NZ Dental Therapy REX exam-day guide
NZ Dental Therapy REX · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification matching your registration
Bring the original government-issued photo ID (passport or driver licence) in the name you registered under. A name mismatch or a photocopy can delay or block admission; confirm with the provider which ID types they accept before the day.
Admission or registration confirmation
Print or download the confirmation email showing your candidate number, test centre, and start time. Some centres ask to sight it at reception; keep it with your ID.
Appointment time and venue logistics
Note the arrival time, which is usually earlier than the start time for identity checks and briefing. Plan the route and a backup transport option, and check the venue's access and parking in advance. Confirm exact arrival requirements with the provider.
What the REX format requires you to bring
The NZ Dental Council Registration Examination (REX) is delivered as written papers and a clinical/oral component for overseas-qualified candidates. Check the current candidate handbook for what applies to your sitting, including whether any instruments or PPE are supplied or must be brought. Confirm with the provider.
Clinical clothing and PPE if your sitting includes a practical component
If a clinical or simulated clinical station is scheduled, bring clean clinical uniform, closed clinical shoes, and your own well-fitting PPE as instructed. The provider specifies whether gloves, masks, and eyewear are supplied; confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Water and a light snack for scheduled breaks
Long written papers can run several hours. Bring water in a clear container and a snack for breaks only if the venue permits food and drink at desks; otherwise leave them for the break area. Confirm the venue's rules with the provider.
Analogue watch or silent timer if permitted
Many exam venues provide a clock or announce remaining time, but not all do. A basic non-smart watch helps pacing. Smart watches and phones are almost always prohibited at the desk, so leave them switched off and stored as directed.
Stationery only if the provider allows it
Some sittings supply pens and answer sheets; others expect you to bring black pens and a pencil. Confirm the permitted stationery list with the provider, and bring only what is allowed.
Leave valuables and smart devices at home or in storage
Phones, smart watches, and notes must be switched off and stored away from the desk. Unauthorised items on your person during the test can lead to misconduct findings, so travel light.
Review key reference material the day before, not new topics
Use the last day for light revision of core areas such as local anaesthesia, radiography interpretation, periodontal assessment, and child/adolescent care relevant to dental therapy scope. Do not start unfamiliar material late.
Sleep, hydration, and a normal breakfast
A rested candidate performs better than one who studies through the night. Eat a normal meal before a morning sitting and avoid heavy caffeine if you are not used to it.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the provider's contact number in case of transport failure or illness on the day. If you cannot attend, contact them as early as possible to ask about withdrawal or rescheduling rules; confirm those rules with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the candidate handbook and your admission confirmation. Confirm the venue address, arrival time, ID requirements, and what you may bring. Resolve any uncertainty by contacting the provider directly rather than guessing.
Check your travel and accommodation. For an out-of-town centre, confirm the booking and plan to arrive the evening before so a transport delay does not cost you the sitting.
Switch from broad revision to consolidation. Review your own summary notes on high-yield areas: local anaesthesia calculations and contraindications, radiograph quality and interpretation, periodontal charting, caries risk, and behaviour guidance for children.
Do one timed practice paper under exam conditions if you have not already. Use it to check pacing, not to learn new content, and note where you lost time.
Lay out your ID, confirmation, clothing, and permitted stationery. Check that your uniform is clean and that any required PPE fits and is in date.
Stop intensive study by early evening. Do a light review of formulas, definitions, and your weakest two or three topics only. Avoid new material that could undermine confidence.
Confirm your route and set two alarms. Charge your phone but plan to have it stored during the test. Prepare a simple breakfast and pack water and a snack if permitted.
Aim for a full night's sleep. If anxiety keeps you awake, get up briefly, review one summary sheet, and return to bed rather than studying through the night.
Eat a normal breakfast, dress in layers for variable room temperature, and leave earlier than the map suggests. Arrive at the stated check-in time, not the paper start time.
At the venue, present your ID and confirmation, follow storage instructions for phones and bags, and read the briefing and any candidate declaration carefully before signing.
Skim the paper or station list first if the format allows, then allocate time per question or station. Answer the questions you know first and flag difficult ones to return to.
For multiple-choice items, read the whole stem and every option before choosing; watch for negatives and for 'best' versus 'correct'. For short answers, write the key point first, then add supporting detail.
If a clinical or oral station is included, introduce yourself, confirm the task, and work to the stated time. State your reasoning aloud where assessors expect it, and follow infection-control steps deliberately.
Keep an eye on the clock and leave time to transfer answers to the answer sheet or check flagged items. Do not leave a question blank if there is no penalty for guessing, but confirm the scoring rules with the provider.
Note anything you found unclear while it is fresh, in case you need to correspond with the provider. Do not discuss specific question content with other candidates in a way that could breach confidentiality rules.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID in your registered name. Candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry; confirm the accepted ID types and any name-change evidence with the provider before the day.
Arrive by the stated check-in time. Late arrival may mean you are not admitted or are given reduced time; the exact cut-off is set by the provider, so confirm it in advance.
Phones, smart watches, and unauthorised notes must be switched off and stored away from the desk. Possession of prohibited items during the test can be treated as misconduct.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and supervisors. Talking, passing materials, or looking at another candidate's work during the test is not permitted.
Breaks are usually only at scheduled times, and you may be escorted and supervised during them. Toilet breaks and their effect on your time are set by the provider; confirm the rules for your sitting.
Clinical and oral stations require standard infection prevention and control: hand hygiene, correct PPE, and safe handling of sharps and instruments. Breaches can affect your result.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider and are not negotiated at the venue. Results are released through the provider's process; do not expect an on-the-day outcome.
Keep the content of the examination confidential. Sharing or reproducing questions after the sitting may breach the provider's candidate agreement.