How to Prepare for IMAT 2025: Complete Study Guide

The IMAT 2025 (International Medical Admissions Test) is the official entrance exam — in English — for admission to the Italian degree courses in Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, and, from 2025, Veterinary Medicine.

It is regulated by the Ministerial Decree No. 599 of 7 August 2025, which defines the test structure, key dates, scoring system, venues and admission criteria.

The test took place on 17 September 2025, with registration open on Universitaly from 26 August to 9 September 2025 (3:00 p.m. CET).

• Anonymous results: 25 September
• Personal results: 6 October
• National ranking list: 13 October(see the full timeline on Accesso Programmato – IMAT 2025)

How the IMAT 2025 Works

The test lasts 100 minutes and includes 60 multiple-choice questions:

• 4 on Reading Skills and General Knowledge
• 5 on Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving
• 23 on Biology
• 15 on Chemistry
• 13 on Physics and Mathematics

Scoring is as follows:

• +1.5 points for each correct answer
• −0.4 points for each wrong answer
• 0 points for unanswered questions

The maximum score is 90 points. Candidates from the EU (and those treated as equivalent) are considered eligible with at least 20 points. Full criteria and scoring methods are detailed in Articles 2 and 3 of Ministerial Decree No. 599/2025.

Exam centres, both in Italy and abroad, are listed in Table A – Countries and Test Venues, while available places are shown in Table B – EU and non-EU Quotas.

Starting from Zero

If you’re beginning from scratch, first make sure you understand the official framework:

• Ministerial Decree 599/2025 with Annex A (full syllabus)
• Official IMAT 2025 Paper
• Official IMAT Calendar

Then, build your foundation step by step:

1. Understand the structure – how the exam works, scoring, and time limits.
2. Take an initial diagnostic simulation on TestBuddy to measure your starting point.
3. Follow an adaptive study plan within TestBuddy, which automatically adjusts goals and tracks your weekly progress.

Weekly Planning: 1-, 3- and 6-Month Timelines

Six-month plan:
Begin with Biology and Chemistry while keeping Physics and Maths in rotation. Spend the first eight weeks on theory, then add regular mixed exercises and mini-tests every ten days.

Three-month plan:
Shift towards practice: spend two-thirds of your time on exercises and mock exams, and one-third revising weak topics and technical vocabulary.

One-month plan:
Focus exclusively on full-length simulations, performance analysis, and memorising key formulas and reaction types. TestBuddy automatically sets weekly milestones based on your progress and timing.

Study Materials, Exercises and Simulations

At the beginning, study only from content consistent with the official Annex A syllabus.
Once you’ve covered the basics:

• Move on to timed simulations to match the 100-minute rhythm.
• Analyse mistakes carefully, identifying whether they come from content gaps, reasoning, or time management.
• On TestBuddy, every simulation replicates the official interface, provides full feedback and links directly to each syllabus topic.

You can also review the official 2025 IMAT paper to compare your progress with the real test.

The Official IMAT 2025 Syllabus

The Annex A of the Decree defines the entire programme:

1. Reading Skills and General Knowledge
Understanding English texts, both scientific and cultural; extracting information, identifying coherence and logical structure.

2. Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Verbal and symbolic reasoning, deduction, pattern recognition, and managing logical constraints.

3. Biology
Biochemistry of living organisms, macromolecules, enzymes, cell structure, mitosis and meiosis, genetics, DNA replication, protein synthesis, heredity, mutations, evolution, biotechnology, human anatomy and physiology, and bioenergetics.

4. Chemistry
States of matter, atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonds, stoichiometry, solutions, equilibrium, kinetics, acids and bases, oxidation-reduction, and fundamentals of organic chemistry.

5. Mathematics
Number sets, algebra, functions, geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry, probability, and statistics.

6. Physics
Physical quantities, kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, fluids, thermodynamics, electricity, and electromagnetism.

Subject-Based Training: Strengthening Weak Areas

After you’ve completed a full syllabus review, your training should become selective:

• In Biology, focus on conceptual chains (e.g. DNA → transcription → protein synthesis).
• In Chemistry, alternate between numerical and theoretical problem sets.
• In Maths and Physics, practise short timed sets daily to reinforce intuition.
• For Reading and Logic, summarise the main argument before reading the options to avoid linguistic traps.

TestBuddy allows you to filter by topic, work specifically on your weakest areas, and generate progressive difficulty sets until your accuracy stabilises.

Speed and Time-Management Techniques

With 100 minutes for 60 questions, you have about 1 minute 40 seconds per item.

• Start with Biology and Chemistry — they yield the most points.
• Skip questions that exceed 3 minutes; wrong answers cost 0.4 points, blank ones cost none.
• Make two passes: first secure answers, then return to doubtful ones.

During TestBuddy simulations, track:

• average time per question
• percentage of skipped questions
• accuracy during the final ten minutes

These metrics help you refine pacing and decision-making before the real test.

Common Preparation Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

• Neglecting English practice: IMAT is entirely in English — including scientific terminology.
• Ignoring Physics and Maths: together they can make the difference near the cut-off score.
• Memorising without applying: Chemistry and Biology require reasoning, not rote learning.
• Skipping realistic simulations: pacing and fatigue management are crucial under pressure.

Avoid these by training on TestBuddy, where every simulation mirrors the real exam — timing, penalty system, and language.

Using TestBuddy for IMAT Preparation

TestBuddy is designed specifically for the IMAT structure:

• Realistic simulations — format, timing and scoring identical to the official test.
• Automatic error analysis — categorises mistakes by cause and topic.
• Adaptive study plans — your schedule updates based on progress and results.
• Full English content — realistic phrasing and scientific terminology.

In the final weeks, activate the “Exam Mode” in TestBuddy to access full-length mocks, readiness indicators and recap notes with formulas and reactions.

Final Week and Pre-Exam Routine

• During the last week: focus on simulation quality, not quantity. Do 2–3 full tests and review mistakes.
• Check your documents: valid ID, registration receipt, venue address, and travel time.
• Day before the exam: review lightly, read short scientific texts in English, sleep well, and stick to your usual meals and routine.

The goal is to keep your mind alert but relaxed — avoid last-minute cramming or unfamiliar methods.