IMAT 2025: The Ultimate Guide From Start to Finish

Hey everyone! My name is Ari Horesh, and I am a medical student at the University of Pavia, Italy, where I study medicine in English. I started this website to help guide people through their first steps of finding information about the IMAT exam, which is the exam you must take to study medicine here in Italy, and studying here in general! In this article, I will discuss the IMAT exam, its format, different sections, and its history so you can fully understand the mindset in which you should approach this exam. The IMAT itself is fairly simple. However, the main challenge for this exam is the competition. You need to score as high as possible, so even if the questions are simple and easy to prepare for, it’s really about your strategy, correct preparation and efficiency. That’s what I’m here for! I hope this article will help you navigate and understand exactly what to expect and how to prepare for IMAT 2025.

I recommend reading this article after learning more about medicine in Italy, as well as the different options and the ranking of the universities.

The International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) is a crucial exam that takes place every September or October (the date changes if the Italians wait for the very last moment) and is designed for students who want to study medicine in English at universities in Italy. Currently, 16 universities use the IMAT as their primary entrance exam for international medical programs.

I took the IMAT back in 2019. Since then, the exam has seen several significant changes. The most notable shift came during the IMAT 2023 when the responsibility for composing and managing the exam transferred from the Cambridge Assessment to the Italian Ministry of Education. This has introduced a new exam format and structure, making staying up-to-date with the latest information more important than ever.

What Is The IMAT exam?

As mentioned earlier, the International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) is the exam you’ll need to take if you want to study medicine in Italy in English. It first started in 2011, with the University of Pavia leading the way as the first institution to offer medical programs in English. When the IMAT exam started in 2011, it had 80 questions; they were easier than the other exams, and overall, it was not very well organized. This is why the exams from 2011 and 2012 aren’t a good reference point of studying for this exam or trying to take past papers as simulations.

Now, not only Pavia, but 16 universities across Italy accept the IMAT as their primary (and only) entrance exam for these programs, and it seems like every year 1 or 2 universities are added, which is amazing!

IMAT 2025 Exam Format

The IMAT is a 60-question multiple-choice exam with five options for each question. You’ll have 100 minutes to complete the exam, so time management is crucial, and exactly what I am working on with my students! The questions cover a wide range of subjects, including:

• Critical Thinking
• Problem-Solving
• General Knowledge
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Math
• Physics

One thing that makes the IMAT stand out is its scoring system. You’ll earn 1.5 points for each correct answer, but if you get a question wrong, you’ll lose 0.4 points. Since there’s no penalty for skipping questions, many students leave the ones they’re unsure about blank to avoid losing points. Students who don’t prepare well for this exam usually try to solve as many questions as possible and lose many points. If you check the PDF that is published every year with a list of all past scores of all of the candidates, you will be surprised how many people get really low scores but solved all 60 questions, it’s because they approach this exam without a proper strategy and idea of what they should do, which makes them fail.

Breakdown of IMAT 2025 Questions

Here’s how the 60 questions are divided across the different subjects based on IMAT 2024. Please note that for IMAT 2025 it might change; I will update this guide when we get further information.

• 2 General Knowledge questions
• 7 Logical Reasoning questions (problem-solving and critical thinking)
• 23 Biology questions
• 15 Chemistry questions
• 13 Math and Physics questions

As you can see, a large portion of the exam focuses on Biology and Chemistry, so it’s essential to dedicate plenty of study time to these subjects. My students usually tend to start with Biology and Chemistry during their preparation. I recommend starting with Biology because it is more interesting and fun, so it will motivate you to stay consistent over the months. My favorite topics to study back in 2019 were physiology and cell biology. I also liked chemistry a lot – which is funny because I had around 500 students up to mow, and maybe 10 of them actually liked chemistry.

When is the IMAT Exam, and What is the General Timeline for IMAT 2025?

