ADC communication OSCE marking criteria, explained with examples

The ADC publishes the communication criteria its examiners use. They are the same five skills every time, which makes them very trainable. Below is a plain-language summary with example phrases. Always read the ADC's own documents for the official wording.

1. Demeanour

Being approachable, respectful and professional, showing empathy, using appropriate body language, and using pauses without interrupting.

• Name what you notice: "You sound worried about the cost, and that's completely fair."
• Pause for two seconds after an emotional statement before moving on.

2. Use of language

Clear explanations, minimal jargon, and language matched to what the patient understands.

• Swap "subgingival calculus" for "hardened plaque under the gum".
• Check by asking: "Does that make sense so far, or should I explain it differently?"

3. Engagement with the patient

Listening actively, responding to their needs, asking open questions, and clarifying when you are not sure what they mean.

• Start with: "What's brought you in today?" and let them finish.
• Reflect back: "So the pain wakes you at night, and cold makes it worse. Have I got that right?"

4. Organisation of information

An ordered, logical flow, information in manageable chunks, two-way conversation, and a summary that confirms understanding. In our practice data this is the criterion where candidates most often lose marks.

• Signpost: "I'd like to ask a few questions, then have a look, and then we'll talk about options. Is that okay?"
• Chunk: two or three points, then stop and check.
• Summarise before you move on.

5. Joint decision making

Encouraging the patient to take part in decisions, checking and addressing their concerns, presenting realistic options, and seeking agreement.

• Offer real options, including doing nothing where appropriate, with a pro and a con for each.
• Ask: "What matters most to you here?" and then: "Which way are you leaning?"

How to practise these

Pick one criterion per week. In every station that week, aim for it deliberately and check whether you did it when you read your feedback. Small, targeted changes beat trying to fix everything at once.

What 1,000+ practice stations show about the ADC practical →

Weak and strong, criterion by criterion

• Demeanour. Weak: flat, rushed voice, no pause after the patient mentions fear. Strong: unhurried, names the worry, pauses.
• Use of language. Weak: "You have periodontitis with horizontal bone loss." Strong: "Your gums are infected and the bone holding your teeth has started to shrink."
• Engagement. Weak: firing a list of closed questions. Strong: "What's brought you in?" then reflecting back what you heard.
• Organisation. Weak: jumping between history, diagnosis and cost. Strong: "First what I found, then your options, then the next step."
• Joint decision making. Weak: "I'll do a crown." Strong: two options, pros and cons, and "which feels right for you?"

One station, five criteria: a mini scorecard

After any practice station, ask yourself five quick questions. Demeanour: did I sound warm and unhurried? Language: could a non-dentist follow me? Engagement: did I listen and respond to what they said? Organisation: did I signpost and summarise? Joint decision making: did I offer options and seek agreement? Score yourself honestly from one to four. The lowest score is next week's focus.

Why the criteria are friendly to practise

Each criterion is a set of observable behaviours rather than a hidden quality. You can see whether you signposted. You can hear whether you used jargon. That makes improvement concrete, and it is why short, targeted practice beats vague general effort.

OSCE Coach is a practice tool. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Australian Dental Council (ADC). Always check the ADC website for the current exam format and requirements.