The Australian Dental Council (ADC), in a trial run with Pearson Professional Assessments, has rolled out a significant structural shift in how candidates book their ADC written examinations. If you have navigated this process before, note that this is a major operational change rather than a minor backend tweak.
How the New ADC Written Exam Booking Trial Workflow Works
- Confirm Intent: Log into your ADC Connect portal to officially confirm your intention to sit the upcoming exam session.
- Select Location via Pearson: You will be seamlessly redirected to the Pearson platform to browse and choose your preferred test center location.
- Return and Pay: Navigate back to ADC Connect to complete your payment and finalize your reservation.
What Was The Old Process Missing?
Previously, under the legacy system, candidates were required to commit financially before knowing where they would actually be sitting their exam. Because testing venues were assigned or finalized weeks after payment, candidates often discovered too late that their assigned center was logistically impractical, prohibitively expensive, or entirely unworkable. This created a frustrating, entirely avoidable dilemma, forcing many candidates to withdraw from exams they had already paid for simply due to insurmountable location constraints.
What’s Changed: The New Booking Flow
| Step | What Happens |
| 1. Log into ADC Connect | Start the booking process as usual |
| 2. Confirm exam participation | Indicate your intent to sit the written examination |
| 3. Redirected to Pearson’s website | Select your preferred test location here, before paying anything |
| 4. Return to ADC Connect | Complete payment once your location is locked in |
The core shift is simple but significant: location selection now happens before payment, not after. You know exactly where you’ll be sitting the exam before you commit any money.
The Two-Hour Rule
Once you begin the booking process, your seat is only held temporarily.
- Seats are reserved for two hours from the point of booking
- If payment isn’t completed within that window, the seat is released back into the pool for other candidates
Both examination days must be booked at the same location in the same session. Booking only one day results in the booking being cancelled, so make sure you’re ready to complete the full process, both days, in one sitting.
Getting Help With Payment
For candidates whose fees are covered by a third party such as a parent, partner, or agent, the new workflow includes a direct link-sharing feature. Because the two-hour reservation window remains active from the moment you book, you must coordinate closely with your sponsor beforehand to ensure they complete the transaction without delay.
Exam Booking Strategy: Essential Rules to Secure Your Spot
- Finalise your travel logistics first: Because test locations are now selected before payment, map out your itinerary and choose your ideal centre in advance rather than leaving it to chance.
- Keep your payment details ready: The two-hour window is generous, but time moves quickly under pressure. Only start the booking process when you are fully prepared to complete the transaction immediately.
- Coordinate with third-party payers beforehand: If someone else is handling the payment, brief them on the timeline ahead of time. Explaining the situation after the timer has started risks losing your seat.
- Treat both exam days as a single decision: You cannot lock in Day One at one venue and figure out Day Two later. Ensure both dates and locations align seamlessly in a single booking session.
Currently on Trial: What to Expect Next
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) has confirmed that this new booking system is a provisional trial, developed directly from feedback gathered through its Candidate Reference Group.
- Provisional Status: Whether this format becomes the permanent booking workflow depends entirely on its performance and efficiency during the trial period.
- Action for Candidates: For now, expect to navigate this exact booking flow, but remain alert for any official updates or adjustments directly from the ADC.
The updated Australian Dental Council (ADC) written examination booking procedure introduces a few critical shifts: location selection now happens before payment, a firm two-hour window dictates the checkout process, and both exam days must be secured together at the same venue.
While currently operating as a trial, this is the workflow you need to navigate for your next booking. Success comes down to preparation: know your preferred location in advance, have your payment method ready, and coordinate with anyone helping cover the costs before you start the clock.
At Winspert, we believe keeping ADC Part 1 candidates genuinely exam-ready goes far beyond mastering the clinical syllabus. By tracking critical administrative updates alongside the latest blueprint changes, we ensure that nothing about exam day or booking day catches you off guard.
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