.
• Also from Period 2, 2026 the ADC introduced "Platinum range" simulation teeth for the preparation and restoration tasks. They are compatible with existing models but engineered for different tactile feedback and cutting response — if you have been practising on older teeth, the handpiece will feel different on the day.

Clinical skills day

A ten-station OSCE, run as a half-day session — you are scheduled to either a morning or an afternoon sitting.

• Each station is a separate room with its own task tied to a clinical scenario or skill demonstration. Tasks may use standardised simulated patients, video-based scenarios, procedures on manikins and other resources.
• You get a designated reading period on entering each station, then are told when the examination period starts and finishes. A Convenor directs movement between stations.
• Some stations have an assessor observing directly; others are marked after the examination with no assessor in the room. Perform the same either way.

What is not in this exam

There is no live patient treatment at any point. Everything is simulated patients, video scenarios and manikin work. If a preparation course offers live-patient restorative practice as ADC exam preparation, it is not preparing you for this exam.

Results and pass rates

Results are posted on ADC Connect, usually within six weeks of the examination, though it can take longer. They are never released by telephone or email.

The most recently published pass rate is FY2024: 15% for the practical — 253 passes from 1,703 candidates across 72 sessions, at a 99% attendance rate. The written examination passed 41% in the same year, so the practical is by a wide margin the harder of the two.

Structure, grading scales and the pass rule verified 25 August 2026 against the ADC Practical Examination Handbook for General Dentistry, Version 1 (June 2018), updated June 2026. Pass rates from the ADC Annual Report 2023/24, pp. 27-28.

Preparing for the Practical Exam

Clinical Practice

Essential Preparation:

1. Refresh Your Clinical Skills

   • If you haven't practiced recently, consider observing or assisting in a dental clinic
   • Practice on phantom heads if available
   • Review procedural steps for all core treatments

2. Understand Australian Standards

   • Familiarise yourself with Australian infection control guidelines
   • Review the Dental Board of Australia's codes and guidelines
   • Understand patient consent requirements

3. Material Familiarity

   • Practice with materials commonly used in Australia
   • Understand the handling characteristics of different composites
   • Be familiar with various impression materials

Communication Skills

Effective patient communication is heavily weighted in the examination:

• Practice explaining procedures in simple terms
• Develop skills in obtaining informed consent
• Learn to manage anxious patients
• Practice giving post-operative instructions

Time Management

Each station has strict time limits. Practice:

• Working efficiently without rushing
• Prioritising tasks within each procedure
• Knowing when to seek help or make referrals

Common Reasons for Failure

1. Inadequate infection control - Always follow protocols meticulously

2. Poor patient communication - Explain everything clearly and obtain consent

3. Rushing procedures - Quality over speed, but manage time effectively

4. Ignoring patient safety - Never compromise on safety standards

5. Inadequate documentation - Complete all required paperwork

Day-Before Checklist

• Review all required instruments and materials
• Prepare your personal protective equipment
• Get adequate sleep
• Review emergency protocols
• Check examination venue location and timing
• Prepare all required identification documents

On Examination Day

• Arrive early and familiarise yourself with the clinic layout
• Review patient notes thoroughly before each procedure
• Stay calm and work systematically
• Ask questions if instructions are unclear
• Treat examiners and staff with respect

After the Practical Exam

Results are released approximately 8-10 weeks after completion. Upon passing, you can apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia.

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