AFK Study Materials: What to Use for the NDEB AFK

  • Dr. T
  • October 14, 2026
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NDEB AFK preparation · Updated October 2026

AFK Study Materials: What to Use for the NDEB AFK

The best AFK study materials are the NDEB’s own free documents (the AFK Protocol with its blueprint, and the KSAs), then one structured set of subject notes and a large bank of original practice questions with explanations, studied by blueprint weight. At The Study Boards, our AFK Modules, Master Files and test series are those materials, and we build every AFK plan in that order: blueprint first, basics second, questions every day.

200single-answer questions, in two parts
2 x 2 hrsone exam day, one scheduled break
75equated score needed to pass
9content areas on the 2026 blueprint

BlueprintFree NDEB materialsOur materials by subjectHow to use themTimelineWhat to avoidOur full planFAQ
How The Study Boards helps

How The Study Boards helps you with your AFK study materials

You do not need to read 100 textbooks. Our AFK course gives you 12 sequenced sections: subject Modules for the basics, Master Files with 20,000+ exam-relevant points, subject and cumulative Master Test Series, full-length Grand Tests, and a mixed-topic live test every night at 9 PM New York time.8

The course is extremely personalised: red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, the course learns from the way you study, and faculty are there to assist you. US-licensed dentists answer your questions, not a chatbot. See the AFK course blueprint.

Start here

What the AFK tests: the 2026 blueprint

Your study materials should follow the marks. The NDEB publishes the approximate share of questions in each area in the AFK Protocol.2

Applied Biomedical SciencesAnatomy, biochemistry, biomaterials, cariology, growth and development, histology, immunology, microbiology, oral embryology, physiology20% ± 5
Restorative, Prosthodontics, Implants16% ± 5
Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology15% ± 5
Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Local Anesthesia, Medical Emergencies14% ± 5
Orthodontics, Pediatric, Geriatric and Special Needs Dentistry8% ± 5
Periodontics8% ± 5
Oral Surgery, Trauma, Orofacial Pain, Dental Emergencies8% ± 5
Endodontics6% ± 5
Evidence-Based Dentistry, Prevention, Infection Control, Ethics and Jurisprudence5% ± 5

What this means for your study planThe top four areas add up to about 65% of the exam. Put most of your hours there; our AFK course follows these weights. Biomedical science alone is about one question in five, so do not skip it because you are a clinician.
Format

200 questions, one best answerTwo parts of 100 questions, two hours each, on one day with one scheduled break.2

Score

No negative markingEach question is worth one point and a wrong answer scores zero. Never leave a question blank.2

FDI

FDI tooth numberingAll NDEB exams use the two-digit FDI system. If you trained on another system, practise it from day one.2

For the dates, fee and pass rates, read our NDEB AFK exam guide. In short: the next sittings are 5 February 2027 in Canada and 6 February 2027 in Australia and New Zealand, the registration deadline is 4 January 2027 at 21:00 ET, and the AFK fee is CAD 1,000.15

Free and official

The free NDEB materials to download first

Collect these first. They come from the NDEB itself, they cost nothing, and they tell you what the exam expects.

The 2026 AFK ProtocolYour rule book: the blueprint above, the format, the FDI chart, exam-day rules, results timing (normally within eight weeks) and the three-attempt limit. Read it twice.2
The NDEB reference text list (updated June 2026)The NDEB says this list “contains reference material recommended in Faculties of Dentistry in Canada”, and that it also draws on journal articles, clinical guidelines and specialty practice standards. It is a long list, so treat it as a library catalogue, not a reading list. Our Modules and Master Files are built so you do not have to work through it.3
The KSAs for a beginning dental practitioner in CanadaThe NDEB states that AFK questions are developed from these Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Use the document as a checklist of what a new Canadian dentist must know.27
The electronic exam orientationCompulsory if you sit the AFK at a Prometric centre. Watch it early so the screen layout is familiar on the day.2
The NDEB online self-assessment100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, with a tally of correct answers at the end. The NDEB says the result is a guideline only. Take it once as a baseline and once near the end.6
Read the copyright rules before you buy any “AFK question” productThe AFK Protocol says all NDEB content is for personal use only. It prohibits the disclosure, distribution, solicitation and reconstruction of NDEB exam content, and the use of NDEB exam content for commercial purposes, including the released material on the NDEB website. Candidates also sign a confidentiality agreement and may not reproduce any part of the exam, including from memory.2 So be careful with anything sold as “recalled” or “real” AFK questions. Learn the concepts from original material, such as our Modules and original practice questions, instead.

