Guides ORE vs LDS
ORE Part 1 vs LDS Part 1: which route should you take?
Both routes end in full GDC registration, but they differ sharply on cost, format and track record. Here is the honest comparison, with the numbers.
If you qualified as a dentist outside the UK, there are two ways onto the GDC register: the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) and the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS). Both end in full registration. They are run by different bodies, cost very different amounts, and — as of 2026 — carry very different track records.
The two routes at a glance
| ORE | LDS | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | GDC, delivered by UCL Consultants | Royal College of Surgeons of England |
| Number of parts | Two | Three |
| Part 1 format | Two computer-based papers, in person, on consecutive days | Two papers, taken at home (remote online proctored) |
| Part 1 written fee | £485 | £1,025 |
| Approx. total cost | ~£7,567 | ~£4,554 |
| Attempts | 4 at each part | 4 / 3 / 3 |
On price alone, the LDS is now the cheaper route by roughly £3,000 — a gap that opened in May 2026 when the ORE Part 2 fee rose 65% to £6,967.
Part 1 — where the two are actually similar
ORE Part 1 is two computer-based papers sat in person on consecutive days. Paper A covers dental science and human disease; Paper B covers clinical dentistry, law, ethics, and health and safety. LDS Part 1 is also two papers, A and B, of around 200 single best answer questions each, three hours each, on two consecutive days — but it is sat at home, remotely proctored through the Surpass platform.
The crucial point for revision: both Part 1s test the same core knowledge — the applied dental science, human disease, clinical dentistry, law and ethics any UK dentist must know. The exams are set by different bodies and worded differently, but the syllabus overlaps almost completely. That is why a single well-built Part 1 question bank prepares you for either exam.
How to choose
- On cost, the LDS wins, by roughly £3,000.
- On track record and predictability, the ORE wins.
- On format, the LDS Part 1 is sat at home; the ORE Part 1 is in a test centre.
- On availability, both are expanding places, so check current waiting times when you apply.
Whichever you pick, Part 1 is the same knowledge, and it is the part you can prepare for right now.
Where The Arch fits
The Arch prepares both Part 1s. Our ORE Part 1 course carries 6,357 explained questions and the full written revision guide; our LDS Part 1 course has its own dedicated bank and guide. Because the syllabuses overlap so heavily, ground you cover counts for either exam. You can try three hours of the whole course free, or sit a free 100-question mock with no sign-up.
FAQ
Is the LDS easier than the ORE? Not on the current evidence — it was restructured in 2026 and its early pass rates have been very low. It is cheaper, not easier.
Which is cheaper, ORE or LDS? The LDS, by about £3,000 in total, mainly because the ORE Part 2 fee rose sharply in 2026.
Does one question bank cover both Part 1 exams? The syllabuses overlap almost completely, so a strong Part 1 bank prepares you for either. The Arch keeps a dedicated bank for each so the wording and weighting match.
Sources
Fees, dates and formats change — confirm anything here with the awarding body before you act on it.