EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IMAT 2025 (AND WHAT IT CHANGES COMPARED TO IMAT 2024)

IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) is the entry point for students who wish to study Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary Medicine in English at public Italian universities. It is a single, nationwide exam held in September, with a separate ranking list from the Italian-language Medicine program.

The test, designed by Cambridge Assessment, consists of 60 multiple-choice questions covering logical reasoning and reading comprehension, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.

A key difference: unlike the Italian exam, IMAT 2025 does not include a “filter semester.” This means the admission process follows the traditional system. Later, we will look in detail at how the test works, how the ranking is structured, and all the information you need for a complete overview.

IMAT 2025 will take place on September 17th at 11:00 a.m.,  the same date as last year. The only difference is that foreign candidates must carefully consider their time zone, since the test is administered simultaneously worldwide.

What is IMAT for?

With a single test, you can compete for admission to three degree programs taught in English:

• Medicine and Surgery (LM-41)
• Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics (LM-46)
• Veterinary Medicine (LM-42)

The test is the same at every location, both in Italy and abroad. The syllabus and the list of countries where the test can be taken are the same as in 2024.

When is the test?

IMAT 2025 will take place on September 17th at 11:00 a.m.,  the same date as last year. The only difference is that foreign candidates must carefully consider their time zone, since the test is administered simultaneously worldwide.

Quando ci si iscrive?

The enrollment will be open on Universitaly from August 26 to September 9, 2025 (3:00 p.m.). Remember that you must specify the universities in order of preference, and your choices cannot be changed once the enrollment closes. Payment must be made following the procedures indicated on Universitaly.

The list of Universities where you can study

Today, around twenty public universities offer Medicine in English, and in some cases also Dentistry, and starting from 2025, Veterinary Medicine. In addition, there are private universities – Cattolica, Humanitas, Campus Bio-Medico, UniCamillus, San Raffaele – each with their own application procedures and tests. The number of available places changes from year to year, but one constant remains: competition is high, so a clear strategy is essential. For up-to-date information on applications, deadlines, and campuses, there is a summary page that is regularly updated : consult it and keep track of everything.

What do you need to study for the IMAT test?

The key topics to focus on are:

• Reading skills / acquired knowledge
• Logical reasoning and problem solving
• Biology (cell, genetics, metabolism, basic physiology, immunity)
• Chemistry (atom, bonds, stoichiometry, states of matter, basic thermodynamics, equilibrium, kinetics, acids/bases and buffers, basic organic chemistry)
• Physics (mechanics, work/energy, fluids, thermology/thermodynamics, essential electrostatics/electrodynamics)
• Mathematics (quick arithmetic, fractions/percentages, basic algebra, functions, logarithms, descriptive statistics)

You have 100 minutes to answer 60 multiple-choice questions, each with only one correct option. The test is structured as follows: 4 general knowledge questions, 5 logical reasoning and problem-solving questions, 23 biology questions, 15 chemistry questions, and 13 physics and mathematics questions.

What does the IMAT look like?

The test is administered in a paper-based format , which allows you to move freely between questions, skip those you don’t know, and go back at any time. You can start with the subject you prefer: Biology, Logical Reasoning, or… even from the last questions.

Each correct answer is worth +1.5 points , each incorrect answer –0.4 points , and unanswered questions receive 0 points . The maximum score is 90 .

And for those with disabilities or learning disorders?

The IMAT test provides accommodations for those who are eligible:

• +50% additional time for candidates with recognized disabilities
• +30% additional time for students with specific learning disorders (SLD), with the possibility of further increase in severe cases

Italian certifications are accepted even if not updated due to Covid. Foreign certifications, however, must be legalized and translated .

IMAT 2025 news

Compared to 2024, there are two important changes:

• Veterinary Medicine officially becomes part of the IMAT. While last year admission to this course followed a different regulation, this year it falls under the IMAT Decree.
• Separate national rankings. In 2024 there was a single ranking for both EU and non-EU candidates. In 2025, there will be two distinct national rankings: one for EU candidates and one for non-EU candidates living abroad.

What to bring on the day of the IMAT

Test day leaves no room for unexpected issues: it’s best to arrive prepared not only in terms of study, but also with your documents. Here is the essential checklist:

• Valid and original identification document (ID card, passport, or driver’s license)
• Health card or tax code, required by some universities for identification
• Proof of payment of the participation fee, downloadable from the registration portal
• Universitaly registration receipt, sent by email (not always required, but better to have it with you)
• Residence permit, for non-EU candidates already living in Italy

Bringing these documents in an organized and precise manner is the first step to approaching the test with confidence and peace of mind.

How to study

Spoiler: You don’t need to dive into endless encyclopedias or download PDFs by the dozen. It’s better to start with targeted theory based on the official syllabus, and then move straight to IMAT-style quizzes. Take the time to honestly review your mistakes and go back to your weak points. If everything looks good, you can move on. Then come the timed simulations, with an answer sheet in hand: that’s when you learn to manage the clock and stay calm. Sheets and watches feel like a hassle? You can practice on our online simulator , focusing only on providing the answers. And if you don’t know what a syllabus is, don’t worry: we know it, and all our manuals are based on it. All you need to know is that, for this reason, with us you will study only the topics you could potentially encounter on the IMAT 2026 test.

