General Organization of the Course

Classes are divided into lectures and practical classes. 

Practical classes take place Tuesdays and Thursdays, where classes take place in the dissecting room. During these classes you will have the chance to look at cadavers and models.

In some weeks there are lectures, which is around 45 minutes.

The course is taught in thematic blocks, and taught in the order mentioned:

• Osteology

• CNS

• Head and Neck

• Thorax 

• Abdomen

• Genitourinary organs

• Upper Limb and Back

• Lower Back

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Class Quizzes and Intermediates

After each class there will be a class quiz on e-learning that you have unlimited attempts to get 100% (subject to change). Those quizzes are done for the purpose of getting credited for the lab class.

There are also 2 intermediate exams, containing 60 MCQ and 30 pins (2 points each, so 60 points)

• Intermediate 1 takes place in mid January 

• Intermediate 2 takes place in late May
  There is no pass or fail on the intermediate exams, however, you need 65% of points to be allowed to write the final exam. Theory and practical points are counted separately.. Meaning that you need at least 78 points (out of the possible 120) for theory and practical each to be admitted for the final exam.

MCQ: Mainly single answer, but can contain multiple answer questions on intermediates (usually only a small portion of the exam).

Pins: Each station has 2 pins, 1 minute each (so on average 30 seconds per pin). On the intermediates there are 15 stations. Each pin gives 2 points and is scored as the following:

   left superior thyroid a     2p. [correct answer]
   right superior thyroid a   1p.
   superior thyroid a            1p
   thyroid a                           0p.
   left                                     0p
 

What happens if you don't have enough points?

Don't be discouraged - a lot of students, including your older colleagues (and the author himself lol), had to write the admissions exam.

You will have a chance to write an 'admission exam' at the start of June. It has a practical and theoretical part (just like the intermediates), and you only sit for the part where you did not have enough points. It includes everything you learned in the year. The passing threshold is 65%.

If you do not pass this test, you will not be admitted to the anatomy final exam in the summer examination session.

However, the admissions retake takes place in late August - which is your absolute last chance to pass the test, or else you fail the anatomy course. With the university regulations, that means you will be asked to withdraw from the university (or re-do the admission process). 

Of course, if you successfully pass the admission exam, you proceed to the final exam.

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Final exam

The final exam takes place in the summer examination session (late June to mid July). The retake takes place in the retake examination session (end of August to start of September). According to university regulations, each student is allowed 2 takes of the final exam, and an additional commission exam if approved by the dean. Therefore, if you pass the admission during the retake in August, you will still have 2 takes on the exam.

The format of the final exam is very similar to the intermediate exams.

• Theoretical part - 120 MCQ (single and multiple answer); 76 points to pass

• Practical part - 60 pins, 120 points

  • The first 20 pins of the practical part are so called "basic pins". These pins are only scored 2 or 0 (any mistake you make would be 0 points, partial marks are not possible). Out of the 40 points, 36 points are needed to pass. The exam is not further marked if the basic pins part is not passed. The basic pins list for dentistry can be found here., which includes around 100 pins on the head and neck.​

  • The last 40 pins are regular pins that are scored like the intermediates.

  • The practical part is passed when basic pins is at least 36/40 points, and the total grade is at least 76/120 points.

If you fail any of the parts, you only sit for the failed component.

The final grade is given based on the sum of the theoretical and practical grade, given both components are above 76 points.

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Tips

• READ UP AND STUDY BEFORE CLASS! The quiz comes right after the practical class and you can't expect to learn everything in the 2 hours you have class.

• Put down your books in the dissecting room - you should be studying theory at home before class. During the class you should be looking at the models and cadavers, as the lack of exposure to cadavers are usually what catches people out in the practical exams. You should, however, bring your atlas to help you identify structures in cadavers.

• As the first big exams only comes in late January, don't leave stuff until the last minute. Treat your intermediates seriously and be familiar with the format of the pin exams early beforehand.

• Practice your spelling - on the practical exam, making a mistake, no matter how small means 1 point or even 0 points on your pin. When you make spelling mistakes often it builds up. You should be getting your marks off due to lack of knowledge instead of the inability to spell! On the basic pins portion of the final exam, a single letter mistake can mean 0 points on the pin - and you are only allowed to make 2 mistakes.

• Make sure you know how to identify left/right or whether the structure is paired. Suggesting an unpaired structure as paired (e.g. L sphenoid bone) is an automatic 0 on the pin. This is especially important for basic pins.

• Although easier said than done, avoid the admission exam. You can do this by studying for class quizzes and study intermediates early in advance. The admission exam is often challenging because you are given a short timeframe to study anatomy taught throughout the whole year. Students also feel like the admissions are harder than the final. Not being admitted to the final exam is the most common reason why students fail the anatomy course.

• That said, don't freak if you have to write the admissions. Many students had to write it and successfully passed the course. Rather than freaking out, calm down and start revising your anatomy - you can do this!

• Practice basic pins a lot. The basic pins list for dentistry is only around 100 pins, and you should know them inside out - not just the structure itself, but if it is paired/unpaired, and the spelling. You can only have 2 mistakes out of the 20 and that includes any spelling mistakes or L/R errors. Failing basic pins is the most common reason students fail the practical part of the final. 

• Help each other out. Anatomy is an overwhelming subject and can no doubt be stressful at times, particularly before exams. There are so many resources for anatomy out there, and it is up to you to figure out what works for you. Study with each other and share resources. Older colleagues are a very good source as well. If pandemic restrictions allow, older colleagues from the anatomy circle may be in practical classes to help you out.