Starting your dental career is exciting, but planning an international future right after graduation can feel overwhelming. Dr. Saurav Saha, a freshly graduated dentist from Pune, India who cleared the Australian Dental Council (ADC) Written Exam September 2026 on his first attempt, proves that early career success is possible with the right preparation, dedication, and a clear goal. His journey offers valuable insights for aspiring dentists who dream of taking their first steps towards practising dentistry in Australia.
Speaking about the moment he received the ADC September 2026 Result, Dr. Saurav says the experience was overwhelming after the amount of hard work he had put in.
“This moment is very overwhelming. I am super excited and very overjoyed.”
In an interview with Dr. Sonal, the Programme manager at Academically Global, Dr. Saurav (BDS, ADC-Qualified Candidate) speaks about the journey, what emerged was less a celebration and more a masterclass, and deeply informative for every freshly graduated dentist dreaming of Australia. Let’s get inspired.
ADC Exam 2026 Success Journey of Dr. Saurav Saha
| Successful Candidate | Dr. Saurav Saha |
| Educational Background | Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
| Graduated in | 2024 |
| Why did he choose Australia? | Because of lifestyle, culture and dental quality of practice |
| What helped him during ADC preparation? | Attending lectures from Academically and consistently practising questions |
| Attempts | Single attempt in September 2026 |
| Result | Pass |
Clearing the Australian Dental Council (ADC) Written Exam marks an important step in Dr. Saurav's plans to pursue a dental career in Australia. His achievement reflects the combination of her academic background, professional experience, and focused preparation.
Why Choose Australia As A Career Destination
Australia's lifestyle and culture were the prime factors that attracted Dr. Saurav the most towards Australia.
Initially he was not inclined a lot towards the dentistry pathway but after exploring The dental quality of practice in Australia he decided to build his career in dentistry in Australia.
What is the ADC Exam
The Australian Dental Council is responsible for assessing overseas-qualified dental practitioners through its established pathway. Its process includes an initial assessment, a written examination and a practical examination. Candidates must also satisfy the applicable registration requirements before practising in Australia.
Eligibility criteria: a minimum four-year, full-time dental degree (BDS) from a recognised university.
Goal: Your knowledge and skills should align with Australian healthcare standards.
| Stage | Frequency | Duration | What does it involve |
| Initial Assessment | Open year round (rolling applications) | ~ 8 weeks | Qualification and work history review |
| Written exam | 2 cycles/year (March & September) | 2 days | 4 scenario (cluster)- based MCQ papers |
| Practical exam | 3 application periods/year (exam dates scheduled across Jan-Dec) | 2 days | OSCE with technical and clinical skills |
How To Prepare For ADC Written Exam
After deciding that he want to pursue the Australian pathway, Dr. Saurav joined Academically in March 2026 to prepare strategically for ADC exam in 2026. He was amazed by Dr. Sonal's knowledge who explained to him the entire ADC pathway procedure in detail and ultimately he decided that it was the exact guidance he needed to achieve success in his first attempt.
Dr. Saurav didn't try to cover everything once and move on. He covered the same material multiple times until it was absorbed, not just recognised. Through Academically's Learning Management System (LMS), he had access to recorded lectures, PowerPoint presentations, structured study handouts, and a suite of topic-wise tests and grand tests.
1. Start with the PPTs and lectures. He began with the structured content on the LMS, working through each module's presentations before layering in the lecture recordings.
2. Do every test, then do it again. He attempted most of the mock tests repeatedly. "The repetitions," he said, "are what I relied on." This helped him gain confidence during the actual exam because our mock tests simulate real-time based exam scenario. So the aspirants are already acquainted with what they can expect on the exam day.
3. Master the TG and ICG, obsessively. The Therapeutic Guidelines (TG) and Infection Control Guidelines (ICG) were singled out by his faculty as critical, and Dr. Saurav followed that guidance faithfully.
4. Use live mock tests for time practice, not just content. One of the most overlooked aspects of ADC preparation is exam timing. The written exam is a two-day, 280-question computer-based test, four papers of 70 questions each, two hours per paper. Dr. Saurav credited Academically's live mock tests with giving him a genuine simulation of that time pressure. "Because of the practice, the time was just enough," he noted.
Expert Advice To Candidates Preparing For ADC Exam
Dr. Saurav's message to aspiring candidates appearing for the ADC examination is to begin with proper resource.
His key advice is to:
Prepare for ADC exam with a structured plan and proper resources.
Dr. Saurav says the grand tests from Academically helped him immensely in the ADC exam. They allowed him to approach every question with confidence.
Trauma guidelines and infection control guidelines are the important part of the ADC exam as most of the questions are asked directly from them.
Dr. Saurav's advice to future ADC aspirants:
“While preparing for the ADC exam, don’t focus solely on the exam itself. The actual exam day can bring unexpected challenges. For example, during preparation we studied health promotion, but in the exam the questions felt entirely new. That’s why it’s important to prepare thoroughly and in the best possible way. Beyond that, don’t waste energy worrying about what exactly will appear in the exam — focus instead on building strong knowledge and skills.”
After Clearing ADC Written: Dr. Saurav’s Next Step Toward Practising in Australia
With the ADC Written Exam behind him, Dr. Saurav now prepares for the ADC Practical Exam, a two-day assessment conducted in Melbourne, evaluating both technical and clinical competencies. Completing it allows him to apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia through Ahpra, subject to the applicable registration requirements.
Recognising this, Academically offers guidance beyond the examination itself, including sessions on:
- CV preparation
- Australian job applications
- Career guidance
- Interview readiness
This helps candidates move from exam success to employment with greater confidence. With the MCQ exam cleared, the next milestone is demonstrating real-world clinical competence.
Final Thoughts: Your ADC Journey Can Begin Right After Graduation
Dr. Saurav Saha’s success story is a reminder that you do not necessarily need years of professional experience before beginning your journey towards an international dental career. With a clear goal, the right study resources, consistent revision, and repeated mock-test practice, freshly graduated dentists can start preparing for the Australian Dental Council (ADC) pathway with confidence.
What stands out to me about Dr. Saurav’s journey is his commitment to revisiting concepts, practising questions multiple times, and paying special attention to Therapeutic Guidelines and Infection Control Guidelines. His first-attempt success also highlights an important lesson: preparing for the ADC Written Examination is not simply about memorising information. It is about developing the clinical judgement required to approach unfamiliar scenarios. Your international dental career starts with an informed decision and a commitment to the next step.