IMAT 2025: all the changes from last year

Every year, the International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) is updated with new rules, deadlines and sometimes small but significant changes.

Many students preparing for this exam are wondering: what’s new in 2025 compared to 2024? Are there any differences in the structure of the test, the application process, or the requirements to participate? And how should one adjust their study strategy to keep up with the new regulations?

In this article we’ll go through everything that has changed for the IMAT 2025, comparing it to last year’s version and explaining where to find the official documents issued by the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR).

All the official 2025 updates (in short)

The first and most visible change is that Veterinary Medicine has now been officially included in the IMAT. The test, which previously covered only Medicine and Surgery and Dentistry, will now also be used for English-language Veterinary Medicine courses. This extension is clearly stated in the Ministerial Decree No. 599 of 7 August 2025, which can be consulted on the official page of the Ministry of Universities and Research.

Another change concerns how the rankings are organised. In 2025, there are now two national rankings: one for candidates from the European Union (and those non-EU residents treated as EU according to art. 39, paragraph 5 of Legislative Decree 286/1998), and another for non-EU candidates residing in Italy. The only ranking still managed locally by each university is the one for non-EU candidates residing abroad, as specified in Article 3 of the 2025 decree.

As for the calendar, the official IMAT 2025 dates are as follows:

• Applications open on 26 August 2025 and close at 3:00 PM (GMT+2) on 9 September 2025;
• Exam day: 17 September 2025 at 11:00 (Italian time);
• Publication of anonymous scores: 25 September 2025;
• Access to paper and personal score: 6 October 2025;
• National ranking: 13 October 2025;
• First ranking update: 20 October 2025.

The complete official schedule can be found in the Annex 2 – Procedures for registration and ranking of the 2025 decree, published at https://www.mur.gov.it/sites/default/files/2025-08/Decreto%20ministeriale%20n.%20599%20del%2007-08-2025%20-%20Allegati%20D.M.%201_2_3_definitivo%206.08.2026.pdf.

Main differences between IMAT 2024 and 2025

The IMAT 2024, regulated by the Ministerial Decree No. 1133 of 6 August 2024 (https://www.mur.gov.it/it/atti-e-normativa/decreto-ministeriale-n-1133-del-06-08-2024), only covered Medicine and Dentistry courses in English. The structure of the exam, scoring system, and the type of ranking were very similar to today’s, but without the inclusion of Veterinary Medicine.

In 2025, the structure and scoring remain exactly the same:
sixty multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answers and one correct answer, to be completed in 100 minutes. However, the inclusion of Veterinary Medicine and the adjustment to two separate national rankings represent the real innovations.

The dates have also shifted slightly compared to last year: in 2024, the test took place on 17 September, with results on 26 September and the ranking on 10 October. In 2025, the same test date is maintained (17 September), but the results are released one day earlier (25 September), and the ranking moves to 13 October. These are minor shifts, but they affect those organising their travel and study schedules around the test.

Changes to structure, scoring, registration, and requirements

The test structure remains stable:

• 4 questions on reading and general knowledge,
• 5 questions on logical reasoning and problem solving,
• 23 on biology,
• 15 on chemistry,
• 13 on physics and mathematics.

The scoring system is identical to last year’s:
+1.5 points for a correct answer, −0.4 for a wrong answer, and 0 for no answer. The maximum score remains 90 points, and the minimum passing score to be considered suitable is 20 points for EU candidates (and equivalent non-EU residents) or above 0 for non-EU candidates residing abroad.

Registrations are handled exclusively through Universitaly, the national portal for university admissions, at https://www.universitaly.it. Applications open on 26 August 2025 and close at 3:00 PM on 9 September 2025. During this process, candidates must register, select the order of their course and location preferences, and confirm their participation. Once the deadline passes, preferences become final and cannot be modified.

The 2025 decree also reiterates the rules for test day: it’s forbidden to bring phones, smartwatches, tablets, notes or manuals into the room. Only the pen provided during the test can be used. Any mark, signature or identifying note on the answer sheet leads to disqualification. These details are found in the Annex 1 – Test rules and procedures of the 2025 decree (https://www.mur.gov.it/sites/default/files/2025-08/Decreto%20ministeriale%20n.%20599%20del%2007-08-2025%20-%20Allegati%20D.M.%201_2_3_definitivo%206.08.2026.pdf).

Candidates with disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA) are entitled to additional time: up to 50% extra time for disabilities and up to 30% for DSA, following the same guidelines as Article 4 of the decree.

For international students, the decree specifies that non-EU candidates residing abroad must also apply for a student visa and pre-enrol through Universitaly’s official international section (https://www.universitaly.it/studenti-stranieri), with the visa request deadline set for 30 November 2025.

How these updates affect preparation

Although the IMAT 2025 maintains the same structure, these small adjustments influence how students should plan their preparation. The inclusion of Veterinary Medicine slightly broadens the potential competition pool, which means it’s even more crucial to maintain high accuracy and time control.

Because the penalty for wrong answers remains, time management and answer selection become decisive. It’s better to skip a question than to risk losing points. To master this approach, it’s essential to practice under real exam conditions.

This is where TestBuddy becomes an ideal companion. Inside the app, students can simulate official-style IMAT tests with 60 questions and a 100-minute timer, track their performance across biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and logic, and analyse their errors with detailed explanations. TestBuddy also provides weekly study plans, highlights topics covered by the official 2025 syllabus, and includes reminders for all important deadlines—registration, score publication, and ranking dates.

By using TestBuddy regularly, it becomes easier to follow the rhythm of the test, control anxiety, and study efficiently without overloading. The app’s adaptive analytics show exactly where to focus, helping each student prepare effectively for the updated IMAT 2025 structure.

Official timeline and references

All official documents for IMAT 2025 can be found directly on the MUR’s website:

• Decree No. 599 (7 August 2025): https://www.mur.gov.it/it/atti-e-normativa/decreto-ministeriale-n-599-del-07-08-2025
• Annex 2 – Registration and ranking procedures: https://www.mur.gov.it/sites/default/files/2025-08/Decreto%20ministeriale%20n.%20599%20del%2007-08-2025%20-%20Allegati%20D.M.%201_2_3_definitivo%206.08.2026.pdf
• Annex A – Test syllabus: https://www.mur.gov.it/sites/default/files/2025-08/Decreto%20ministeriale%20n.%20599%20del%2007-08-2025%20-%20Allegato%20A.pdf
• Annex Tables A and B – Countries, locations and available seats: https://www.mur.gov.it/sites/default/files/2025-08/Decreto%20ministeriale%20n.%20599%20del%2007-08-2025%20-%20Tabella%20A%20Paesi%20e%20sedi%20di%20svolgimento.pdf and https://www.mur.gov.it/sites/default/files/2025-08/Decreto%20ministeriale%20n.%20599%20del%2007-08-2025%20-%20Tabella%20B%20posti%20UE%20e%20non%20UE%20italia%20e%20posti%20extra%20UE%20rev.pdf

For 2024 reference, the official documents remain accessible here: https://www.mur.gov.it/it/atti-e-normativa/decreto-ministeriale-n-1133-del-06-08-2024.

How to stay updated

To stay informed on deadlines and official updates, candidates should check Universitaly (https://www.universitaly.it) and the MUR’s official Telegram channel (https://t.me/Mur_Telegram).

Inside TestBuddy, students can also activate automatic alerts for the IMAT 2025 calendar, receive notifications for registration and ranking release dates, and access an “exam day checklist” to make sure nothing is forgotten.

The preparation path adapts to the official syllabus, ensuring that all study sessions follow the same logic as the real exam, with no guesswork and less anxiety.