ADC Part 2 Practical Exam: What to Expect and How to Prepare

The Australian Dental Council practical examination is the final examination stage for internationally qualified dentists completing the ADC assessment pathway. It is a two-day examination designed to assess whether candidates can apply clinical knowledge, technical skills, communication and professional judgement in simulated clinical settings.

If you are preparing for ADC Part 2, understanding the structure of the examination before you begin practising can make your preparation far more focused.

How is the ADC practical examination structured?

The current general dentistry practical examination consists of two separate components:

• a Technical Skills Day
• a Clinical Skills Day

Candidates must complete both days, and either component may be scheduled first. The ADC states that candidates must pass both days within the same examination attempt to achieve an overall pass.

The two days assess different competencies, so strong performance on one day does not compensate for an unsuccessful result on the other.

What happens on the Technical Skills Day?

The Technical Skills Day assesses procedural restorative skills using typodont models mounted in dental manikins.

Candidates complete six technical tasks using standardised simulation equipment. These tasks may involve areas such as conservation, endodontics and fixed prosthodontics.

Examples described by the ADC include:

• preparation of carious teeth
• resin composite restorations
• preparations for indirect restorations
• temporisation
• endodontic procedures

The exact examination tasks come from an ADC item bank and should not be assumed from previous candidate experiences alone.

Important 2026 change

From Period 2 of 2026, the ADC removed the amalgam placement task from the practical examination. Candidates are instead required to complete anterior and posterior resin composite restorations during the Technical Skills Day.

The ADC also introduced updated simulation teeth from Period 2, 2026.

For candidates preparing now, this is why it is important to use current ADC guidance rather than relying only on older course notes or preparation advice.

What happens on the Clinical Skills Day?

The Clinical Skills Day uses an Objective Structured Clinical Examination, commonly called an OSCE.

Candidates currently complete a ten-station OSCE assessing areas including:

• clinical information gathering
• diagnosis and management planning
• clinical treatment and evaluation

Stations can involve different formats, including:

• simulated patients
• communication scenarios
• video-based scenarios
• procedures on manikins
• technical or procedural stations

Some OSCE stations focus primarily on communication and clinical reasoning, while others require candidates to demonstrate a technical or procedural skill.

Is infection control assessed?

Yes.

Infection prevention and control is relevant across the practical examination, and the ADC publishes a specific infection prevention and control marking rubric.

From January 2026, candidates are also specifically required to demonstrate hand washing at one technical OSCE station during the Clinical Skills Day.

Candidates should therefore treat infection control as part of their overall examination preparation rather than as a separate topic to revise at the end.

How should you prepare for ADC Part 2?

A useful way to structure your preparation is to separate it into four areas:

1. Technical Tasks

Understand the sequence, principles, equipment and assessment criteria behind each technical procedure before spending large amounts of time repeatedly practising it.

Watching clear demonstrations before hands-on practice can make your practice sessions more deliberate.

2. Skilled OSCE

Build a structured approach to clinical procedures, interpretation and practical decision-making.

The goal is not simply to memorise steps. You need to understand why each step matters and how it fits within safe clinical care.

3. Communication OSCE

Practise gathering information, explaining findings, discussing management options and communicating clearly in realistic clinical scenarios.

A repeatable framework can help you remain organised when working under time pressure.

4. Infection Control

Review current Australian infection prevention and control expectations and practise applying them consistently during both technical and OSCE-style scenarios.

Should you prepare online before attending hands-on training?

For many candidates, yes.

Online preparation can be particularly useful for understanding:

• task sequences
• clinical reasoning
• technical demonstrations
• common preparation errors
• OSCE structure
• infection control principles

before paying for intensive hands-on training.

That means practical sessions can focus more heavily on refining execution, rather than using expensive chair time to learn the basic process for the first time.

Aurora Academy’s ADC courses are designed to support this type of preparation: learn and review the material at home, then use hands-on training to develop and refine practical skills.

Preparing for ADC Part 2?

Aurora Academy offers self-paced online preparation across:

• Technical Tasks
• Skilled OSCE
• Communication OSCE
• Infection Control

Explore the Ultimate ADC Part 2 Course →

How long should you prepare for ADC Part 2?

There is no single preparation period that is right for every candidate.

Your preparation time will depend on factors such as:

• your recent clinical experience
• familiarity with Australian clinical expectations
• technical skill level
• OSCE experience
• ability to practise consistently
• access to hands-on training

A structured study plan is generally more useful than simply measuring preparation by the number of months spent studying.

Candidates should also monitor the ADC website because examination guidance, rubrics and task requirements can change.

What should you use as your primary source of exam information?

Always use the Australian Dental Council as the primary source for:

• examination structure
• current candidate handbooks
• examination dates
• marking information
• equipment requirements
• policy updates

The ADC specifically states that it does not endorse proprietary preparation courses.

Preparation courses such as Aurora should therefore be used as educational support, not as a replacement for current official ADC information.

Frequently asked questions

Is ADC Part 2 a two-day examination?

Yes. The current practical examination for dentists consists of a Technical Skills Day and a Clinical Skills Day, and candidates complete both.

How many technical tasks are in the ADC practical exam?

The ADC currently states that candidates complete six tasks during the Technical Skills Day.

How many OSCE stations are there?

The ADC currently describes the Clinical Skills Day as a ten-station OSCE.

Is amalgam still part of the ADC practical examination?

From Period 2 of 2026, the amalgam placement task was removed and replaced by a second resin composite restoration task.

Does Aurora Academy guarantee a pass?

No preparation provider can guarantee an ADC examination result. Aurora Academy provides educational preparation designed to help candidates understand and practise relevant knowledge and skills.

Can I use Aurora alongside an onsite ADC course?

Yes. Aurora is positioned as self-paced online preparation that can be used before, alongside or after hands-on training.

Related ADC resources

Once the other pages are live, link this article to:

• ADC Technical Tasks: Complete Preparation Guide
• ADC Skilled OSCE: Complete Preparation Guide
• ADC Communication OSCE: Complete Preparation Guide
• ADC Infection Control: What Candidates Need to Know
• How to Prepare for ADC Part 2 at Home