What is the ADC Part 1 Exam? Format, Pass Rate, Fees & Subjects (2026 Guide)

The ADC Part 1 exam - officially the ADC written examination - is the first assessment overseas-trained dentists must pass on the Australian Dental Council pathway to registering and practising as a dentist in Australia. It tests the scientific and clinical knowledge expected of a newly graduated Australian dentist, and it's the gateway to the rest of the pathway.

ADC Part 1 exam format at a glance

• 280 multiple-choice questions in total, single best answer
• Delivered by computer over two consecutive days (Pearson VUE test centres worldwide)
• 4 sections of 70 questions - two sections per day, 2 hours per section
• Questions are scenario-based: each clinical vignette carries around 5 related questions (roughly 56 scenarios across the exam)
• No penalty for wrong answers - never leave a question blank

ADC Part 1 pass rate: why it's harder than most expect

The ADC's own Annual Report 2024-25 puts the overall written-exam pass rate at 12% (404 of 3,325 candidates), down from 41% the year before. The exam isn't tricky for the sake of it - it's just wide. Candidates who prep by re-reading textbooks or hoarding recalled questions tend to underperform on scenario-based MCQs. Those who diagnose their weakest high-weight subjects and drill scenario questions with explanations tend to pass first time.

ADC Part 1 exam fees (2026)

The written examination fee is AUD $2,122 per attempt (adc.org.au, 2026) at the time of writing, on top of a separate initial assessment of qualifications fee. Always confirm the current fees on adc.org.au. Because the fee applies per attempt, failing once effectively doubles the exam cost - see our full ADC Part 1 cost breakdown for the complete picture including prep costs.

ADC Part 1 subjects and weighting

The official blueprint distributes the 280 questions across 13 disciplines (target % of questions):

Three sub-disciplines are assessed across those disciplines rather than as separate blocks:

Source: ADC Written Examination Handbook for General Dentistry, Rev E, September 2025. Questions are also mapped to four competency clusters (20% / 30% / 30% / 20%) and you must achieve grade A or B in every cluster to pass.

This weighting matters more than most candidates realise: a candidate who is strong in endodontics but weak in restorative dentistry is leaving the biggest block of marks on the table. Smart preparation targets your weakest high-weight subjects first. Every subject has its own high-yield topics and traps - see the subject-by-subject guides.

How should you prepare for the ADC Part 1?

1. Diagnose your gaps first. Don't start on page one of a textbook - find out which subjects are actually costing you marks. A short readiness check across all 10 subjects is a much better starting point.
2. Practise scenario-based MCQs - the real exam is case-driven, so isolated fact recall isn't enough. You need to think through a vignette, then answer 5 linked questions on it.
3. Sit full-length timed simulations. 140 questions in a day is a stamina event; you need to have experienced it before exam day, not for the first time on exam day.
4. Follow a plan, not vibes. See our 8-week ADC Part 1 study plan for a working template.

Frequently asked questions

How many attempts do I get at the ADC Part 1? There is no hard cap on attempts, but each attempt costs another full exam fee, so first-attempt success is what everyone is really optimising for.

Can I sit the ADC Part 1 in my home country? Yes - the exam is delivered at Pearson VUE test centres worldwide, so you don't need to travel to Australia for the written exam.

What comes after ADC Part 1? Passing the written exam qualifies you to apply for the ADC Part 2 practical examination, which is the clinical assessment stage of the pathway.

Related ADC Part 1 guides

Deep-dive resources: ADC Part 1 pass rate explained · how to pass ADC Part 1 first time · full cost breakdown · 8-week study plan. Country-specific: India (₹) · Pakistan (PKR).