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WRITTEN EXAMINATION

I Content and Format

The Written Examination consists of two books, each with 150 multiple choice type questions. Each book is given in a 150 minute examination session. The sessions are held in the morning and afternoon of one day.

The Examination Blueprint outlined below gives the content areas and approximate number of questions in each area.

Book 1
Health Promotion
Relationship General/Oral Health
Scientific Literature
Records
Oral Med/Pathology
General Biochemistry/ Cariology/Saliva
Oral Microanatomy
Oral Embryology
Approximately 50 questions

Book 2
FPD/RPD
Dental Emergencies
Medical Emergencies
Ethics & Jurisprudence 50
Trauma
Pediatric Dentistry
Implants
Approximately 50 questions
_____________________________________________________

Book 1
Anxious Patient
Abuse & Neglect
Occupational Hazards 50
Periodontics
Pharmacology
Growth & Development
Physiology
Approximately 50 questions

Book 2
Operative Dentistry
Endodontics 50
Orthodontics
Dental Anatomy/Occlusion
Special Needs
Approximately 50 questions
____________________________________________________________________

Book 1
Radiology
Informed Consent 50
Prevention
Anatomy
Microbiology/Immunology
General Pathology/Medicine
Approximately 50 questoins

Book 2
Infection Control
Local Anesthesia 50
Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Oral Facial Pain
Oral Surgery
Geriatrics
Approximately 50 questions
_____________________________________________________

Total Number of Questions in Book 1: 150

Total Number of Questions in Book 2: 150

II Schedule

III IDENTIFICATION

Candidates will receive a photo identification (ID) card on the day of the examination. Candidates must have the ID card visible at all times and must return the card to the Test Administrator at the end of the examination. Candidates who fail to return their ID card may receive a zero (“0”) score for the examination.

IV EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS

For each examination session, candidates will receive an examination book with their NAME, CANDIDATE IDENTIFICATION number, SEAT number and a book VERSION number.

For each examination session, candidates will also receive an ANSWER SCORE SHEET. The illustration below is an example of how to correctly enter required identification information.

1. On the answer score sheet enter your NAME, your assigned CANDIDATE ID NUMBER and your examination book VERSION NUMBER in the indicated areas on the answer score sheet.
2. Each question in the book is followed by a choice of answers. Select one answer only. Record your answer on the score sheet using a standard (wood) lead pencil (No. 2 or HB). Mechanical pencils are not allowed in the examination area. Make heavy black marks that fill the circle completely. Make sure that the circle of your choice is filled in completely.
3. If you change your answer, make sure that the original mark is thoroughly erased. Use a standard block eraser; mechanical erasers are not allowed in the examination area.
4. Always choose the MOST appropriate answer for each question.
5. The lowest score for any question is zero (“0”).
6. The examination book as well as the answer score sheet must be returned at the end of the session. If the examination book (or any part of the book) or the answer score sheet is not returned, a zero (“0”) score will be given for the examination. No test items are to be copied or notes taken. Use of any notes or recording of notes is prohibited and will be considered as compromising the integrity of the examination.
7. You may write in the book to assist yourself in answering the questions. Your grade, however, will depend upon the answers recorded on the answer score sheet. Please ensure the accuracy of transfer of answers onto the score sheet.
8. The transfer of answers to the computer score sheet MUST be completed within the examination session time. Additional time will not be allowed.
9. The FDI two digit tooth numbering system (below) is used in all examinations.

FDI NUMBERING SYSTEM

PERMANENT DENTITION

RIGHT                                                                                                        LEFT

PRIMARY DENTITION

        RIGHT                                                    LEFT

V SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO ILLUSTRATE EXAMINATION FORMAT

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

Which of the following participate in clot formation?
A. Platelets.
B. Monocytes.
C. Lymphocytes.
D. Leukocytes.

ANSWER:

2. A laboratory fabricated composite resin inlay compared to a direct composite resin restoration has increased

A. colour stability.
B. surface smoothness.
C. control of polymerization shrinkage.
D. bondability to tooth structure.

ANSWER:       

Other sample questions can be found in the released questions posted on the NDEB website (www.ndeb.ca).

The following released Exams are available in PDF Format.

