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The Advanced Dental Admission Test is the ADA's admission test for residencies and other advanced dental education programs. This page lays out what the ADA says is on it and how it runs; the question bank and full-length simulations are part of Boards Pro.
Verify on ada.org before booking. Everything below is from the ADA's Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) 2026 Candidate Guide (updated 12/9/2025) and its companion User's Guide, read in October 2026. The ADA changes dates, fees and rules each year; check the ADA's ADAT page before you apply.
Test day: 4 hours 30 minutes
“The total administration time is four hours and 30 minutes, including the tutorial, optional breaks, and survey.” ADA source ↗
The appointment, in order
Segment
Minutes
Tutorial
15
Biomedical Sciences (80 items)
95
Break (optional)
10
Clinical Sciences (80 items)
90
Break (optional)
10
Data, Research Interpretation, and Evidence-Based Dentistry (40 items)
45
Post Test Survey (optional)
5
Total
270
Pacing (our arithmetic, not the ADA's): about 71 seconds an item in Biomedical Sciences and 67.5 in the other two sections.
“Any time that passes while items load will NOT count against the total test time.” ADA source ↗
“Candidates must report to the testing center at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment.” ADA source ↗
2026 testing window: “March 1, 2026, through August 31, 2026” ADA source ↗
Content outline: 200 items in three sections
Biomedical Sciences · 80 items · 95 min
“Biomedical Sciences (80 Items) ... Anatomic Sciences (20 items) ... Biochemistry and Physiology (20 items) ... Microbiology and Pathology (20 items) ... Dental Anatomy and Occlusion (20 items)” ADA source ↗
Microbiology and Pathology (20 items): General Microbiology; Reactions of Tissue to Injury; Immunology and Immunopathology; Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology of Specific Infectious Diseases; Systemic Pathology; Growth Disturbances
Dental Anatomy and Occlusion (20 items): Tooth Morphology; Pulp Cavity Morphology; Calcification and Eruption; Principles of Occlusion and Function; Clinical Considerations — Tooth Morphology and Anomalies
Clinical Sciences · 80 items · 90 min
“Clinical Sciences (80 Stand-Alone and Case-Based Items)” ADA source ↗
Endodontics
Operative Dentistry
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pain Control
Oral Diagnosis
Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry
Periodontics
Pharmacology
Prosthodontics
Principles of Ethics
Patient Management
The guide does not give item counts per discipline. Case sets (a patient box followed by several items) sit beside stand-alone items. “PEPM items still appear on the exam, but are now incorporated into the Clinical Sciences (CLI) section.” ADA source ↗
Data, Research Interpretation, and Evidence-Based Dentistry · 40 items · 45 min
“Data, Research Interpretation, and Evidence-Based Dentistry (40 Items)” ADA source ↗
Study Design
Data Analysis
Result Interpretation
Inference and Implication
The guide does not give item counts per topic.
Scoring
“ADAT scores range from 200 to 800 and are reported in 10-point increments.” ADA source ↗
“ADAT results are reported as scale scores. These scale scores are neither raw scores (i.e., the number of questions answered correctly) nor percentiles.” ADA source ↗
Four scores are reported: ADAT Overall (ADAT) (Critical Thinking in Dentistry); Biomedical Sciences (BIO); Clinical Sciences (CLI); Data, Research Interpretation, & Evidence Based Dentistry (DRI). ADA source ↗
The overall score: “Weights are proportional to the number of items in each area, and the final score is rounded to the nearest ten.” ADA source ↗
No passing score: “there is not an official passing score for this examination.” ADA source ↗
“Candidates are not penalized for guessing.” ADA source ↗
“ADAT results are reported electronically within three to four weeks of a candidate's test date.” ADA source ↗
“After a candidate has taken any part of the ADAT, their scores cannot be voided.” ADA source ↗
2025 results (1,318 administrations), from the ADA's User's Guide ADA source ↗
Scale
Mean
SD
Lowest
Highest
Overall
500.8
92.4
220
760
BIO
510.5
114.5
200
800
CLI
495.3
94.6
200
760
DRI
492.7
91
200
800
Our simulations report percent correct by section and area. The ADA does not publish how raw scores convert to its scale, so we do not estimate scale scores.
Rules, retakes and fees (2026)
No calculator. Prohibited in the testing room: “Slide rules, paper, calculating devices, rulers, and other measuring devices (except those items approved in advance under testing accommodations).” ADA source ↗
Scratch work: “The test center will provide a laminated notebook and one low-odor fine tip marker during the examination.” ADA source ↗
Patient box: “If no information is presented in a given area of the patient box, assume the information is either unknown or is not available.” ADA source ↗
Retakes:“Candidates who apply to retest must wait at least 45 days between testing attempts and are limited to two testing attempts per testing window.” ADA source ↗“Candidates who have taken the ADAT two or more times previously will be limited to one testing attempt per testing window and will need to submit evidence that they have actively applied to advanced dental education programs within the previous 18 months.” ADA source ↗“The preceding retest policies are not subject to appeal.” ADA source ↗
All three sections: “Partial testing is not permitted. Candidates are required to take all three sections of the ADAT. The lowest possible score (a score of 200) is reported for any assigned test not taken.” ADA source ↗
DENTPIN first: “Before applying to take this examination, candidates must first obtain a Dental Personal Identification Number (DENTPIN).” ADA source ↗
One attempt per application: “The successful processing of a paid application enables candidates to attempt the examination once, within the testing window available at the time of application.” ADA source ↗
Fees: examination fee $465 (administration and score reporting to schools and programs selected at the time of application). Score Report Fee (optional, after application): $55 per report; Fee for Candidates from Non-Accredited Dental Schools: $435; Score Audit Fee (optional): $105; Rescheduling Fee: $25. “Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. All fees are in US dollars.” ADA source ↗
Item formats
“test items will be presented one at a time on their computer screens.” ADA source ↗
“Clinical Sciences (80 Stand-Alone and Case-Based Items)” ADA source ↗ “Some cases within the examination involve dental charts.” ADA source ↗
“The patient box presents information available to the dentist and dental hygienist at the time of the visit.” ADA source ↗
“Candidates are expected to carefully examine information appearing in a "Research Box" to answer the corresponding questions correctly.” ADA source ↗
“Both the U.S. customary system (imperial system) and the metric system (international system) of measurement are used.” ADA source ↗
Our items are original, written to this outline; none are ADA items. “The ADAT program does not endorse any specific test preparation courses” ADA source ↗
