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Is there an official ORE Part 1 course?

Checked 4 November 2026 against the GDC's pages.

No. The GDC's ORE FAQs say: “We do not provide preparation courses.” They add that courses are available, but the GDC does “not recommend, endorse or accredit any particular course or provider.”

Its ORE preparation and results page goes further: the GDC does “not quality assure or endorse any ORE training or preparation courses”, and tells candidates: “You should do your own quality checks.”

So when a course says it is approved, official or recommended for the ORE, treat that with care: the GDC approves none. UCL Consultants, the GDC’s Part 1 supplier, publishes the exam specification and a familiarisation exercise, but no course.

What kinds of ORE Part 1 preparation are there?

• Taught courses. Lectures or classes, in person or online, often over a few days or weeks. Useful if you learn best from a teacher and a fixed timetable.
• Question banks and mock papers. Practice questions you work through at your own pace, often with timed mocks. Our guide to choosing an ORE Part 1 question bank covers what to look for.
• Books and free UK guidance. The core textbooks plus official guidance such as SDCEP, NICE and Delivering Better Oral Health. See ORE Part 1 books and free UK resources.
• Clinical experience, study groups and mentoring. The GDC notes that you may find “additional training or mentoring helpful”.

You can combine several of these. What matters is that your preparation covers both papers, follows UK practice and includes timed practice.

What should you check before paying for a course?

Because no ORE Part 1 course is accredited, these checks are yours to make:

• Is it written to the current exam? It should follow the current exam specification and cover both Paper A and Paper B.
• Does it name its sources? Answers should rest on current UK guidance and law, named so you can check them.
• Are the questions original? Be wary of anything sold as past papers or recalls. Our past papers guide explains why.
• Can you try it first? A free sample or trial shows whether the teaching suits you before you pay.
• Are the terms clear? Look for the full price, how long access lasts, whether it renews on its own, and the refund terms.
• Does it fit your timetable? Check the dates or pace against your sitting and your work.

Do you need a course to pass ORE Part 1?

The GDC does not say you need one. In fact, its preparation page says your chances of passing “will be improved if you’ve had recent experience of clinical dentistry, rather than relying entirely on preparation courses.”

You can prepare on your own: learning UK guidance, practising questions under time pressure and sitting full mocks. Our guide on how to prepare for and pass ORE Part 1 sets this out step by step, and the 12-week study plan gives a timetable.

Where Dentoscore fits

Dentoscore is not a taught course. It is a self-paced revision app: original practice questions, each worked five ways with its source named, timed mock papers at exam pace, flashcards and notes. There are no lectures and no live teaching.

You can try 300 questions free: 150 on this site with no sign-up, and 150 more with a free account. Paid plans are a single payment for six months, not a subscription. See pricing. Like every other ORE Part 1 product, Dentoscore is independent and is not endorsed by the GDC or UCL.

Common questions

Sources

• GDC — Overseas registration exam FAQs
• GDC — ORE preparation and results
• GDC — ORE Part 1
• UCL Consultants — ORE Part 1 guidance documents and familiarisation exercise
• UCL Consultants — Part 1 and Part 2 exam specification for candidates (PDF)

More guides

All guides →

Dentoscore is an independent revision tool. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the GDC or UCL. Exam rules, dates and fees can change, so always check the GDC's own pages before you book or plan.