MFDS Part 1: The Complete Guide to the New Exam Format, Syllabus and How to Pass

The MFDS, Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, is the postgraduate diploma that many dentists work towards during dental core training, and Part 1 is its written examination. The exam has recently been redesigned: the three UK surgical royal colleges now deliver a single, jointly run MFDS through the Dental Examinations Executive, replacing the separate legacy exams. This guide explains the new Part 1 format, who can sit it, how the syllabus is weighted, and how to revise efficiently, with a brief note on the GDC's ORE Part 1 for overseas-qualified dentists.

What is MFDS Part 1?

MFDS Part 1 is a computer-based single best answer (SBA) examination that tests the knowledge, and the application of knowledge, expected of a dentist in the early years after qualification. Its questions focus on clinical decision making and professional practice across the breadth of general and hospital dentistry. Passing Part 1 allows you to apply for Part 2, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). The new exam is developed and run by the Dental Examinations Executive, a joint body acting on behalf of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

If you started with a legacy MFDS exam, note that the colleges have been running final legacy sittings for resit candidates only, and RCS England has stated that a pass in its legacy Part 1 cannot be carried over to the new MFDS. Check your own position with the college you originally sat with.

MFDS Part 1 format and structure

• 180 single best answer questions, split equally across two papers of 90 questions.
• Two hours per paper, so on average 90 seconds per question.
• Each question has five options, and some include clinical images or test results.
• No negative marking, so you should attempt every question.
• You can move freely between questions and change answers before submitting each paper.
• Sat in person at UK assessment centres rather than remotely.

For comparison, overseas-qualified dentists seeking GDC registration take the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE). ORE Part 1 is a separate GDC assessment of two three-hour computer-based papers using extended matching and single best answer questions: one on dental science and human disease, and one on clinical dentistry, including law, ethics and health and safety. The clinical knowledge overlaps heavily with MFDS Part 1, which is why many candidates use the same question bank for both.

Who can sit MFDS Part 1?

To apply for the new exam you need a primary dental qualification, registration to practise dentistry in your country of residence, and English language ability at the standard the regulations specify. You should also have enough clinical experience to meet the learning outcomes of the COPDEND dental core training curricula, since the exam is built around them. Eligibility is a self-declaration process supported by documents, and the regulations set a limit on attempts. Read the current eligibility criteria and regulations on the Dental Examinations Executive website before you apply.

MFDS Part 1 syllabus: where to focus

The published exam specification gives a weighting range for each syllabus topic, and it is the best guide to where your marks will come from. The three heaviest areas are each allocated roughly 20 to 30 questions:

• Underpinning clinical knowledge: the applied medical and dental science behind safe clinical practice.
• Clinical examination and assessment: history, examination, special tests and radiographic interpretation.
• Diagnosis, patient management and treatment planning.

Most clinical specialties carry a smaller band of around 6 to 10 questions each: restorative dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, paediatric dentistry, special care dentistry, oral medicine, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral microbiology, dental public health and epidemiology, emergency care of dental and facial injuries, and preventive care. Oral and maxillofacial pathology carries slightly fewer, and professional topics such as professionalism, patient-centred care, teamworking and clinical and patient safety appear in smaller numbers. The lesson is clear: broad, even coverage across every specialty, with the most time spent on applied clinical reasoning.

A realistic MFDS Part 1 study plan

Most dentists prepare alongside a full-time DCT or practice post, so a phased plan that fits around clinical work is essential.

• Phase 1, coverage: work through the specialties one at a time in tutor mode, starting with those you see least in your current post. Read every explanation, including why the wrong options are wrong.
• Phase 2, integration: switch to mixed blocks that combine specialties, mirroring the randomised order of the real exam. Drill radiographs, clinical photographs and medical emergencies, which appear across many topics.
• Phase 3, simulation: sit full 90-question, two-hour papers back to back, review your analytics, and use the final weeks to close the specific gaps they reveal.

Common mistakes candidates make

• Revising from old legacy-format materials without checking them against the new syllabus and specification.
• Concentrating on your own clinical area and neglecting specialties such as orthodontics, microbiology or dental public health.
• Under-preparing medically compromised patients, prescribing and medical emergencies, which can arise in scenarios across many syllabus areas.
• Treating questions as fact recall when the exam emphasises clinical decision making.
• Not practising two full papers in one session before the real day.

Exam technique and what to expect on the day

With 90 seconds per question, keep a steady rhythm and avoid stalling on any single item. Read the final line of the stem first, form an answer before you look at the options, then choose the single best response from the five. Look carefully at any image or result supplied, because it usually holds the key to the question. Flag uncertain items, return to them once you have been through the paper, and never leave a question blank. Arrive at the assessment centre early with the identification you have been asked to bring, and use the break between papers to rest rather than cram.

The best way to revise for MFDS Part 1

Because Part 1 is entirely single best answer, a question bank mapped to the MFDS syllabus is the most efficient way to prepare. Good questions teach you to apply knowledge to a clinical scenario, which is exactly what the exam rewards, and detailed explanations close gaps faster than re-reading notes. Use performance tracking to keep every specialty moving, start with the College sample questions to calibrate the style, and build up to full timed papers. The same approach serves ORE Part 1 candidates well, given the overlap in clinical content.

Passmed's MFDS Part 1 question bank also supports ORE and LDS preparation, written by qualified clinicians and mapped to the official syllabus, with detailed explanations and performance tracking across every specialty. Explore the question bank →

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in the new MFDS Part 1?

180 single best answer questions, split across two papers of 90 questions, each lasting two hours.

Is there negative marking in MFDS Part 1?

No. Incorrect answers are not penalised, so you should attempt every question.

Can I sit MFDS Part 1 online from home?

The new MFDS Part 1 is delivered at UK assessment centres rather than remotely. Check the Dental Examinations Executive website for the current venues.

What is the difference between MFDS Part 1 and ORE Part 1?

MFDS is a postgraduate membership diploma from the surgical royal colleges, while the ORE is the GDC's registration exam for overseas-qualified dentists. Both test broad clinical dental knowledge, but their formats, eligibility and purpose differ.

Does a legacy MFDS Part 1 pass still count?

Not automatically. RCS England has stated that its legacy Part 1 pass cannot be carried over to the new exam, so confirm your position with your original college.

Exam format details were checked against the official examining body (accessed October 2026). Specifications, dates and fees change, always confirm the current details on the official website before you sit.