GDC · Overseas Registration Examination
ORE Part 1 Exam Dates 2026 & 2027
The General Dental Council (GDC) has confirmed four ORE Part 1 sittings across 2026 and 2027, with 600 places available per sitting. The exam is delivered under a new contract with UCL Consultants from August 2026 and consists of two computer-based papers of three hours each, sat at test centres in London.
Source: GDC — ORE Part 1. Last updated: August 2026.
August 2026
25–26 August 2026
Fully booked — booking opened 30 June 2026
October 2026
14–15 October 2026
Booking expected to open around 19 August 2026
February 2027
2–3 February 2027
Booking expected to open around 8 December 2026
April 2027
6–7 April 2027
Booking expected to open around 9 February 2027
Booking opens eight weeks before day one of each sitting. Only the next window is published on the GDC site at any time — dates marked “expected” above are calculated from that eight-week rule and are not yet confirmed by the GDC.
Key Facts (2026/27)
- Part 1 fee
- £485 per attempt (inc. VAT)
- Application fee
- £115, paid once before booking
- Part 2 fee
- £6,967 — total ORE route £7,567
- Places per sitting
- 600 (2,400 per year)
- Location
- London test centres
- Format
- Two computer-based papers, 3 hours each
- Maximum attempts
- 4 attempts for Part 1
- Results
- Typically within 30 working days
- Booking
- Via MyGDC, opens 8 weeks before each sitting
Start Preparing Now
Sittings sell out on the day booking opens, and results take up to 30 working days — so the sitting you book is effectively the one you have to pass. Our Anki decks cover all 20 ORE Part 1 topics — 3,580 MCQ cards mapped directly to the GDC's Preparing for Practice learning outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does booking open for each sitting?
Booking opens eight weeks before day one of each sitting and is done through your MyGDC account — 2026 is the first year the ORE is booked this way. Places are normally taken up on the same day the window opens, so be signed in and ready.
How much does ORE Part 1 cost in 2026/27?
ORE Part 1 costs £485 per attempt, plus a one-off £115 application processing fee. Under the new contract that started in August 2026 the Part 1 fee fell by 17%, but Part 2 rose 65% to £6,967 — bringing the full ORE route to £7,567.
How many attempts do I get for ORE Part 1?
You are allowed a maximum of 4 attempts at ORE Part 1, and you must pass Part 2 within five years of your first Part 1 attempt. Each Part 1 attempt costs £485.
What does ORE Part 1 cover?
ORE Part 1 is a written examination covering basic and clinical dental sciences: Anatomy, General Medicine, Oral Surgery, Restorative Dentistry, Physiology, Paediatric Dentistry, Oral Medicine, Removable Prosthodontics, Prevention, Fixed Prosthodontics, Radiology, Orthodontics, Histology, Dental Materials, Pharmacology, Periodontology, Endodontics, Immunology, Law & Ethics, and Evidence-Based Dentistry.
Did the new 2026 ORE contract change the syllabus?
No. UCL Consultants took over delivery of the ORE from August 2026, which changed fees, venues, capacity and the booking system — but the GDC has not announced any change to exam content, syllabus or format. Preparing for Practice remains the framework Part 1 is built on.
Where is the ORE Part 1 exam held?
ORE Part 1 is a computer-based examination sat at test centres in London. Under the new contract the GDC lists Teamco (Gray’s Inn Road), Escalla (Holmes Road, Kentish Town) and Tobacco Dock (Wapping Lane) — check your booking confirmation for your assigned centre.
How long does it take to get results?
Results are typically released within 30 working days of the examination date. You receive a percentage mark for each of the two papers plus an overall pass or fail.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the General Dental Council (GDC). Exam dates and fees are subject to change — always verify on the official GDC website.