How to prepare for ADC Part 2: an 8-week OSCE study plan

Most candidates do not fail from lack of knowledge. They run out of structured time, or they practise the same comfortable topics. This 8-week plan is a template: adjust the hours to your own life. It assumes you are working or studying alongside, so it is built around short, repeatable blocks rather than heroic study days.

The building block: one 25-minute station block

Borrowing from the Pomodoro idea of short, focused sprints with breaks: set a timer and do one practice station (about 11 minutes), read the feedback (about 8 minutes), redo the weakest part out loud (about 4 minutes), and write one line to remember. That is a block.

Weeks 1 to 2: find your baseline

• Do 2 to 3 blocks a day on different clinical areas. Do not pick favourites.
• Note which areas and which communication skills come out weakest.
• Write a one-line takeaway after every station.

Weeks 3 to 5: fix the weak spots

• Spend two-thirds of your time on your three weakest areas.
• Redo stations you found hard within a day, while the feedback is fresh.
• Pair up with a study buddy for one role-play a week: one plays patient, one candidate.

Weeks 6 to 7: mix it up and add pressure

• Do mock circuits: several stations in a row without long breaks.
• Practise your station routine: greet, signpost, listen, explain in plain words, check understanding, close.
• Keep one rest day a week. It is part of the plan.

Week 8: sharpen, do not cram

• Reread your one-line notes from every block.
• Do one or two easy, familiar stations for confidence.
• The night before: no new topics. Pack, eat, sleep.

A note on stress

Feeling nervous is normal. Small habits help: a pre-station breathing routine, a parking-lot page for stray worries, real breaks. If anxiety feels overwhelming or constant, please speak to your doctor or a counsellor.

Free guide: Own Your Exam Mind →

Week by week, in a little more detail

• Week 1: Read the ADC handbook. Do your first three stations cold and note your baseline.
• Week 2: Cover every clinical area once. Write your first ten one-line notes.
• Week 3: Choose your three weakest areas and one weak communication habit. Redo within a day.
• Week 4: First buddy role-play. Try a mock of three stations in a row.
• Week 5: Keep working the weak areas. Add one difficult-patient station.
• Week 6: Mixed practice. Longer sessions with proper breaks.
• Week 7: A full mock. Review your notes and tighten your opening and close.
• Week 8: Light, familiar stations only. Logistics. Rest.

A sample week in the middle of the plan

• Monday: two blocks, one new station and one redo.
• Tuesday: one block plus a 20-minute review of your one-line notes.
• Wednesday: two blocks on your weakest area.
• Thursday: rest or a very light block.
• Friday: a buddy role-play (30 minutes) and one block.
• Saturday: a short mock of three stations in a row.
• Sunday: rest. Plan next week.

How to adjust it

• Working full time? Halve the blocks and stretch the plan to twelve weeks.
• Short on time? Keep the redo habit and drop new stations.
• Exam date moved? Keep the weekly rhythm and shift the final-week plan.

Signs the plan is working

Your one-line notes start repeating, which means you can see your own patterns. You finish stations with time to spare. You stop freezing at the opening. Progress shows up as calm before it shows up as a score.

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.