AFK study materials

Our AFK study materials by subject

In our AFK course, every blueprint area has the same three layers: a Module for the basics, a Master File for revision, and subject Master Test Series to test it. Full-length Grand Tests and the nightly live test then mix every area together.

Applied Biomedical SciencesAnatomy, histology, embryology, biochemistry, biomaterials, cariology, microbiology, immunology and physiology, for what a dentist needs to know.about 20%
Restorative, Prosthodontics, ImplantsCavity design, direct restorations, crowns and bridges, removable and complete dentures, and implant planning.about 16%
Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral RadiologyLesions and their management, radiation safety, technique and interpretation.about 15%
Pharmacology, Local Anesthesia, Medical EmergenciesDrugs a dentist prescribes, local anaesthetic doses, chairside emergencies and the medically compromised patient.about 14%
Orthodontics, Pediatric, Geriatric and Special NeedsGrowth, diagnosis and treatment timing, pediatric pulp therapy, behaviour and prevention.about 8%
PeriodonticsDiagnosis, therapy and maintenance, with staging and grading from the 2017 AAP/EFP classification.about 8%
Oral Surgery, Trauma, Orofacial Pain, Dental EmergenciesExtractions, surgical principles, infections, TMD and the IADT 2020 trauma guidelines.about 8%
EndodonticsPulp and periapical diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.about 6%
Evidence-Based Dentistry, Prevention, Infection Control, EthicsStudy designs, bias and test accuracy, sterilisation, public health and the principles behind ethics questions.about 5%

Rule for guideline topicsFor antibiotics, endocarditis prophylaxis, trauma, periodontal classification and pulp therapy, older material can be out of date. The NDEB says it also references clinical guidelines and practice standards, such as the AAPD guidelines, the IADT 2020 trauma guidelines and the 2017 AAP/EFP classification, so learn these topics from the current guideline.3

Method

How to use your AFK study materials

The order you study in matters more than how much material you own. This is how we train our students inside the course.

Map the blueprint to your weak areasTake the NDEB self-assessment cold. Mark every blueprint area as strong, OK or weak. Your weak, high-weight areas get the most hours.
Build the basics from our ModulesEach subject Module covers what the KSAs ask for, not a whole textbook. Your daily tasks in the course move you through a subject in one to two weeks.
Revise from the Master FilesOur Master Files already condense each subject into exam-relevant points, including the numbers you must know (doses, time limits, classifications). They are your revision file from day one.
Questions the same dayAfter each topic, you answer original practice questions with full explanations and read why every wrong option is wrong. Our daily tasks, nightly live tests and test series are built on active recall, and red lines and assignments come back to you on the go. Retrieval practice like this beats re-reading.
Train the clockEach AFK part gives you 120 minutes for 100 questions, so about 72 seconds per question. We train our students in timed blocks inside the course, building from 50 to 100 questions.
Full-length Grand Tests before the examSit 2 x 100 questions with one break, as on exam day. Review every miss the next day and go back to the Module for that topic.

For the science behind this, read our guide to active recall and spaced repetition. The same methods work for any board exam.

Pick your timeline

How long should you study for the AFK?

Tap the option closest to you. These are planning guides from our faculty, not NDEB rules.

Choose an option above to see a suggested plan.
About 3 months

  • Weeks 1 to 6: high-weight areas first (biomedical, restorative and prostho, oral medicine and radiology, pharmacology).
  • Weeks 7 to 10: remaining areas plus mixed timed blocks.
  • Weeks 11 to 12: full-length Grand Tests and targeted revision.
About 6 months

  • Months 1 to 3: our Modules subject by subject, Master Files for revision, daily questions.
  • Months 4 to 5: mixed timed blocks of 100, weekly review of weak areas.
  • Month 6: Grand Tests, guideline topics, rest before the exam.
6 months or more

Save months

What to avoid: a quick checklist

Your AFK score may also open a degree-completion doorSome Canadian programs for internationally trained dentists use the AFK and some do not. Université de Montréal asks for a passed AFK; the ACFD bridge program asks for a passed AFK and ACJ; the University of Alberta says it no longer accepts the AFK and uses the ADAT instead.91011 See the full list in Canadian degree-completion programs for international dentists.

