The IMAT, explained
Format, subjects, scoring and ranking, all on one page.
What the IMAT is
The International Medical Admissions Test is the entrance exam for English-taught Medicine and Surgery at Italian public universities. Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine use it too. The Ministry of University and Research (MUR) sets the rules each year, and CINECA writes and runs the test.
The exam is held once a year, usually in September, on the same day at every test centre. The exact date and fee are set in the official call each year.
What it tests
Science makes up 51 of the 60 questions, and biology alone is more than a third of the paper.
Biology
23 questionsChemistry
15 questionsPhysics and maths
13 questionsLogical reasoning
5 questionsReading and general knowledge
4 questionsThe bar under each subject shows its share of the 60 questions. This breakdown has been the same since 2024.
How it is scored
Wrong answers cost you marks, so leaving a question blank is sometimes the better choice.
Try it with your own numbers
12 questions left blank
A blind guess between five options is worth about −0.02 marks on average. If you can rule out one option, a guess between the other four is worth about +0.08.
What happens with your score
Ranking
Your score places you in a ranking. EU and non-EU applicants are ranked separately, and each university has its own number of seats for non-EU students. If you rank within the seats for your university, you get an offer.
One choice for non-EU students
Non-EU applicants can apply to only one university each year. That choice is made before the exam, so it should match your expected score, your budget and a city you can live in for six years.
Everything on this page follows the current format. Always confirm details in the official call from MUR before you plan.
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