The IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) is the single entrance exam for English-taught Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine at Italy’s public universities. Italy’s Ministry of University and Research (MUR) sets the rules each summer in a decree. For 2026/27 this was Decree no. 1005 of 06-08-2026.
Exam format
| Part | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading skills and knowledge from your studies | 4 |
| Logical reasoning and problem solving | 5 |
| Biology | 23 |
| Chemistry | 15 |
| Physics and Mathematics | 13 |
| Total | 60 multiple-choice questions, 5 options each, 100 minutes |
How it is scored
- Correct answer: +1.5
- Wrong answer: −0.4
- Blank: 0
- Maximum score: 90
- Ties are broken by your score in Biology, then Chemistry, then Physics and Maths, then the other sections.
Non-EU candidates living abroad (this includes Indian students living in India) are ranked separately. You compete only for the seats of the ONE university you chose at Universitaly pre-enrolment. Any score above zero is ranked. A blank answer sheet is not ranked. Wrong answers cost marks, so guessing has a price.
Timeline
| Step | IMAT 2026 (actual) | IMAT 2027 (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry decree published | 06-08-2026 | July or August 2027 |
| Registration on Universitaly | 26-08-2026 to 09-09-2026 (15:00 Italian time) | Late August to early September 2027 |
| Exam day | 29-09-2026, 13:30 Italian time | Second half of September 2027 |
| Anonymous scores | 08-10-2026 | About 10 days after the exam |
| Your answer sheet and score | 19-10-2026 | About 3 weeks after the exam |
| Rankings | From 26-10-2026 (each university publishes its own non-EU list) | Late October 2027 |
Syllabus at a glance
A summary of the topic areas in the official syllabus (Annex A of the decree). Read the full annex for the detailed list.
23 questions
Biology
Chemistry of living things, the cell, bioenergetics, reproduction and inheritance, genetics and biotechnology, and human anatomy and physiology.
15 questions
Chemistry
Atomic structure, the periodic table, bonding, reactions and stoichiometry, solutions, acids and bases, redox, and basic organic chemistry.
13 questions
Physics and Maths
Measurement, motion and forces, fluids, thermodynamics, electricity; algebra, functions, geometry, probability and statistics.
9 questions
Reasoning and reading
Logical reasoning and problem solving, plus reading comprehension and general knowledge from your studies.
Practise with past papers
All official IMAT papers from 2011 to 2025 are free on the Ministry portal. See IMAT Past Papers.
IMAT score calculator
Enter your answers from a timed past paper (60 questions).
Score: 56.0 / 90
More on the syllabus
The official syllabus is Annex A of the decree. It covers reading and general knowledge, logical reasoning, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics at senior secondary level. Indian students who prepared for NEET will recognise most of the Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Logical reasoning, timed English reading and the negative marking need separate practice.
What scores got students in?
Cut-offs change every year with seats and competition. In 2026, the reported last-admitted non-EU scores at most public universities in Italy were between about 61 and 81 out of 90. Tor Vergata’s Albania campus was much lower. Use past cut-offs only as a guide. Each university publishes its own official ranking.
Where to sit the exam
The decree lists test centres in Italy and abroad. Choose your centre when you register on Universitaly. Check the decree’s list for a centre in India before you plan travel.
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