THE DENTAL REGISTRATION EXAMINATIONS (NZDREX)
English Examination
Dentists who can demonstrate that their first language is English and that they have studied for
and gained their dental degree in English are usually exempt from the English requirement.
However if this does not apply to you the Dental Council may require you to demonstrate your
competence in English by passing an approved English test. These are:
1. International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Band)
The examination has four parts: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
Reading (60 minutes) •contains reading passages (1,500–2500 words)
•questions on the passages
Writing (60 minutes) •contains two tasks
•requires no specialist knowledge
Listening (30 minutes) •contains 38-42 questions
•sections I & II are about social needs
•sections III & IV are about situations in educational and training contexts
Speaking (10–15 minutes) •an oral interview (a conversation with the examiner)
•the examiner assesses whether you have the
knowledge and skills to communicate effectively with native English speakers
The Dental Council normally requires you to:
•sit the academic level of IELTS
•pass all four parts of IELTS (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking)
•and get an average score of 7 or more for IELTS (all parts)
•and score at least 6 for Listening and at least 6 for Speaking.
Universities and polytechnics can provide sample questions to help to prepare candidates for
IELTS.
The publications below are commercially produced and designed to prepare candidates to take
IELTS tests. They are available from bookshops specialising in English language teaching
materials or from the publisher.
1. IELTS Preparation and Practice Reading and Writing- Academic Module
By Wendy Sahanaya and Jeremy Lindeck
IALF Education for Development, OUP, Melbourne, 1997 (ISBN 019 554093 X)
2. Prepare for IELTS Academic Modules
By Vanessa Todd and Penny Cameron
In search Language Centre, University of Technology, Sydney, 1996 [Book and Cassette] (ISBN 1 86365 311 2)
For additional information, see www.ielts.org
www.english.unitec.ac.nz
2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
The TOEFL examination must be sat with the Test of Written English (TWE) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE).
There are two formats for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
A. Paper Test
The Supplementary Paper-Based Test has three sections:
•Listening Comprehension,
•Structure and Written Expression,
•Reading Expression.
The Dental Council normally requires you to:
•Score at least 570 in TOEFL, and
•Score at least 4 in TWE, and
•Score at least 50 in TSE
The Test of Written English (TWE), a 30 minute writing test, is administered with the Paper Test
five times a year. A separate TWE score is reported on the TOEFL paper-based score report.
The Test of Spoken English is a separate examination but must also be sat with TOEFL. The
test is approximately 20 minutes long.
Important: While the TSE test is given at some TOEFL test locations, it is NOT administered
as part of the TOEFL test.
B. Computer Based Test
The computer based test has four sections instead of three and includes TWE.
•Listening,
•Structure
•Reading
•Written expression,
The Test of Spoken English continues to be a paper- and- pencil based test and has to be sat
separately. Council will accept both paper and computer based formats.
The Dental Council normally requires you to:
•Score at least 230 in TOEFL, and
•Score at least 50 in TSE
See website for additional information www.toefl.org
3. Occupational English Test (OET)
The OET examination is available in Australia and in Australian Embassies throughout the
world. The examination has four parts: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
The Dental Council normally requires you to pass all four parts of OET (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) with either a grade A or B pass mark.
See website for additional information: www.oet.com.au
Results
You must ask the examiners to send the certified results directly to the Dental Council.
A pass in an approved English examination is normally required before you may sit any
other registration examination.
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