The application period for the 2026 Second Sitting of the Hong Kong Dental Council Licensing Examination (HKDLE) Part I is now underway, with the written examination tentatively scheduled for 15 October 2026.
For non-locally trained dentists, Part I is far more than a conventional written examination. It is a comprehensive assessment covering biomedical sciences, medicine, surgery, pharmacology, and all major clinical dental disciplines.
Before beginning your preparation, it is essential to understand what the examination covers, how it is structured, and how you should plan your revision according to your academic and language background.
What Does HKDLE Part I Assess?
According to the Dental Council of Hong Kong Candidate Guide, the Licensing Examination consists of three parts:
- Part I – Written Examination
- Part II – Practical Examination
- Part III – Clinical Examination
Candidates must successfully complete Part I before proceeding to Parts II and III.
Part I consists of two examination papers, covering eight core disciplines.
Paper 1
Paper 1 comprises three sections:
Part A – Applied Basic Sciences
Fundamental biomedical sciences relevant to dentistry, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology and related disciplines.
Part B – Medicine and Surgery in Relation to Dentistry
Medical and surgical conditions that influence dental diagnosis, treatment planning and patient management.
Part C – Dental Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Medical Emergencies in Relation to Dentistry
Dental pharmacology, therapeutic principles and the management of medical emergencies in dental practice.
Each section contains 20 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions with 20 minutes allocated for completion.
Paper 2
Paper 2 covers five major clinical disciplines:
- Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology
- Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
- Conservative Dentistry
- Periodontology, Preventive Dentistry and Dental Public Health
- Prosthodontics
Each section contains 50 Single Best Answer questions, with one hour allocated for each section.
In total, candidates complete 310 multiple-choice questions in a single examination day.
The examination pace is demanding, requiring candidates to answer approximately one question per minute, making both knowledge and reading efficiency equally important.
What Question Format Is Used?
HKDLE Part I uses the Single Best Answer (SBA) format.
Each question presents five options, from which candidates must select the single most appropriate answer.
Unlike examinations that primarily test factual recall, HKDLE frequently evaluates clinical reasoning and professional judgement.
Questions may include:
- Patient history
- Clinical presentation
- Radiographic findings
- Medical conditions
- Treatment planning
- Emergency management
Candidates are expected to determine the most appropriate clinical decision, rather than simply identify a memorised fact.
The official sample questions published by the Dental Council demonstrate a wide range of topics—from anatomy and dental materials to asthma management, chest pain during dental treatment, paediatric dentistry and conservative dentistry.
This means successful preparation requires more than memorising textbooks.
Candidates should aim to:
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of each discipline.
- Become familiar with professional dental terminology in English.
- Build efficient clinical reasoning through structured SBA practice.
What Language Is the Examination Conducted In?
According to the Dental Council of Hong Kong, Part I written papers are provided in both English and Chinese.
For Parts II and III, candidates may choose either English or Cantonese as their examination language, subject to prior declaration.
The Candidate Guide also specifies that all examination announcements and instructions are delivered in English.
Although bilingual papers are available, this does not necessarily mean every candidate should prepare in the same way.
Candidates educated primarily in Chinese may benefit from using the Chinese version to confirm question interpretation.
However, candidates who already possess strong English reading ability—or who have received overseas or English-medium dental education—often find that constantly switching between English and Chinese interrupts their clinical reasoning.
Disciplines such as pharmacology, dental materials, oral pathology and conservative dentistry rely heavily on internationally accepted English terminology.
For these candidates, learning directly through English often results in a more natural and efficient thought process during the examination.
How Should You Prepare for HKDLE Part I?
The Dental Council does not publish past examination papers or provide official preparatory courses.
Instead, candidates are encouraged to study the recommended reference books and official sample questions.
A systematic preparation strategy is therefore essential.
Step One: Rebuild Your Knowledge Framework
HKDLE covers the entire undergraduate dental curriculum.
For dentists who have already entered clinical practice, daily work often focuses on only one or two specialties.
Preparation should therefore begin with rebuilding a complete understanding of all eight examination subjects before attempting extensive question practice.
