Overseas Registration Examination, Part 1
About ORE Part 1
ORE Part 1 is the first part of the Overseas Registration Examination, set by the General Dental Council for dentists who qualified outside the UK and the EEA. It is a computer-based examination of two papers, Paper A and Paper B.
At a glance
- Papers
- 2 (Paper A and Paper B)
- Questions per paper
- Not published by the GDC; each paper is three hours
- Duration per paper
- 3 hours
- Total questions
- —
- Question format
- Extended matching and single best answer questions, computer based
- Paper A
- Dental science and human disease
- Paper B
- Clinical dentistry, including law and ethics and health and safety
- Pass standard
- Pass or fail against a standard set by the GDC for each sitting
- Sittings
- Sittings are scheduled by the GDC and announced on the GDC website; check the current dates
- Results
- Published by the GDC after each sitting; the date is announced with the sitting
- Location
- London test centres, arranged by the exam provider
- Fee
- GBP 485 (check the GDC for the current fee)
- Attempts
- Up to four attempts at Part 1
- Provider
- General Dental Council
Facts are maintained centrally and reviewed against official sources. Always confirm with the General Dental Council before booking.
Papers and subjects
Paper A · 3h 0m
- Restorative dentistry
- Endodontics
- Periodontology
- Oral surgery
- Paediatric dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Prosthodontics
Paper B · 3h 0m
- Anatomy and physiology
- Oral pathology and microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Human disease and medical emergencies
- Dental materials
- Radiology and radiation protection
Format
Two computer-based papers, three hours each.
Paper A covers dental science and human disease. Paper B covers clinical dentistry, including law and ethics and health and safety. Each paper runs for three hours. The GDC does not publish a fixed question count, so work to the clock rather than to a number.
Questions are single best answer and extended matching, delivered on computer. Both papers are sat in the same sitting and the result is a pass or fail against a standard set by the GDC.
Preparing
How the platform maps to the examination.
Practice questions and mocks are written in the ORE Part 1 style and weighted by subject as the papers are. The thirteen subjects listed above are the subjects the platform covers, and explanations cite the UK guidance the examination expects.
Questions are not official ORE questions. The GDC website is the authoritative source for the format, dates, fees and results.
Guides
All guides- An ORE Part 1 study plan for 12, 8 and 4 weeks7 min read
- Free ORE Part 1 mock test2 min read
- How to prepare for ORE Part 14 min read
- ORE Part 1 exam dates for 2026 and 20272 min read
- ORE Part 1 exam format: papers, questions, timing and the day4 min read
- ORE Part 1 Paper A explained: subjects, timing and question style4 min read
- ORE Part 1 Paper B explained: subjects, timing and question style5 min read
- ORE Part 1 pass mark, pass rates and results5 min read
Common questions
The GDC sets a pass standard for each sitting using a standard-setting method, so the mark required varies between sittings. Both papers must be passed. The GDC publishes details of the marking approach on its website.
Sittings are scheduled by the GDC and announced on its website, together with the application window and the fee. Places are limited, so candidates should check the current dates and apply as soon as the window opens.
Up to four attempts at Part 1. Confirm the current rules with the GDC before booking, since the regulations can change.
No. Questions are written in the style of the examination by the platform's authors. The GDC publishes information about the examination format on its website.
How ready are you for the ORE Part 1?
The free diagnostic takes about 15 minutes and reports by subject.