Empowering the next generation of dental professionals

ORE Part 1

The purpose of the ORE Part 1 exam is to assess the knowledge and clinical understanding of overseas dentists who wish to practice in the UK. Administered by the General Dental Council (GDC), this examination is a crucial step for candidates to demonstrate their competency in clinically applied dental science and human disease, as well as clinical dentistry, law, ethics, and health and safety.

Overall, the ORE Part 1 exam serves as a foundational assessment that ensures overseas dentists meet UK standards for safe and effective dental practice, thereby allowing them to register with the GDC and work independently in the UK dental sector.

In order to become eligible for the ORE exam, candidates need to get registered on the GDC candidate list. The process for that can be found at https://visagedentalacademy.com/gdc-candidate-list-registration/. We will be able to assist you with all of your documentation and processing needs, including making sure that your precious time, money, and effort are not wasted with the application being accepted the first time. 

The ORE exam consists of two computer-based exam papers:

  • Paper A covers clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease.
  • Paper B covers aspects of clinical dentistry, including law and ethics and health and safety.

Each paper lasts three hours and is made up of multiple short answer questions (extended matching questions EMQs and single best answer SBA questions).

A candidate is expected to be able to show competence, knowledge and familiarity in the different aspects of dentistry which are outlined in the learning outcomes in GDC’s Preparing for Practice document.

There are normally a maximum of 200 places, but this has been increased to 600 for the next few sittings.

You must pass both papers in order to progress to Part 2.

Location and cost

The ORE Part 1 is held at King’s College London and currently costs £806.

Examination fees are not normally refundable. 

The fee for sittings of the ORE Part 1, held after 1 January 2025, will be £584

Part 1 examination dates

Results

Normally, the results  are released 30 days after the exam is conducted. 

You are scored out of 100 for the exam. The passing criteria is around 50 percent.   Upon passing Part 1, your name will be added to the Part 2 candidate list. You are allowed 04 attempts for the ORE Part 1 exam.