Managing your time is crucial during preparation of any exam, but this is more significant for your ORE/LDS Part-1 exam.
The exam is expensive, not only because of its fee alone, but because most of you will be taking time off work to take it. Many will travel from distant places, even from overseas, for it. Thus, it is imperative that you give it your best shot. The exam is doable, but only if you properly plan for it.
The exam is doable, but only if you properly plan for it.
There are usually two types of candidates appearing for the exam. Those who are going to start from scratch, maybe after a break of multiple years from their study; and those who have some prior dental knowledge. Both groups need sufficient preparatory time!
This time will range from 3-6 months, depending on the amount of background knowledge that you have. You must understand that your knowledge of dentistry is not the only thing that is evaluated in the exam. You are also quizzed on topics pertaining to law and ethics, guidelines of leading organizations like SDCEP, NICE, FGDP, IADT, guidance from BDA, and many more. To familiarize yourself with all these, you will need sufficient time.
My advice for you will be the following: 🗣️
• Always start your preparation from a subject you are comfortable with. You may use a course-provider, the Oxford Handbook (Pink book), or any other resource.
• The most crucial point is that you study in a very focused manner. DO NOT waste time studying the whole depth and breadth of a subject. You will tire yourself out and lose motivation.
• You may enroll in a mock-exam course first – only to gauge topics that are frequently repeated. Initially, you should focus only on those topics. That way, you will be motivated by the daily progress that you make.
• For subjects of basic sciences, resources are scant. Blue book is often recommended, but only a few find it easy to read. You may use notes from a course provider for these subjects.
• Lastly, leave the last 15 days just for revision of weak concepts. Since the exam contains a lot of information that needs to be remembered, forgetting is part of the process.
You need to leave time to restrengthen your concepts.
In conclusion, the earlier you start your preparation, the easier it will be for you at the end. Do not buy into people’s claims that they prepared for the exam in 2 – 3 weeks. Their circumstances and luck could be very different than you. 💢
