What Is the ADC Part 1 Exam? Format, Fees and Pass Rate (2026)

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

The next written exam is on 17–18 March 2027. Bookings for that sitting open 8–15 December 2026 under the ADC's new booking process: you choose a Pearson location and pay in the same session, with a two-hour hold. You need a valid initial assessment first. See ADC written examination and the booking change notice. Read our guide: How to book your ADC written exam seat.

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 every discipline in the ADC blueprint 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.

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).