Passing the IMAT: structure of the Italian medical entrance exam and strategies

The IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) is the national entrance exam for Medicine in English in Italy (public programmes). This guide summarizes the IMAT 2025 structure, the scoring system, the timeline (registration on Universitaly) and winning strategies to aim for a place in Milan, Pavia, Rome, Turin and elsewhere.

IMAT: the essentials

What is the IMAT for?

• It selects candidates for English-taught MD programmes at Italian public universities.
• Multiple-choice questions across 5 sections: reading skills & general knowledge, logic, biology, chemistry, physics & maths.
• A paper-based exam held simultaneously (in Italy & at centres abroad).

Eligibility & places

• Open to EU and non-EU candidates; quotas are allocated by university.
• A national ranking, followed by successive offers based on your university preferences (entered on Universitaly).

IMAT 2025 structure, scoring and timing

Format & question breakdown

• 60 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes, 5 options each, only 1 correct.
• Official 2025 breakdown: 4 Reading Skills & General Knowledge, 5 Logical Reasoning & Problem Solving, 23 Biology, 15 Chemistry, 13 Physics & Maths.
• Scoring: +1.5 for a correct answer; 0 for no answer; −0.4 for a wrong answer (maximum score 90).

Suggested time per section

Section	Questions	Suggested time	Points per answer	Penalty per error
Reading skills & general knowledge	4	~ 7 min	+1,5	−0,4
Logic & problem solving	5	~ 8 min	+1,5	−0,4
Biology	23	~ 38 min	+1,5	−0,4
Chemistry	15	~ 25 min	+1,5	−0,4
Physics & Maths	13	~ 22 min	+1,5	−0,4

Tip: ~1 min 40 s per question on average. Keep a buffer of 5–7 minutes to review and check flagged questions.

2025 timeline & procedure (Universitaly)

Key dates

• IMAT registration (Universitaly): from 26 August to 9 September 2025 (3:00 p.m., GMT+2).
• Test day: 17 September 2025 (11:00 a.m. Italian time; held simultaneously worldwide).
• Results/Ranking: published nationally in September–October, followed by successive rounds of offers.

Practical steps

1. Create or update your Universitaly account and choose your universities in order of preference.
2. Pay the IMAT fee online and book an exam centre (in Italy or abroad).
3. On exam day: bring your passport/ID (original) and admission letter; no calculators or personal materials.

Strategies for success (section by section)

Reading skills & general knowledge

• Read the questions first, then the text: focus on key ideas, linking words and semantic traps.
• Eliminate options that go beyond the text or are too absolute (always/never…).

Logic & problem solving

• Formalize quickly (tables, sets, diagrams); note the constraints and impossible cases.
• If you are stuck after 90 seconds, flag the question and move on: protecting your overall score matters more than any single item.

Biology

• Priorities: the cell, genetics, physiology, immunology and basic biochemistry.
• Learn the common traps (terminology, pathways, exceptions) using revision cards + timed MCQs.

Chemistry

• Reduce everything to units and orders of magnitude; practise simple mental arithmetic (no calculator allowed).
• Review chemical bonds, equilibria, acids and bases and stoichiometry.

Physics & maths

• Essential formulas only (kinematics, laws, basic electricity) + arithmetic, percentages and probability.
• Favour smart approximations (orders of magnitude) and sound reasoning.

Managing scoring and time

Deciding whether to answer or skip

• With the −0.4 penalty, don’t guess blindly. Aim for answers you can justify or genuine 50/50 choices.
• Set a personal threshold (e.g. if you can narrow it down to 2 options, answer; otherwise, leave it blank).

Exam plan

• 1^st pass (~70 min): questions you are sure of (biology/chemistry, then logic/reading).
• 2^nd pass (~25 min): medium-difficulty items and quick calculations.
• Buffer (~5 min): check your answer sheet, duplicate answers and trick wording.

Exam day: rules and checklist

What to bring / what’s not allowed

• Required: valid ID and admission ticket/registration receipt.
• Not allowed: calculators, notes, books and electronic devices.

Centres and preferences

• When you register, you rank several universities (order of preference).
• The test is identical at every centre; the ranking is national.

Useful Your Dream School resources

To build your Italy strategy

• Countries & procedures: Studying in Italy.
• Medicine overview: Choosing a medical programme.

IMAT FAQ

How many points do you need to “pass”?

The official minimum is 20/90, but actual cut-off scores vary by university and year. Aim as high as you can.

Can I take the IMAT outside Italy?

Yes, there are test centres abroad. The test is held simultaneously and is identical everywhere.

Is a personal statement required?

Selection is based mainly on your IMAT score and quotas, so focus above all on your multiple-choice preparation.

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Want an IMAT training plan (diagnostic assessment, 6–8-week schedule, marked mock exams) and support with Universitaly (university preferences, documents)? Contact us for tailored coaching.

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