A Clear Guide to the IMAT Ranking

The IMAT ranking is national and unified: it includes both Italian and international candidates, but they are divided into two separate channels.

How do the ranking channels work? (If you already know, skip to the next paragraph)

The key concept is that your ranking position depends on where you come from and your residency status. Not everyone competes against everyone.

1. The National Channel (for EU and equivalent candidates) This is the largest channel and includes: Italian and European citizens ; non-EU citizens with specific residence permits (e.g., family, work) who the Ministry considers “equivalent” to EU citizens.

All these candidates compete for the seats reserved for them in a single national ranking. If you are in this group, your position is not tied to a single university but to all the IMAT locations you have chosen.

1. The Local Channel (for non-equivalent non-EU candidates) This channel is dedicated to non-EU citizens residing abroad who do not fall into the “equivalent” categories. For these candidates, the competition works very differently. Their ranking is separate and local, managed by the single university they selected as their first choice. Their score and position are valid only for that specific university and not at the national level.

Practical example

Imagine two candidates, Paolo and Ken, who both score 50 on the IMAT.

• Paolo is Italian. His ranking position will be calculated based on his score compared to all the other 10,000+ candidates in the national channel. If he ranks 2000th, his position could allow him to move up at all the universities he listed in his preferences.
• Ken is an American citizen living in New York who only chose the University of Milan. His score of 50 places him in a separate ranking that includes only the other non-EU candidates who chose Milan. His ranking position depends solely on how many non-EU candidates scored higher than him at Milan. He has no chance to move up at other Italian universities.

The dates: three key checkpoints you need to know

We have a feeling you already know the dates pretty well, but a quick review of what the different rankings mean could be useful.

• September 25: anonymous scores are released in descending order, which you can use to check your score by looking for your identification code (the one you received on test day);
• October 6: you can see your corrected test and score in your Universitaly personal area;
• October 13: the national ranking with names is published, showing the result next to your name.

After October 13, the adjustments begin: they are usually weekly , but — and here’s the critical point — don’t expect the “jumps” we were used to seeing in the era before the Medicine Filter Semester.

How to calculate IMAT scores

As mentioned before, each answer has the following values:

• 1,5 points for each correct answer
• 0 points for each non given answer
• –0,4 points for each wrong answer

The maximum score is 90 points; the minimum score to be included in the ranking is 20 points. This is not enough to enter Medicine directly, but it is required to have the possibility.

When the named ranking is published, next to your name you will see one of the following labels:

• Assigned: you have secured a place at your first-choice university and have four days to enroll
• Reserved: you have a place at one of the universities listed after your first choice; you can enroll immediately or wait for the adjustments
• Waiting: you do not yet have a place, but you can remain in the ranking and see if the adjustments move you higher

Finally, a golden rule: if you are reserved or waiting, you must confirm your interest every week. This is not a minor detail, but the only way to avoid being removed from the ranking.

What does your position in the ranking mean?

Your ranking position is not a judgment on you; it is an operational guide. In general: top 500 → fast admission to your first or second choice; 500–1500 → admission occurs through adjustments; beyond 1500 → it largely depends on others’ withdrawals. With shorter adjustment periods, the “buffer” becomes narrower: it’s not impossible to move up, but it requires method and clarity in decision-making (enroll where you are reserved or wait?).

Why the adjustments will be less extensive

In previous years, the IMAT ranking saw a lot of movement: many candidates accepted into Medicine in English would withdraw to enroll in Medicine in Italian. With the Filter Semester, things have changed: the Italian program closes in December with the triple test, while the academic year for Medicine in English is already underway . Translation: those admitted through the IMAT no longer withdraw to enroll in Medicine due to timing conflicts. Withdrawals will still occur (mainly to private universities or abroad), but not enough for the major shifts that some hope for.

This is a memo to keep in mind for IMAT 2026: with shorter adjustment periods, you need to aim for a good score from the start . This isn’t meant to create anxiety; it’s honesty. Shall we work together to build that buffer from the very beginning? Here you can find free resources to start getting an overview.

If it didn’t work out this year (and it’s not a big deal)

If you have registered for other tests, you can consider doing a year of “related courses” and trying again next year—ideally combining your university courses with a program specifically for the IMAT, like the ones we offer. You will have the opportunity to be guided in your studies theoretically, practically, and above all strategically by a teacher from our community—namely, a medical student who has taken the test before you.

Why prepare with Medschool

Clear and well-structured manuals, Cambridge-style simulations, a simulator that precisely shows where you are struggling, subject-specific tutoring when targeted help is needed. And above all, a community that never leaves you alone. Twelve years of experience and over 20,000 students who have passed the entrance test for the faculty of their dreams. We have encountered many problems, but we already have several ready-made solutions and constantly challenge ourselves to find new ones tailored to those who choose us as their guide.

Is everything clear?

We’ve gone over 11,000 characters to explain everything in detail, leaving nothing to chance. But in these days of rankings, codes, and scores, you might feel confused. That’s why we invite you to follow us on social media to stay updated.

Whether you’ve passed or will be taking the test again in 2026, we encourage you to check out all our free resources : we are here for all students who need a helping hand, reassurance, or a comforting chat…