MFDS Practice Test

MFDS Exam at a Glance

What changed for MFDS in 2026

• Oct 20, 2026: The final legacy MFDS Part 1 sitting at RCS England is on 20 October 2026; no further legacy Part 1 exams follow.^[1]
• Oct 19, 2026: Next exam date (August 2027 diet) changed to 24 August 2027 (previously 24 August 2027 (Glasgow, Manchester, London + 1 TBC)).^[4]
• Oct 19, 2026: Next exam date (Legacy MFDS Part 1 (RCS England)) changed to 20 October 2026 (final legacy sitting) (previously 20 October 2026 (final legacy sitting, resit candidates only)).^[1]
• Oct 19, 2026: Eligibility changed to Primary dental qualification, registration, DCT-level clinical experience, English at IELTS 7 level (previously Primary dental qualification + registration + clinical experience at DCT level + IELTS 7-level English).^[3]
• Oct 19, 2026: Delivery (Legacy MFDS Part 1 (RCS England)) changed to Online, remotely invigilated (previously Online, remotely invigilated (150 SBA, 3 hours)).^[2]
• Oct 19, 2026: Other (update 2026-10-20) changed to The final legacy MFDS Part 1 sitting at RCS England is on 20 October 2026; no further legacy Part 1 exams follow. (previously RCS England's final legacy MFDS Part 1 sitting is on 20 October 2026 and is for resit candidates only. A pass in it cannot be carried over to the new MFDS.).^[1]
• Oct 19, 2026: Other (update 2026-10-28) changed to The first MFDS Part 1 in the new tri-collegiate format is held on 28 October 2026. (previously The first new-format MFDS Part 1 is held on 28 October 2026 at assessment centres in Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester. Applications closed at midday on 16 July 2026.).^[5]
• Jul 16, 2026: Applications for the first new-format MFDS Part 1 (28 October 2026) closed at midday on 16 July 2026.^[5]

What the MFDS is and how it works

According to Dental Examinations Executive (tri-collegiate MFDS: RCS England, RCS Edinburgh, RCPSG), published at dsfe.org.uk, “Candidates should have a good command of the English language, akin to IELTS 7, to participate in the examinations which will be taken entirely in English.”^[3]

The MFDS is a membership exam for dentists in the early part of their careers, set jointly by RCS England, RCS Edinburgh and RCPSG through the Dental Examinations Executive. Part 1 tests the knowledge behind safe general dental practice.

Delivery is changing. The legacy RCS England Part 1 was taken online with remote invigilation, as one three-hour paper of 150 SBA questions. Its final sitting is on 20 October 2026. From the first new-format exam on 28 October 2026, you must attend an assessment centre in the UK and can no longer sit the exam at home. The February 2027 venues are Edinburgh (EH9), London (W6), Manchester (M50) and Bristol (BS8). The August 2027 venues are Glasgow, Manchester and London, with another location still to be confirmed.

Format and scoring. Our verified facts do not include the question count, paper length or scoring method for the new format. Check the current candidate guidance on dsfe.org.uk before you plan your timing.

Eligibility and resits. You need a primary dental qualification, registration, clinical experience at DCT level, and English at a level close to IELTS 7, because the exam is taken entirely in English. The exact wording and the evidence you need are in the MFDS Eligibility Criteria document on dsfe.org.uk. For the February 2027 diet there is a resit-only window from midday on 9 December to midday on 23 December 2026.

Worked examples: how to reason through MFDS questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the primary therapeutic objective of non-surgical root surface debridement (RSD) in the management of periodontitis?

1. To remove the outer layer of contaminated cementum.
2. To disrupt the subgingival biofilm and remove calculus deposits.
3. To create a glass-smooth root surface to prevent plaque re-adhesion.
4. To eliminate all bacteria from the periodontal pocket.

Answer: B. To disrupt the subgingival biofilm and remove calculus deposits.

Explanation:

B is correct. Non-surgical root debridement aims to break up the subgingival biofilm and remove calculus, which holds plaque in place. This lowers the inflammatory load so the periodontal tissues can heal.

