If you have been reading older AFK guides or forum threads, you might have a slightly outdated picture of the exam. Formats change, and advice that was spot on a few years ago can leave you preparing for the wrong test.

So let us start with what the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) currently says about the Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge, and then look at what it means for how you practise AFK exam questions.

Always double-check the latest NDEB protocol before your sitting, since details can be updated.

The AFK at a Glance

Under the current NDEB protocol:

• The AFK has 200 questions.
• It is split into two parts of two hours each, taken on the same day, with one scheduled break.
• All questions are single-answer multiple-choice. You select the most likely or most appropriate answer.
• Each question is worth one point. There is no penalty for a wrong answer.
• Raw scores are equated and re-scaled so that 75 is the pass mark.
• Candidates get a maximum of three attempts.
• The exam is delivered mainly as a computer-based test at Prometric centres, with paper-based sittings at select sites.
• Results are normally released within about eight weeks, as pass or fail.

You can find a broader overview on our AFK exam page.

What This Means for Pacing

Two hours for 100 questions gives you roughly 1.2 minutes per question. That sounds manageable, and for straightforward recall items it is. But some questions involve a short clinical scenario or an image, and those take longer.

The practical takeaway is that you need to move briskly on the easy questions so you have time in the bank for the harder ones. Candidates who spend three minutes agonising over every uncertain item usually end up rushing the final 20.

A simple rule many of our students use: if you have not narrowed it down after about 90 seconds, pick your best option, flag it if the system allows, and move on.

No Negative Marking: Answer Everything

Because there is no penalty for wrong answers, leaving a question blank is always a loss. Even a pure guess has some chance of being right, and an educated guess after ruling out one or two options has a much better one.

Practise this habit in every mock. Never finish a practice set with unanswered questions.

“Most Appropriate” Is the Key Phrase

The AFK asks for the most likely or most appropriate answer. That wording matters. Often, two or three options are not strictly wrong. Your job is to pick the best one for the situation described.

This is where many experienced dentists trip up. In real practice, you can justify several approaches. On the exam, there is usually one answer that best fits Canadian standards and the facts given. Training yourself to spot it takes deliberate practice with good explanations, not just more questions.

How the Questions Tend to Feel

Without reproducing any actual exam content, AFK exam questions generally fall into a few styles:

• Direct knowledge questions, such as the mechanism of a drug or the nerve supply of a structure
• Short clinical scenarios that ask for a diagnosis, next step or best management
• Image-based items, such as radiographs or clinical photos
• Questions that test principles, such as infection control, ethics or evidence-based decisions

Your practice should include all of these. If your question bank is mostly one-line recall items, you may be underprepared for the scenario-based ones.

Using AFK Mock Exams the Right Way

Full-length AFK mock exams are the closest you can get to the real experience. With the current format, a realistic mock means:

• 200 questions
• Two blocks of two hours
• One break between blocks, the same length you will get on the day
• No notes, no phone and a quiet room

Sit your first mock early to get a baseline. Then aim for one every two to three weeks, moving to weekly in the last month if your schedule allows. After each mock, sort your errors into knowledge gaps, misreads and reasoning mistakes, and adjust your study plan from there.

Our smart quizzes let you build both short topic sets and longer timed blocks, so you can practise pacing as well as content.

Where Online Coaching Helps

Some candidates are very good at self-directed study. Others find that they plateau, especially on the “most appropriate” style of question. AFK online coaching helps here because a tutor can see how you reason through a question and correct the habit, not just the answer.

In our AFK program, tutors review your mock results with you, highlight patterns in your errors and adjust your plan as you improve. Sessions are online and flexible, which suits candidates who are working or managing family responsibilities while they prepare.

Three Attempts: Plan to Pass the First Time

With a maximum of three attempts, each sitting is valuable. That is not a reason to panic, but it is a strong reason to sit the exam when your mock results show you are consistently ready, not just hopeful.

A good benchmark is several mocks in a row where you are comfortably above where you need to be, across all content areas, under realistic timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AFK pass mark 75 percent?

Not exactly. Raw scores are equated and re-scaled so that 75 is the passing score. It is a scaled score, not a straight percentage of correct answers.

Should I guess if I am unsure?

Yes. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so every question should get an answer, even if it is your best educated guess.

Final Thoughts

The current AFK format rewards steady pacing, smart guessing and a sharp eye for the most appropriate answer. Prepare for the exam as it is now, practise with realistic mocks and review every error with purpose. If you would like help building a plan around the current format, book a free orientation with our team.