IMAT, or the International Medical Admissions Test, 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 functions as a stepping stone for international and EU students looking to enroll in top medical schools in Italy. Its popularity has increased due to reasonable costs and internationally respected degrees.

The IMAT consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, organized into four sections: Logical Reasoning and General Knowledge (20), IMAT preparation course (15), Chemistry (15), and Physics Math (10). You have 100 minutes to complete the exam. You gain 1.5 points, incorrect ones deduct 0.4 points, and blanks score 0. This marking structure encourages strategic answering. Unlike other medical entry exams, the IMAT prioritizes reasoning skills.

To be eligible to take the IMAT, students must hold a high school diploma that allows entry into higher education in their home country. Registration opens in July through the official Universitaly website, where students select their university choices in order of preference. The test is usually held in September, with exam venues around the world. Applicants must pay a registration fee (around €130–€170), upload necessary paperwork, and finalize their registration before the deadline.

Studying for 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. Helpful resources include BMAT practice for logic, video lessons, and student forums. Creating a timetable and doing timed mock exams is key to achieving high scores.

The logic and general knowledge section is regarded as the most challenging part of the IMAT. It tests your ability to interpret data, spot assumptions, and solve puzzles. Unlike science sections, this section isn’t based on a syllabus—it requires practice. 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 genetics, Chemistry covers molecular structure, while Physics and Math focus on equations. These questions go beyond facts—they require conceptual clarity. Students are advised to revise all key topics and focus on calculations and interpretation.