NDEB Released Written Questions (PDF 3550 KB)

VI Reference Texts

A list of textbooks and references commonly used in DDS/DMD programs can be found on the NDEB web site (www.ndeb.ca/en/accredited/reference.htm).

VII Examination Regulations

1. Candidates must be punctual for both sessions of the examination. Candidates arriving late for an examination session may not be admitted.
2. Family or friends must not accompany a candidate as space at the examination centre is provided ONLY for candidates and staff.
3. Candidates must not bring recording devices, radios, cameras, portable telephones, pagers or other electronic aids/devices into the examination room.
4. Candidates may NOT use dictionaries, calculators or other informative material.
5. Food and/or drink are not allowed in the examination room unless special consideration for medical reasons has been granted by the NDEB office. The request must include a medical certificate signed by a physician indicating the diagnosis and accommodation measures required.
6. The ability of a candidate to read, interpret and comply with instructions and other written material is part of the examination. Test Administrators and invigilators will not answer questions involving examination content.
7. Once the examination is in progress, any candidate who leaves the examination room for any reason, including the use of washroom facilities, WILL NOT be allowed to re-enter unless special consideration for medical reasons has been granted by the NDEB office. The request must include a medical certificate signed by a physician indicating the diagnosis and accommodation measures required.
8. Candidates requiring special examination accommodation due to diagnosed medical conditions must request special consideration in writing to the NDEB office within 2 weeks of receipt of confirmation of registration in the examination. The request must include a medical certificate signed by a physician indicating the diagnosis and accommodation measures required.
9. Candidates are prohibited from copying or otherwise obtaining answers from any other candidate; from providing answers to any other candidate; and, from talking or otherwise disrupting the conduct of the examination. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that their answers are not visible to other candidates. Candidates must be aware that the NDEB uses a software program to identify suspicious answer similarities between pairs of candidates and may void the results of both candidates involved in suspicious occurrences identified by the software program.
10. Candidates must stop writing and hand in the examination book and answer score sheet at the indicated time. The transfer of answers from examination books to computer score sheets MUST be completed within the examination session time. ADDITIONAL TIME WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
11. Candidates are prohibited from removing test material including NDEB Identification Cards, examination books and answer score sheets from the examination room and from copying or making notes of any test item. Candidates must return all test material including NDEB Identification Cards, examination books and answer score sheets at the completion of each examination or upon the direction of the Test Administrator.
12. Candidates are reminded that all examination material is copyrighted. Any attempt to reproduce or assemble NDEB examination material is strictly prohibited and will be prosecuted.
13. Candidates who do not abide by the above Examination Regulations will receive a zero (“0”) score for the examination.
14. Within three months of the release of the results of the examination, candidates may apply to the NDEB to have their answer score sheets manually checked against the answer key. Any such application for review must be accompanied by a filing fee as set by the NDEB. Upon verification, the mark for the candidate will be that produced by the manual check.
15. A candidate who considers themselves disadvantaged either immediately before or during the examination by a personal circumstance beyond the candidate’s control may, within one week of the event beyond the candidate’s control occurring, request that the NDEB make a special consideration to void the results of the examination by permitting the candidate to withdraw from the examination. The candidate may also request special consideration for a refund of up to 50% of the examination fee.

VIII PASSING STANDARD

In order to assure a consistent level of difficulty, the NDEB uses test equating and re-scaling procedures to correlate candidate raw scores to scores on a reference examination and to a standardized passing score of 65. All candidates must obtain a minimum test equated, re-scaled score of 65 to be successful in the Written Examination. Candidates who attain a test equated, re-scaled score of 65 or greater will receive a result of Pass. Candidates who achieve a test equated, re-scaled score of less than 65 will receive a result of Fail. Candidates who receive a Fail result will also be given their test equated, re-scaled score.

Candidates must be aware that the examination contains a number of questions that are being tested and that these questions may not contribute to any candidate’s result.

IX Results

The results of the Written Examination will be posted on a secure website that will be accessible using the secure code provided at the time of initial registration. Posting of results will normally be done within 6 weeks and an e-mail notification of the posting will be sent to candidates.

RESULTS WILL NOT BE RELEASED BY TELEPHONE OR FAX.