The International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) is a competitive test intended for students who want to study medicine or surgery in English at Italian public universities. Organized annually by the Italian Ministry of Education in collaboration with Cambridge Assessment, the IMAT serves as a gateway for international and EU students interested in top medical schools in Italy. Its popularity has increased due to affordable tuition and globally accepted medical qualifications.
The IMAT consists of a total of 60 MCQs, divided into four sections: General Knowledge & Logical Thinking (20), Biology (15), Chemistry (15), and Physics & Math (10). Students get 100 minutes to complete the exam. You gain 1.5 points, wrong choices remove 0.4 points, and
IMAT EXAM score 0. This scoring system encourages strategic answering. Different from exams like the UCAT or BMAT, the IMAT places a heavier focus on logic.
To be eligible to take the IMAT, students must hold a high school diploma that allows university admission in their home country. Registration opens in July through the official Universitaly website, where students rank their university choices in order of preference. The test is usually held in September, with test centers around the world. You’ll need to pay a registration fee (around €130–€170), upload necessary paperwork, and complete the signup process before the deadline.
Preparing for the IMAT requires a focused approach. Most students start months in advance, using a mix of high school science books, IMAT prep books, online platforms, and past papers. Popular tools include BMAT practice for logic, video lessons, and student forums. Creating a timetable and doing realistic practice tests is key to building confidence.
The logic and general knowledge section is often seen as the most unique part of the IMAT. It tests your ability to break down problems, recognize flawed reasoning, and solve puzzles. Unlike science sections, this section isn’t based on a syllabus—it requires mental agility. Mastering this area means doing logic puzzles, reading arguments, and practicing inference-based questions.
The scientific portion of IMAT cover basic to advanced school-level topics. Biology often includes physiology, Chemistry covers reactions, while Physics and Math focus on algebra. These questions test more than memory—they require conceptual clarity. Students are advised to understand core principles and practice problem-solving.