Exam Format

The National Diploma Exam Format

The examination, is based on a new updated curriculum and contains selected response questions such as Multiple Choice and Extended Matching questions, as well as Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) for practical assessment.

These will be supported by a Record of Experience work-based assessment which will provide students with a reflective account of their duties within the dental team.

The examination will be in two parts, with the written paper and the practical known as the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE).

The written paper will consist of a mixture of 60 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and 40 Extended Matching Questions (EMQ) and will last around 2 hours.

Candidates who pass this section will then be automatically entered to the OSCE (practical) stage, which will take place approximately 6 weeks after. The OSCE is a two part exam with a Workbook element and a separate Zoom exam.

The curriculum is available on the NEBDN website along with further resources.