Are you dreaming of practicing dentistry in Australia? Well, that’s an excellent decision, because you will earn AUD 150,000 a year!!! To become a dentist, you must pass the Australian Dental Council (ADC) Exam. Let’s be honest: it’s not something you can crack by chance. With a vast syllabus, and a mix of written and practical assessments, knowing what to study and how to prepare is half the battle.
In this complete blog, we break down the ADC 2026 syllabus, highlight the written and practical exam formats, highlight high-impact areas and provide a free ADC Exam Syllabus PDF for download
About the ADC Exam
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) Exam is the mandatory assessment for internationally qualified dentists who wish to practice in Australia. It evaluates both theoretical knowledge and clinical competence to ensure that candidates meet the Australian standards of dental practice.
The ADC Exam is divided into two main components:
- Written Examination
- Practical Examination
Passing the ADC Exam demonstrates that a dentist is ready to safely and effectively practice in Australia. To pass this examination on the first attempt, make sure you enroll in Academically’s ADC Preparation course. You will get live and recorded lectures, study materials, practice questions, AI-based mock tests, personalised guidance and so much more.
ADC Exam Domains
The domains reflect your professional competencies and skills that the ADC wants to assess. Here’s a breakdown:
| Domain | Target % of Questions |
| Social Responsibility & Professionalism | 12% |
| Health Promotion | 8% |
| Clinical Information Gathering | 30% |
| Diagnosis & Management Planning | 30% |
| Clinical Treatment & Evaluation | 20% |
ADC Exam Syllabus 2026
The ADC syllabus cover the technical dental knowledge and clinical areas you need to master:
| Discipline / Subdiscipline | Target % of Questions |
| Dental Emergencies | 8% |
| Endodontics | 7% |
| Fixed Prosthodontics | 5% |
| General Medicine | 8% |
| Infection Prevention & Control | 5% |
| Oral Medicine & Pathology | 7% |
| Oral Surgery | 7% |
| Paediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics | 10% |
| Pain & Anxiety Management | 5% |
| Periodontics | 9% |
| Implantology | 4% |
| Preventive Dentistry & Behaviour Modification | 10% |
| Pharmacology | 10% |
| Removable Prosthodontics | 5% |
| Radiology | 10% |
| Restorative Dentistry (including carious & non-carious tooth surface loss) | 14% |
Download the ADC Syllabus PDF 2026
You can download the complete ADC Exam Syllabus PDF for 2026 to study offline and highlight key areas.
ADC Written Examination Format
- Question Type: Scenario-based multiple-choice questions
- Total Questions: 280 scored + 40 unscored
- Focus Areas: Medical emergencies, special needs dentistry, and other core disciplines
This ADC exam structure ensures you are tested on both knowledge and practical clinical application.
ADC Practical Examination Format
| Aspect | Details |
| Examination Type | Simulation-based practical assessment |
| Assessment Method | Hands-on clinical tasks on dental manikins / simulated clinical environment |
| Focus Areas | Clinical treatment skills, diagnosis & management planning, infection prevention & control, professional behaviour |
| Purpose | To assess clinical competence and readiness to practice dentistry in Australia |
How to Use This Syllabus for Preparation
- Focus on High-Weight Domains: Clinical information gathering and diagnosis/management planning together account for 60% of questions.
- Revise Across Subdisciplines: Restorative dentistry (14%), radiology (10%), and preventive dentistry (10%) appear across multiple domains, study them thoroughly.
- Scenario-Based Practice: Prioritize practice questions that simulate real clinical cases.
- Time Management: Prepare with mock exams under timed conditions to improve speed and accuracy.
Final Thoughts
The ADC Exam tests both knowledge and clinical competency. With a clear understanding of domains, disciplines, and question weightage, you can structure your study efficiently. Combine this with scenario-based practice and consistent revision, and you’ll be well-prepared for 2026.
For more information and guidance regarding ADC exam preparation, you can reach out to the experts at Academically.