For those planning to take the IMAT in 2025, the exam is expected to be held in September 2025. Please note that the exact date isn’t confirmed yet, so make sure to use our menu and join our WhatsApp groups so you can get updates. Here is the typical timeframe based on previous years so you can plan ahead:

• By June 2025: Students should have completed all necessary paperwork, including obtaining their Declaration of Value (DoV). Don’t worry—we’ll review the DoV and how to get it later!
• April to August 2025: Some universities, like Messina, Milan, and Pavia, usually offer a “pre-enrollment” phase. Pre-enrollment basically allows you to secure your spot in the university’s system before the actual exam. We’ll dive deeper into pre-enrollment and which universities offer it when we get closer to 2025.
• April to July 2025: If you plan to apply for a scholarship, this is the time to start preparing and translating the necessary documents. Many universities have early deadlines, and in some cases, you’ll need to submit these documents even before taking the IMAT—usually by August.
• July or September 2025: Registration for the IMAT could open anytime between July and early September, depending on the year. For example, in 2024, registration was between September 2nd and 12th, but it often opens in July. I’ll update this section as soon as the official dates are confirmed.
• July-August 2025: This is when we can expect the official IMAT syllabus to be released. Remember that the syllabus usually doesn’t change much year-to-year, so I’ll link the most recent one soon, and we can break down the topics together to help you prepare.

This timeline might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but I’ll be here to guide you through each step as new details emerge. Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to 2025! And by the way, if you want to make sure you are up to date, check the “communities” tab in our menu and join our WhatsApp group!

What Are the Topics for the IMAT 2025 (Syllabus)?

The topics covered in the IMAT are generally consistent from year to year. The Italian Ministry of Education releases an official decree outlining the syllabus—though it’s often in Italian (which is a bit ironic considering this is for an English-taught exam). But don’t worry; I’m here to break it all down so you don’t have to stress about translations.

The syllabus usually doesn’t change because it’s just a list of topics they study in Italian high schools. If they make changes, it’ll be things like adding more biology topics, such as ecology or anatomy. Still, nothing too difficult – don’t expect them to suddenly add medical school-level stuff because that’s not how they work. So, when it comes to the syllabus and learning for the exam, it’s the easy part, fairly basic, and nothing to worry about.

The subjects included in the IMAT syllabus are typically high school level and don’t go too deep into complex topics. Based on my experience teaching students over the past years, I’ve found that the real challenge of the IMAT isn’t necessarily the difficulty of the material itself, but rather the competitiveness of the exam. That makes it tough—you’re up against many other well-prepared students.

I’ve attached the previous syllabus here, which I expect to remain largely unchanged for IMAT 2025.

I translated the file for you and made a few tables in English. I used Google Translate, so there are probably some mistakes. I recommend using ChatGPT and uploading the file there if you want a better idea of the topics, but again, they are always the same, so don’t worry. Even the study planner on this website which I made in 2022, still covers everything, even without updating it.

IMAT 2025 Topic List (Syllabus)

IMAT 2025 Biology Topics

Biology Topics
The chemistry of life
Biological importance of weak interactions
Organic molecules in organisms and their functions
Role of enzymes
The cell as the basis of life (cell theory, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, viruses)
Cellular membranes (structure and function)
Cell cycle and cell reproduction (mitosis, meiosis)
Reproduction and inheritance (Mendelian genetics, chromosomes)
Molecular genetics (DNA structure, replication, protein synthesis, gene regulation)
Human genetics (inheritance, genetic disorders)
Mutations, natural/artificial selection, evolutionary theories
Biotechnology (recombinant DNA, applications)
Anatomy and physiology of animals and humans (tissues, systems, homeostasis)
Bioenergetics (ATP, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, fermentation)

IMAT 2025 Chemistry Topics

Chemistry Topics
Composition of matter (states, mixtures, compounds, elements)
Laws of perfect gases
Atomic structure (elementary particles, isotopes, atomic numbers)
Periodic table (groups, periods, properties)
Chemical bonds (ionic, covalent, metallic, bond energy, electronegativity)
Basic inorganic chemistry (nomenclature, properties of compounds)
Chemical reactions and stoichiometry
Solutions (solvent properties of water, solubility, concentration)
Kinetics and catalysis
Oxidation and reduction
Acids and bases (pH, buffers, hydrolysis)
Organic chemistry (carbon bonds, isomerism, hydrocarbons, functional groups)