We teach the AFK

How to prepare: our full plan

Knowing the blueprint is a start. A plan that tells you what to study, test and revise each day is what gets you to 75.

AFK

The Study Boards AFK course (AFK Premium Boards)Built for the NDEB AFK, with Dr. Kaur on the faculty:

  • 12 sequenced sections, from Modules to Grand Tests
  • Master Files with 20,000+ exam-relevant points
  • Nightly live test at 9 PM New York time
  • Pass Guarantee: finish on time with no overdue days, score 60%+ on every test, and if you still do not pass, we refund the course fee and the AFK exam fee
  • 3, 6 or 12 months of access, from USD 299

See the AFK Course Blueprint

Canada

Plan the whole Canadian routeThe AFK is step one. Read these next:

Become a Dentist in Canada

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy textbooks for the NDEB AFK?
No. Start with the free NDEB documents: the AFK Protocol, the KSAs and the self-assessment. In our AFK course, the Modules, Master Files and test series are your study materials, built on the AFK blueprint, so you do not have to work through a shelf of books.
Does the NDEB publish an official AFK book list?
Yes. The NDEB publishes a reference text list in the Exam Resources section of its website (last updated June 2026). It describes it as material recommended in Canadian faculties of dentistry. It is not a list of books you must read, and the NDEB also uses journal articles and clinical guidelines.
Can I use INBDE study material for the AFK?
Much of it overlaps, because both exams test biomedical and clinical science. Check three gaps: the AFK uses FDI tooth numbering, it follows its own blueprint weights, and ethics and jurisprudence questions can reflect Canadian practice. Map your INBDE material to the AFK blueprint before you rely on it.
Are recalled or “real” AFK questions allowed?
No. The AFK Protocol prohibits disclosing, reconstructing or reproducing NDEB exam content, including from memory, and prohibits using NDEB content for commercial purposes. Learn the concepts instead; the NDEB also updates its questions regularly.
How many times can I take the AFK, and when do results come out?
You can take the AFK a maximum of three times. Results are normally released within eight weeks. A score of 75 or more is a pass; if you score below 75, you see your equated score but no breakdown.
How does The Study Boards help you prepare for the AFK?
Our AFK course turns the blueprint into a day-by-day plan: Modules for the basics, Master Files for revision, subject and full-length tests, and a live test every night at 9 PM New York time, with US-licensed dentists answering your questions. It comes with a Pass Guarantee for students who meet the course benchmark.

Not sure where to start your AFK prep?

Tell us your graduation year, your exam date and how many hours a day you have. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

NDEB AFK Exam 2026Format, dates, fees and pass rate Canadian degree-completion programsEvery program, cost and requirement NDEB bridge training pathwayWho qualifies for the bridge program What are Master Files?Study only what is clinically relevant

References

  1. National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB). Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge: format, dates, scoring, attempts. ndeb-bned.ca
  2. NDEB. AFK Protocol 2026 (effective 19 January 2026): blueprint, format, FDI numbering, preparation materials, training courses, copyright and exam security, results, repeats. ndeb-bned.ca (PDF)
  3. NDEB. Reference Texts, updated June 2026. ndeb-bned.ca (PDF)
  4. NDEB. Exam Resources (protocols, reference texts, KSAs; personal, non-commercial use only). ndeb-bned.ca
  5. NDEB. Equivalency Process fees (AFK CAD 1,000, effective 1 July 2025). ndeb-bned.ca
  6. NDEB. Online self-assessment (100 questions, 120 minutes). ndeb-bned.ca
  7. NDEB. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities for a Beginning Dental Practitioner in Canada (approved 9 February 2024). ndeb-bned.ca (PDF)
  8. The Study Boards. AFK Premium Boards course blueprint. parmjitllc.com
  9. Université de Montréal. Doctorat de 1er cycle en médecine dentaire: admission of graduates of non-accredited programs. admission.umontreal.ca
  10. University of Alberta, Mike Petryk School of Dentistry. DDS Advanced Placement (AFK not accepted; ADAT required). ualberta.ca
  11. Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry. Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada: eligibility. acfd.ca

Current as of October 2026. We are not affiliated with the NDEB. Confirm dates, fees and rules with the NDEB before you register.

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