The IMM exam for dental specialties
The Intermediate Module is the least documented exam in Pakistani dentistry. Almost every page written about it describes the medical version. This one uses CPSP's own IMM guidelines, which set out a different paper format for different dental specialties.
Checked against CPSP documents on 3 September 2026
What is the IMM exam?
IMM stands for Intermediate Module. It is a CPSP examination sat during FCPS Part 2 training. It has two parts: a theory examination, and a TOACS, which is a practical exam of timed stations.
It also decides whether your FCPS Part 1 stays valid, which is why the attempt rules below matter as much as the syllabus.
What format is the IMM paper in your specialty?
This is the part that surprises people. CPSP does not use one format for all of dentistry. Two dental specialties sit written short answer papers, not MCQs.
| Specialty | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Time per paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 100 MCQs | 100 MCQs | 2 hours |
| Periodontology | 100 MCQs | 100 MCQs | 2 hours |
| Prosthodontics | 100 MCQs | 100 MCQs | 2 hours |
| Operative Dentistry | 10 SAQs | 10 SAQs | 3 hours |
| Orthodontics | 10 SAQs | 10 SAQs | 3 hours |
Scroll the table sideways for the rest.
MCQ papers are computer based. The short answer papers are conventional, written by hand. If you sit the exam outside Pakistan, every subject is conventional and each paper is 3 hours.
If you are in Operative Dentistry or Orthodontics
Your IMM theory is ten written short answers per paper, not multiple choice. Question practice still builds the recall you need, but you also have to practise writing answers by hand under time. Do not prepare for this paper as if it were an MCQ exam.
What is TOACS and when does it happen?
TOACS is the practical half of IMM, run as a circuit of timed stations. CPSP publishes the timing like this:
- Theory papers are marked first. Candidates found eligible for TOACS are then told the schedule, and the result is displayed on the CPSP website.
- TOACS is tentatively scheduled within 2 to 3 weeks after the theory exam.
- The provisional TOACS result is declared 2 to 3 weeks after the TOACS, once original documents arrive from the other centres.
So the gap between sitting your theory paper and holding a provisional result is roughly four to six weeks, assuming you pass the theory and are called.
How many attempts do you get at IMM?
CPSP states that your FCPS Part 1 stays valid if you pass IMM, both theory and TOACS, within six consecutive attempts. Those attempts are counted from the completion of two years of training.
An attempt counts even if you do not sit it
CPSP's wording is six consecutive attempts, availed or un-availed. A sitting you skip still counts against the six. People lose a valid Part 1 this way without ever failing a paper.
In specialties where IMM has not started, older validity rules apply instead: 7 years for a 4 year programme, and 8 years for a 5 year programme.
What are the rules in the IMM hall?
- You will not be let in if you are more than 15 minutes late.
- You may leave after one hour in the online exam, or after an hour and a half in the conventional exam.
- Admit card on display around your neck throughout.
- No phones, smart watches, calculators, other electronic devices or ear plugs.
- No printed or handwritten material, including the guidelines themselves.
For the short answer papers there are extra rules. Each answer goes in its own answer book, written on the ruled side only, with your roll number and the question number on every book. No extra sheets are given, so the book you get is the space you have. Tag all the books together before you hand them in, and bring your own pen, pencil and eraser.
Common questions
- Is the IMM exam for dentistry MCQs or short answers?
- It depends on your specialty. CPSP sets 100 MCQs per paper for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Periodontology and Prosthodontics. It sets 10 short answer questions per paper for Operative Dentistry and Orthodontics. MCQ papers are computer based and 2 hours; short answer papers are conventional and 3 hours.
- How long after IMM theory is the TOACS?
- CPSP schedules TOACS tentatively within 2 to 3 weeks of the theory exam, and declares the provisional TOACS result 2 to 3 weeks after that.
- How many IMM attempts do I get before my FCPS Part 1 expires?
- Six consecutive attempts, counted from the completion of two years of training. CPSP counts them whether you sit them or not, so a skipped sitting still uses one.
- Is the IMM exam different if I sit it outside Pakistan?
- Yes. CPSP states that examinations conducted abroad are conventional for all subjects, with each paper lasting 3 hours.
Where these facts come from
Every rule on this page was read from these documents. Dates, fees and rules change, so check them yourself before you rely on anything here.