IMAT 2025 Physics Topics

Physics Topics
Physical quantities and their measurements
Kinematics (velocity, acceleration, circular motion)
Dynamics (force, mass, Newton’s laws, work, energy, momentum)
Fluid mechanics (density, pressure, Pascal’s law, Bernoulli’s principle)
Thermodynamics (temperature, heat, laws of thermodynamics)
Electricity and magnetism (charges, Coulomb’s law, electric fields, circuits)

IMAT 2025 Mathematics Topics

Mathematics Topics
Numerical sets and algebra (natural, integer, rational, real numbers)
Operations and properties, proportions, percentages
Exponents, logarithms, roots
Basic combinatorics
Equations and inequalities (first and second degree)
Functions (domain, continuity, maxima, minima, growth, decay)
Geometry (polygons, circles, lengths, areas, volumes)
Cartesian coordinates (distance between points, midpoint, line equations)
Probability and statistics (distributions, events, probabilities)

How to Register for the IMAT 2025 Exam

Now that we understand what the IMAT is, I’ll walk you through the entire registration process, step by step, so you can focus on preparing for the exam instead of stressing over the paperwork. You should read and watch this part earlier than the actual dates so you know what to expect in the future.

To register for IMAT 2025, you must visit the official registration website: Universitaly.it, which is where all IMAT registrations happen. The system was updated for 2024, and I’ve made a video to help guide you through the new process. You can watch it below:

How to Register for IMAT 2025 (July-September 2025)

1. Go to Universitaly.it: Head over to the Universitaly website and find the section dedicated to IMAT 2025.
2. Log in: Sign in using your Universitaly email and password. If you’re a new user, you’ll need to create an account.
3. Select Your Universities: Once logged in, you’ll be prompted to choose the universities you’re applying to. You can select multiple universities, but make sure to choose your top preference carefully because it’s the most important one, you will learn later in this article why it’s so crucial.
4. Provide Language Certification: If your chosen university requires an English proficiency certificate (and you didn’t study in an English-speaking country), you’ll need to upload it here. If your studies were conducted in English, select the appropriate option to skip this step. Some universities don’t require you to have an English certificate if you already studied English in your high school for at least one year.
5. Disability Section: If you don’t have any disabilities, simply click “Confirm” without selecting any options. Double-check this step, as it can affect the next stages of your application.
6. Review Your Application: Before moving on, carefully review all the details—especially your chosen universities and other personal information. Make sure everything is in the correct order and that you haven’t made any mistakes.
7. Payment: After reviewing, you’ll be directed to the payment page. Select your country and city, and choose the most suitable payment method for you. Once you’ve completed the payment, ensure the page confirms that your payment has been successfully made. The registration fee for IMAT 2025 should cost 130 EUR, similar to the cost of 2023 and 2024.
8. Email Confirmation: Keep an eye on your email for a confirmation from the test center. This email will provide details like your exam location, time, and further instructions. The most important email you will get is the payment confirmation. Sometimes, students pay, but a few hours later there is an issue they were unaware of. Make sure you get a successful payment notice in your email.

And that’s it! Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re officially registered for the IMAT exam. Make sure to check your inbox regularly for updates and any important information regarding the exam day.

Once you register for the IMAT exam, you should receive an email that looks like this:

How to Study for the IMAT 2025

The IMAT isn’t as tough as it initially seems. While it’s an entrance exam for medical schools, it’s pretty fair. The more time and effort you dedicate to studying, the higher your score will be!

On my website, EnterMedSchool, and the IMAT forum at imat.entermedschool.com, you’ll find tons of free and paid resources to help you prepare for the exam. There’s no “right” way to prepare, but I’ve put together a variety of materials to fit different learning styles.