• A reflects an older idea that toxins soak deep into cementum. They are only loosely bound, so deliberately removing cementum is unnecessary and can cause sensitivity.
• C is also outdated. Aiming for a glass-smooth root leads to over-instrumentation and loss of tooth structure without better healing.
• D is not possible. A pocket cannot be sterilised, and bacteria return. The aim is a stable, health-compatible flora kept up by home care.

Rule: debridement is about disrupting biofilm and removing calculus, not scraping the root.

Example 2

Question: Warfarin anticoagulation should be assessed before dental extractions using:

1. APTT
2. INR
3. Platelet count
4. Bleeding time

Answer: B. INR

Explanation:

B is correct. The INR is a standardised prothrombin time. It reflects the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors that warfarin reduces, so it is the test that shows whether an extraction can go ahead in primary care.

• A APTT tracks the intrinsic pathway and is used mainly to monitor unfractionated heparin, not warfarin.
• C A platelet count measures platelet numbers. Warfarin does not change these, so the count says nothing about its effect.
• D Bleeding time is unreliable and is no longer used to plan dental treatment.

Rule: match the test to the drug. Use INR for warfarin, APTT for heparin, and platelet count for suspected thrombocytopenia. Take the INR threshold and timing from current UK guidance.

Example 3

Question: What is the recommended first-line topical treatment for symptomatic oral lichen planus?

1. Topical aciclovir
2. Topical corticosteroids such as betamethasone mouthwash or fluocinolone acetonide in Orabase
3. Topical metronidazole gel
4. Topical chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash alone

Answer: B. Topical corticosteroids such as betamethasone mouthwash or fluocinolone acetonide in Orabase

Explanation:

B is correct. Oral lichen planus is a T-cell-mediated inflammatory condition. Topical corticosteroids, such as a betamethasone mouthwash or a steroid in Orabase applied to the lesions, damp down that immune response and ease symptoms.

• A Aciclovir is an antiviral for herpes infections. Lichen planus is not viral.
• C Metronidazole targets anaerobic bacteria, for example in necrotising gingivitis. It has no role here.
• D Chlorhexidine helps plaque control and can reduce secondary infection. Used alone, it does not treat the underlying inflammation.

Rule: for symptomatic oral lichen planus, use a topical steroid first. Watch for candidal overgrowth during treatment and keep reviewing the lesions for any change.

How to use these practice tests

Start by reading the eligibility criteria and the current candidate guidance on dsfe.org.uk, then register. For the February 2027 diet, registration closes at midday on 18 November 2026. Our questions are written with AI tools and are not real exam questions, so use them for practice alongside the official material.

1. Take a baseline. Do the free MFDS practice test without a timer and note which topics cost you marks.
2. Work by topic. Go through your weakest areas with the topic sets, such as Human Disease and Pharmacology, Oral Medicine & Pathology and Medical Emergencies in Dentistry. Read every explanation, including those for questions you got right.
3. Keep an error log. Write down the rule behind each wrong answer in a sentence, as in the worked examples above. Test those topics again a few days later.
4. Check against UK guidance. Where an answer depends on current practice, such as anticoagulants or prescribing, confirm it against the official UK guidance.
5. Rehearse the day. In the final weeks, do mixed sets under exam-like conditions. Plan your route to the assessment centre, because the new format is sat in person.

Sources & last verified

1. rcseng.ac.uk — delivery, next exam date, other (official source). “Candidates must now attend an assessment centre rather than sitting the online exam at home.” Verified Oct 19, 2026.
2. rcseng.ac.uk — delivery (official source). “The legacy MFDS Part 1 exam is one three-hour paper with 150 SBA questions.” Verified Oct 19, 2026.
3. Dental Examinations Executive (tri-collegiate MFDS: RCS England, RCS Edinburgh, RCPSG), published at dsfe.org.uk — eligibility (official source). “Candidates should have a good command of the English language, akin to IELTS 7, to participate in the examinations which will be taken entirely in…” Verified Oct 19, 2026.
4. Dental Examinations Executive (tri-collegiate MFDS: RCS England, RCS Edinburgh, RCPSG), published at dsfe.org.uk — registration deadline, late registration deadline, next exam date, registration opens (official source). “All candidates: 16th September 2026 midday to 18th November 2026 midday” Verified Oct 19, 2026.
5. rcpsg.ac.uk — other (official source). “Thursday 16 July 2026 12pm (midday) GMT” Verified Oct 19, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.