22/11/2023
DEAR DENTISTS,
AS A LOT OF OUR AND OTHER CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO APPEAR FOR THE PRACTICAL EXAM IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS-READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY-
The practical examination is a platform for you to show your competency to practice safely as a dental professional.
Here are some things to AVOID during your examination-
1-Attempting to bring unauthorized materials into the examination center (e.g. unapproved medications, mobile phones, eyewear in incorrect packaging). If you are unsure about anything, ask at the reception on your exam day.
2-Being late to registration, or forgetting your registration documentation (such as your signed candidate rules agreement or correct identification). Try to avoid any unwanted stress by being on time and having your documents with you.
3-Not taking breaks during the technical skills day of the practical examination. Some Dentists feel taking breaks is going to make them lose time but in reality working with a dull brain is more harmful than taking breaks. If you feel tired or your vision is compromised due to continuous working , take breaks to refresh and hydrate yourself!
4-Providing a rehearsed response to a standard OSCE.
One of the MAJOR mistake MAJORITY of the candidates make and upon which we focus strongly in our ADC PART 2 course. The moment the examiner feels you are acting as a candidate and not as a Dentist, your chances of success in that OSCE goes down significantly!
Our mentors at the Academy, who have been supervisors, trainers, and examiners for OSCEs at different stages of their career pointed out this to be the number one issue due to which the candidate is marked down.
-You should treat the OSCEs(patient) in the same way as you would treat him/her at your clinic.
-Never memorize OSCE cases! This is a big turn-down for the examiners! We get many candidates who have memorized the cases and this is the first thing that we discourage them about once we start the course with them.
-If you are not able to present your theoretical knowledge in a clinical outcome, the examiner won't hesitate to mark you down!
-You should develop the base concept behind each case and be ready and spontaneous in answering the patients questions.
-Try to avoid seeking prompts from the simulated patient in a standard OSCE. If the Examiner(Patient) is helping you, you are not scoring for that information and will be marked down.
5-Attempting a task on an incorrect tooth or incorrect quadrant. Check the task sheet twice before starting a particular task.
6-Not asking for help from an ADC staff member if you do not know how to use the equipment available (e.g. there may be slight operational differences between equipment brands. If used incorrectly, equipment may become damaged and be unavailable for your task). If you are unsure, please ask a staff member. Any problem you have with the manikin, the dental unit, call the staff available to assist you.
7-Inappropriate patient handling (e.g. resting your hand on the patient’s face).
PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE A DENTIST, EVERYTHING YOU DO ON THE EXAM DAY SHOULD REPLICATE YOUR BEHAVIOUR AS A DENTIST AND NOT AS A STUDENT; SPECIALLY IN OSCES, YOU HAVE TO BEHAVE AND TALK TO THE PATIENT EXACTLY AS IF HE/SHE IS A REAL PATIENT AT YOUR PRACTICE!
-Our ADC PRACTICAL EXAM PORTAL provides the guidelines to manage the OSCE cases in a broader frame of mind so you are ready for any untoward questions from the patient.
-All our courses, ADC Written exam courses/ADC Osce courses are structured and delivered in line with changes to professional resources and important research outcomes.
"Learn with Logic, Understand with Reasons"
GOOD LUCK
Thank you
Team