So I recommend checking the menu of this website; under “entrance exams,” you will find plenty of articles I wrote about studying for the IMAT, free resources, recommended books, and so much more!

Some Tips for Getting Started

No matter how you decide to prepare—whether through a course or self-study—there are some core science concepts you’ll have to master on your own. These basic topics are critical for the IMAT, and you can’t skip them! Understanding subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and math is essential, not only for the IMAT but for any admission exam you choose to take, because those topics are usually what is taught in the first semester of medical school.

Here’s how I recommend getting started:

• Free Study Planner: I created a free study planner specifically for IMAT students to help them stay organized and on track. It’s a great way to ensure you cover all the necessary topics without getting overwhelmed. You can learn more about the planner by clicking here.
• Free Biology Book: Biology is a huge part of the IMAT, and I offer a free biology book that covers all the essential topics. It’s a great place to start building your foundation before you move on to other subjects.
• Summer Prep Course: If you prefer more structure, I offer a live summer preparation course and a recorded course I’ve worked on for over three years. These courses have helped hundreds of students pass the IMAT, and I’m proud of the high admission rate!

Even if you decide to join one of my paid courses, I always suggest starting with the free resources. They’re a great way to build a solid foundation before diving deeper into the more advanced material.

It’s all about consistency and effort. Whether studying with a course or on your own, putting in the time now will make a big difference on exam day. Many students believe that the more they spend, the higher their score will be, but at the end of the day, you guys are entering a field that is 90% self-studying at home. So yes, I think the courses I made are pretty awesome, and I spent a lot of time working on them and perfecting them, but if you enroll in my classes and never really study, you won’t pass the exam. So first of all, make sure you are motivated and consistent, use my free study materials and free books, and study for the exam.

How to Use Past IMAT Papers to Prepare

Using past IMAT papers is one of the smartest ways to prepare for the exam. After going through all the past papers myself, I’ve noticed that certain topics and question types show up every year, so it’s a great way to get familiar with what might come up.

But there’s something important to remember: while I have a full breakdown of all the past IMATs here on the site, from 2011 to 2022, the exam was written by Cambridge. Since 2023, however, the exam has been written by Italian organizations, and they will also be writing the IMAT 2025. So, while older papers are helpful, I highly recommend focusing on the most recent exams—especially 2023 and 2024—as they reflect the newer style and structure.

How to Get the Most Out of Past Papers

Here’s my personal approach to using past papers, which I’ve found works really well for students:

1. When to Start: Aim to start working on past papers about 2-3 months before the exam. This is when you’ll want to start simulating the real exam experience.
2. Simulate Exam Conditions: Print out the past papers, set a timer for 100 minutes, and try to recreate exam conditions as closely as possible. Find a quiet spot without any distractions, and work through the paper just like you would on the exam day. This will help you get used to the time pressure and the flow of the questions.
3. Review Everything: Once you’ve finished, don’t just check the answers you got wrong—go over every single question, even the ones you got right. Look for patterns, traps, or tricky wording that tends to repeat from year to year. You’ll notice that some tricks are reused almost yearly, so getting familiar with them is super important.
4. Learn From Your Mistakes: When you encounter mistakes, revise on those topics. Also, watch for any recurring themes in the questions you got wrong—recognizing these patterns will help you be more prepared when similar ones appear on exam day.

By practicing with past papers in this way, you’ll improve your time management and train yourself to spot the common traps and recurring question types that make the IMAT challenging. Finding the them is actually the most important part of using past papers. Many students think that they should take past papers just to check their scores and see what they know, but in reality, it’s analyzing your results! I made a video showing how I help my students analyze their mistakes and weak spots by using different apps and Google Sheets, you can check it out over here:

Which Documents Are Required to Take the IMAT Exam, and What is Pre-Enrollment?

Technically, you can register for the IMAT without having all your documents fully translated or processed—just paying the fees will get you in. However, I strongly recommend you sort out your Declaration of Value (DoV) before registering. Trust me, it’ll save you a lot of headaches down the line.

What is the Declaration of Value (DoV)?

