External Examiner role profile

Job title

Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) External Examiner

Job purpose

The role of external examiner is to:

  • ensure that the standards of knowledge and clinical skills (as defined in the GDC document “Preparing for Practice”) tested in the examination are equivalent to those needed to pass an UK BDS/BChD programme required for first registration with the GDC; and
  • ensure that assessment processes employed by the suppliers are trustworthy, credible, and defensible in accordance with GDC policies and regulations.

Key responsibilities

External examiners are responsible to the General Dental Council via the ORE Advisory Group (OREAG) for the quality assurance of the Overseas Registration Examination.

External Examiners are responsible for:

  • approving draft question papers and/or details of proposed manikin tests and practical exercises, clinical scenarios and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) stations, and proposed marking structures and schemes before the examination.
  • reporting to the GDC Exams Team in a timely manner on amendments of content, balance,weighting of marks, structure of question, papers and component sections of the practical examinations.
  • ensuring that the question papers and component sections of the practical examinations, and the examination as a whole,have been accurately blueprinted by the suppliers and test comprehensively candidates’ abilities in relation to the intended outcomes and domains in ‘Preparing for Practice’.
  • confirming that the list of proposed internal examiners provides an appropriate balance of experience and expertise of examining in equivalent undergraduate examinations.
  • verifying the standards of knowledge and clinical skills tested in the examination (as defined in the GDC document “Preparing for Practice”) are equivalent to those needed to pass an UK BDS/BChD programme required for first registration with the GDC
  • involvement in agreeingthe proposed overall pass mark for each paper and section within the examination through participating in standard setting where appropriate.
  • observing a representative sample of candidates’ performance in all sections of the examination
  • observing single examiners, or pairs of internal examiners who may be conducting the same section of the examination
  • confirming that the supplier institution’s examiners are awarding marks consistently in accordance with agreed criteria, to give guidance if necessary and to arbitrate in conjunction with the Chief External Examiner in the event of disagreement between examiners.
  • meeting with the supplier's lead internal examiners, in conjunction with the Chief External Examiner, in advance of a full meeting of the supplier's committee of examiners to determine appropriate advice and action should any matters arise in relation to mitigating or special circumstances, or allegations of malpractice, affecting any candidate.
  • if required as proxy to the Chief External Examiner, attendingthe supplier institution’s Committee of Examiners/examiner meetings for the determination of the results of the examinations, endorsing the outcomes of assessments observed and approving explicitly the decisions made.
  • reporting to the GDCin collaboration with other external examiners, on the conduct of the examination including the standard at which the examination is set, the supplier’s assessment processes, the standard of the candidates and good practice. This is done via contributing to reports that are prepared by the CEE and considered by ORE Advisory Group.
  • supporting colleagues with their work and assisting in the development of the team of external examiners.
  • Acting as an ambassador for the GDC, and supporting collegiality between the internal and extremal examiners.
  • assisting the Chief External Examiner in responding to any complaints following the examination.
  • developing their skills and experience by participating in the GDC development review process and contributing to the annual timetable of examinations.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

You will be a:

dentist registered with the General Dental Council
either in practice or retired for less than 2 years at time of appointment

You will have:

  • Recent experience of dental undergraduate examining, including in a clinical context
  • Working knowledge of:
  • Current guidance on UK undergraduate dental curriculum and standards
  • Contemporary evidence-based assessment methods
Knowledge of:
oExamination standard setting
oBlueprinting
oExaminer calibration
  • Evidence of a strong commitment to equality and diversity, and high levels of integrity and professional standards.
Skills and Abilities
You will be able to:
commit at least 6 working days for examining per year
commit at least 1 day to training per year
work confidentially and exercise discretion and diplomacy
provide support and guidance to internal examiners where required and arbitrate in the event of disagreement between examiners
communicate promptly and effectively (both orally and in writing)
work as a member of a committee, team or panel
  • understand the rationale, expected standard and structure of the ORE, and the outcomes and domains that it should test, as defined in the regulations and blueprints
work within GDC and ORE guidelines

take a consistent, fair and measured approach in commenting on Part 1 and Part 2 of the ORE

analyse the examination processes, particularly standard setting, and make recommendations to the Chief External Examiner and Examination Board

  • remain objective and dispassionate where necessary.

1