Step Two: Study in the Same Language as the Examination
Candidates with strong English proficiency should consider studying directly from English materials, lecture notes and SBA questions.
The goal is not simply to improve English.
Rather, it is to establish a direct connection between professional concepts and examination language.
Recognising phrases such as:
- contraindication
- most appropriate management
- adverse effect
- initial treatment
- accepted clinical practice
without mentally translating them can significantly improve examination efficiency.
Step Three: Use SBA Questions to Identify Knowledge Gaps
Multiple-choice questions should not merely be used to measure scores.
After completing each question, candidates should analyse:
- Which concept is being assessed?
- Why is the correct option correct?
- Why are the remaining options incorrect?
- Could the same concept be tested differently?
Only through this type of structured review can SBA practice become a genuine learning tool.
Step Four: Practise Under Examination Conditions
With 310 questions to complete, time management becomes a critical examination skill.
Candidates should gradually incorporate timed practice into their revision, focusing on:
- Rapid identification of key information
- Efficient elimination of distractors
- Accurate clinical judgement under time pressure
Who Is Best Suited to a Fully English HKDLE Course?
A fully English course is not intended for every candidate.
If reading English dental textbooks remains difficult or every question requires sentence-by-sentence translation, strengthening professional English should come first.
However, candidates with the following backgrounds may benefit considerably from full English preparation:
- Overseas or international dental education
- English used as a study or working language
- Comfortable reading English dental literature
- Able to process English clinical questions efficiently
- Planning to practise in Hong Kong or other English-speaking healthcare systems
- Prefer learning directly through English rather than translating between languages
For these candidates, studying entirely in English allows professional knowledge and examination language to develop together.
What Does Zhengxi Education’s HKDLE Part I English Programme Cover?
Our HKDLE Part I Comprehensive English Programme follows the official examination syllabus and systematically covers all eight examination disciplines.
The programme includes:
Paper 1
- Applied Basic Sciences (6 hours)
- Medicine and Surgery in Relation to Dentistry (7 hours)
- Dental Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Medical Emergencies (8 hours)
Paper 2
- Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology (8 hours)
- Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics (7 hours)
- Conservative Dentistry (Operative Dentistry & Endodontics) (8 hours)
- Periodontology, Preventive Dentistry and Dental Public Health (8 hours)
- Prosthodontics (8 hours)
Each module combines:
- High-yield examination concepts
- Structured topic review
- Illustrated explanations
- Extensive SBA practice
- Detailed discussion of question-solving strategies
More than 900 carefully selected English SBA questions are incorporated throughout the programme, enabling candidates to strengthen both knowledge and examination technique simultaneously.
More Than 900 SBA Questions—Designed for Understanding, Not Memorisation
Our objective is not simply to increase the number of questions candidates complete.
Each SBA is analysed to help candidates understand:
- The underlying concept being tested
- Why the correct answer is correct
- Why alternative options are incorrect
- How similar concepts may appear in different examination scenarios
Through this structured approach, question practice becomes a tool for building long-term clinical reasoning rather than short-term memorisation.
Live Interactive Learning
The programme officially begins on 11 July 2026 and is delivered entirely through live online teaching.
Class Schedule
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Hong Kong Time)
The timetable is specifically designed to accommodate both practising dentists and current dental students while maintaining a consistent study rhythm throughout the preparation period.
Final Thoughts
Although HKDLE Part I offers bilingual examination papers, candidates with different educational and language backgrounds should adopt different preparation strategies.
For dentists who are already comfortable learning dentistry in English, studying directly through English allows professional concepts, examination language and clinical reasoning to develop together.
Our HKDLE Part I Comprehensive English Programme is specifically designed for this group of candidates.
With more than 60 hours of live teaching, comprehensive coverage of all eight examination disciplines, and 900+ carefully selected SBA questions, the programme provides a structured and examination-oriented pathway for candidates preparing for HKDLE Part I.
The programme officially commences on 11 July 2026.
For detailed course information and enrolment, please contact Zency Education.