The Declaration of Value is a document issued by the Italian embassy in your home country. You’ll need to translate your high school diploma into Italian (or just notarize it if it’s already in English). This document confirms that your education is equivalent to that of an Italian high school graduate, making you eligible to apply for Italian universities. It’s a formal way of saying your education has the same “value” as what’s required in Italy—hence the name “Declaration of Value.”

Other Documents You Might Need

Some universities might also require proof of your English proficiency. So far it’s unclear which universities will ask for it in 2025, as applications haven’t opened yet. Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to the registration period, and make sure to follow any university-specific news. I update this kind of stuff on my WhatsApp groups, so make sure to check the menu section of this website under “communities” and join the relevant groups!

What is Pre-Enrollment? When Will It Start for IMAT 2025?

Pre-enrollment is a separate process from the main registration and can be a bit confusing because different universities handle it differently.

1. Pre-Enrollment on University Websites: Some universities (like Messina, Milan, Pavia, Turin) may require you to pre-enroll on their specific websites. This is separate from the IMAT registration. You’ll likely have to pay a small fee, and this step gets your details into the university’s system early on. Keep an eye on this, as I’ll provide a separate article about the pre-enrollment process for specific universities once more details are available. So, in a nutshell, you go to their website (the specific unis) and apply there; it usually happens during spring, and you have to do it if you are interested. It’s not binding – you won’t have to choose it if you do it.
2. Pre-Enrollment on Universitaly.it is the main pre-enrollment process you’ll do through the Universitaly.it website. It’s mandatory and usually happens 2-3 months before the official IMAT registration. Creating an account here not only sets you up for IMAT registration but also helps non-EU students by streamlining the visa process—you can use it to show that you intend to take the IMAT exam. You can also do it as an EU candidate, but this step is usually done for people who need visas. I personally recommend doing it even if you are EU. Please note that if you have the permesso, so if you live in Italy but you are not Italian – you really need to make sure you have it for at least 12 months and use it during the registration – so you will enjoy the benefits of being European and competing for the European seats for the IMAT.
3. IMAT Registration: The final step is paying for the IMAT exam and securing your seat. Once you’ve done this, you’re officially in!

So, to recap:

• Pre-enrollment (I personally call it pre-pre enrollment, and then it’s easier to remember) on university websites: This is only for some universities (I’ll keep you updated on which ones).
• Pre-enrollment on Universitaly.It is mandatory for everyone, and it is done a few months before registration up until a few days before the registration itself (but most of the time could be done also during registration).
• IMAT Registration: The final step is to pay the exam fee and lock in your spot.

If you need help remember that you can use the message system and talk to me 🙂

IMAT 2025 Test Centers

First things first, it’s important to know that the IMAT is a physical, offline exam. This means you won’t be able to take it online from the comfort of your home—you’ll need to go to an actual exam center. So, it’s all about finding the right location for you.

I had some students in the past who were under the impression that the IMAT was online and then were surprised when they needed to travel to a different country to take this exam. Please make sure to prepare for it properly ahead.

Based on previous years, we can get a pretty good idea of where the IMAT exam centers will be worldwide. If you plan to take the exam in Italy, you’ll usually need to take it in the city of the university you chose as your first option. For example, if you selected the University of Pavia as your first choice, you’ll take the exam in Pavia.

If you’re taking the IMAT outside Italy, you have more flexibility. You can choose any exam center worldwide, even if it’s in a different country than your own. Just make sure you have the necessary visa to enter that country! So, if you live in one country but want to take the exam in another, it’s possible as long as the paperwork is in order.

I’ll keep you updated as soon as the official list of exam centers for IMAT 2025 is released, but until then, we can rely on the previous exam centers to give us a good idea of where the exam will be offered. Please note that the times are in Italian time, CET.

