The International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) is a competitive test intended for students who want to study medicine or surgery in English at public universities in Italy. Held every year by the Italian Ministry of Education in collaboration with Cambridge Assessment, the IMAT functions as a stepping stone for EU and non-EU students pursuing top medical schools in Italy. Its demand has increased due to low tuition fees and globally accepted medical qualifications.

The IMAT consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, organized into four sections: General Knowledge & Logical Thinking (20), Biology (15),  IMAT preparation  (15), and Physics & Math (10). You have 100 minutes to complete the exam. Each right answer earns 1.5 points, incorrect ones deduct 0.4 points, and blanks score 0. This marking structure encourages careful thinking. Different from exams like the UCAT or BMAT, the IMAT prioritizes reasoning skills.

To be qualified to take the IMAT, students must possess a high school diploma that allows university admission in their home country. Registration opens in July through the Universitaly portal, where students list 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 complete the signup process before the deadline.

Studying for IMAT requires a focused approach. Most students start early in the year, 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. Making a study plan and doing timed mock exams is key to achieving high scores.

The logic and general knowledge section is often seen as the most challenging part of the IMAT. It tests your ability to break down problems, spot assumptions, and think logically. In contrast to Biology or Chemistry, this section isn’t based on a syllabus—it requires practice. Improving this section 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 periodic table, while Physics and Math focus on motion. These questions go beyond facts—they require conceptual clarity. Students are advised to review the syllabus thoroughly and practice problem-solving.