The Qualifying Examination (QE) will take on a new format comprising three parts:

Part 1 will consist of three sections, namely:

-          Medicine & Surgery, Pharmacology and Dental Materials

-          Physiology and Anatomy

-          Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology and Oral Biology           

Part 2 consists of an assessment of the competence of a dentist in simulating the preparation and restoration of a diseased tooth or teeth on a simulator in the

-          preparation of a Class II cavity, and the

-          preparation of a crown with fabrication of a provisional crown

Part 3 comprises (i) the assessment of knowledge of the clinical dental disciplines expected of a new dental graduate through written essays, and (ii) an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) consisting of a circuit of assessment stations on clinical dentistry.  The clinical dental disciplines comprise Prosthodontics, Endodontics, Operative Dentistry, Oral Surgery (including Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology), Periodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, Preventive Dentistry and Dental Public Health.

Rules for passing new format QE

1.     A candidate must pass each Part to proceed to the next.

2.     Candidate must pass every section of the Part 1 examination.

3.     For Part 2, the candidate must pass both simulation sections.

4.     For Part 3, the candidate must pass all sections.

5.     A candidate who fails in one or more Parts has a second and final opportunity to attempt those parts of the QE.

6.      All three parts of the QE must be completed successfully, including supplementary assessments, within a 12-month period that starts from the first attempt of the Qualifying Examination, as stipulated under section 15A(4)¹ in Dentists Regulations.