Country	City	Exam Center	Time
Albania	New	Likely to stay in 2025
Azerbaijan	Baku	British Council	2pm
Brazil	Sao Paolo	Winner Idiomas	9am
Canada	Toronto	Center of English Studies	9am
China	Beijing
Cyprus	Nicosia	British Council Cyprus	1pm
France	Paris	The British School of Paris	12pm
Germany	Frankfurt	Provadis	12pm
Germany	Munich	Münchner Volkshochschule	1pm
Greece	Athens	British Council Athens	1pm
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	ITS Education Asia	6pm
India	New Dehli	BC Education India Private Limited	3.30pm
Italy	Bari	University of Bari	11am
Italy	Cagliari	University of Cagliari	11am
Italy	Milan	University of Milan	11am
Italy	Milan	University of Milan Bicocca	11am
Italy	Rome	University of Rome “La Sapienza”	11am
Italy	Rome	University of Rome “Tor Vergata”	11am
Italy	Naples	University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”	11am
Italy	Naples	University of Naples Federico II	11am
Italy	Bologna	University of Bologna	11am
Italy	Turin	University of Turin	11am
Italy	Catania	University of Catania	11am
Italy	Pavia	University of Pavia	11am
Italy	Parma	University of Parma	11am
Italy	Siena	University of Siena	11am
Italy	Messina	University of Messina	11am
Italy	Padua	University of Padua	11am
Italy	Ancona	Polytechnic University of Marche	11am
Ireland	New entry
Pakistan	Lahore	British Council Lahore	3pm
Poland	Warsaw	Lang LTC	12pm
Portugal	New entry
Saudi Arabia	Jeddah	British Council Jeddah	1pm
South Africa	Johannesburg	British Council Johannesburg	12pm
Spain	Madrid	British Council Madrid	12pm
Switzerland	Zurich	Zurich Flying Teachers	12pm
Turkey	Ankara	British Council Ankara	1pm
Turkey	Istanbul	British Side	1pm
UAE	Dubai	British Council Dubai	2pm
UK	London	Mobile Testing Solutions	11am
USA	New York	OHC New York	9am

IMAT Minimum Admission Scores

Each university has a different number of seats available for students, depending on whether you hold a European passport. Why does this matter? It directly affects the minimum score you need to pass the IMAT exam and secure a seat at your chosen university.

In general, non-EU students face tougher competition because fewer seats are available for them than EU students. European applicants, especially Italians, typically have more seats allocated to them, which can make the competition a bit less intense. On the other hand, the limited number of spots for non-EU students means the required scores tend to be higher. In 2024, it was significantly higher, so if you are Non-EU, you should study well for the IMAT!

It used to be the other way around; in the past, non-EU had lower scores to get admitted, but now EU candidates need to score less than the non-EU – and I am not sure why.

How Do Admission Scores Work?

The number of available seats and the minimum admission scores for each university can be found under the “Universities” tab in the menu of this website. Each university page includes all the details about the seat allocation and historical scores. I highly recommend checking all of the minimum scores out so you can understand which university to choose based on your personal performance and expectations. Don’t lock on a single uni; staying open-minded and researching all options is important.

It’s also important to note that there isn’t a fixed minimum score you need to hit, as admission is based on relative performance. The students with the highest scores secure the seats, meaning the cutoff changes yearly based on the competition. Typically, the admission scores increase yearly as the IMAT becomes more competitive.

Wrapping Up

In this article, I covered a lot about the IMAT—what the exam is, who’s responsible for writing it, how to best prepare, and what the general timeline looks like. The IMAT can initially seem overwhelming, but remember, you don’t have to go through it alone! I am here to help, that’s why I created this website!

If you have any questions or need more clarification, please message me on the chat system. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible because I know how confusing the process can be, and I’m here to help guide you through each step. As a medical student, it takes me a bit to answer sometimes if I study or work, so leave your email in the chat system, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Also, don’t forget to join our WhatsApp chat community by clicking the link under the “Communities” tab in the menu. It’s a great way to connect with other students preparing for the IMAT, share tips, and stay updated on all the important dates. I’ll post regular updates there, so you won’t miss a thing.

Best of luck with your IMAT preparation, and remember—you’ve got this!