IMAT 2026: score, ranking and scrolling rounds

When you start preparing for the IMAT, the most common feeling is confusion. The rules seem complex, the information is scattered, and it is not always clear how the score is calculated, how many places are available, how the national ranking works, when results are published, what scrolling rounds are, and whether it is actually possible to be admitted after the first round.

In this guide we go through all of these points, one by one, explaining how the official rules work today, what is already known for 2026, and what has not yet been published. The goal is simple: help anyone preparing for the test understand exactly what happens before, during and after the exam, without unnecessary technical language.

How the IMAT score is calculated in 2026

For the 2026/2027 academic year, an official scoring system has not yet been published. Until new rules are released, the reference remains the most recent official framework.

According to the latest available rules, the score is calculated as follows: 1.5 points for each correct answer, -0.4 points for each incorrect answer, and 0 points for each unanswered question. The maximum score is 90 points, based on the total number of questions.

This system makes one thing very clear: random guessing is penalised, while leaving a question blank has no negative effect. This is why preparation is not only about knowledge, but also about learning how to manage risk during the test.

Tools based on simulations and data analysis, like TestBuddy, are useful precisely for this reason: they help understand when answering makes sense and when it does not, using real performance data rather than exam-day stress.

IMAT minimum score: does it really exist?

One of the most searched questions is about the minimum score required to pass. The key point is this: there is no fixed national minimum score.

The official rules only state that candidates with a score higher than 0 are eligible to appear in the ranking. Admission depends entirely on three factors: the number of candidates, the scores achieved, and the number of places available at each university.

What students often call the “minimum score” is actually the final score of the last admitted candidate, and it can only be known after all ranking rounds are completed. For this reason, historical scores by university are not official thresholds, but final outcomes reconstructed from past rankings.

For 2026, no official data is available yet. The only concrete references remain those from 2025, published through the official ranking archives.

IMAT available places: how many and how they are allocated

At the moment, no official figures have been published for the number of IMAT places for 2026/2027.

In 2025/2026, places for Medicine and Surgery in English and for Dentistry in English were defined at national level, with a precise allocation for each university. Places were divided between European Union and equivalent candidates and non-European Union candidates residing abroad.

This means competition is national, not local. Each university has a fixed number of places, and candidates compete across the entire country. The structure for 2026 is expected to be similar, but exact numbers will only be confirmed once officially released.

How the IMAT ranking works

The IMAT ranking system is not a single list for everyone. For European Union and equivalent candidates, there is a single national ranking. For non-European Union candidates residing abroad, rankings are managed directly by individual universities.

During registration, candidates indicate their preferred universities. Based on score and preferences, each candidate receives a specific status: assigned, reserved, or waiting.

Being assigned means immediate enrolment is required. Being reserved allows a choice between enrolling immediately or waiting for a better option in the next round. Being on the waiting list means no place is available yet, but the candidate remains in the ranking.

IMAT scrolling rounds: how they work and what to expect

Scrolling rounds are one of the most important aspects of the IMAT system. After the initial ranking is published, places that are not taken due to withdrawals or missed enrolments are reassigned.

Each round follows strict deadlines. Candidates who fail to enrol or fail to confirm their interest within the required timeframe are permanently removed from the ranking.

In 2025, the first scrolling round took place on 20 October. For 2026, no dates are currently available. They will only be communicated once the official calendar is published.

This is why it is essential to constantly monitor your status and understand exactly what action is required at every stage. Having a clear view of your preparation level through simulations, as offered by TestBuddy, also helps manage expectations and reduce uncertainty during these phases.

How to read IMAT results and scores

IMAT results are published in several stages. First, anonymous scores are released. Then, each candidate can view their individual score in their personal area. Finally, the named ranking is published, showing each candidate’s status.

All of this happens through the official access platforms. It is crucial to regularly check your personal area, as all official communications are delivered there.

When IMAT results are published

For 2026, official dates have not yet been announced. In the previous edition, the test took place on 17 September 2025, anonymous results were published on 25 September, individual scores on 6 October, and the ranking on 13 October.

These dates provide a general timeframe, but they are not an official schedule for 2026.

Is there a single final ranking?

There is no single final ranking for all candidates. There is a national ranking for certain categories and separate university-managed rankings for others. Rankings are continuously updated through scrolling rounds until all places are filled.

The IMAT ranking system is therefore dynamic, not a one-time result.

What happens in case of equal scores

When two or more candidates achieve the same score, official tie-breaking criteria apply. Priority is determined by scores in specific test sections, then by recognised language certifications declared on time, then by certified disability status, and finally by age, favouring the younger candidate.

Withdrawals, re-entries and later admission chances

Candidates who are not admitted in the first round can still be admitted later, as long as they remain in the ranking and comply with all deadlines. Withdrawals generate new admissions only while places remain available.

Once all places at a university are filled, further withdrawals do not lead to new admissions. Every decision, including waiting for a better option, must therefore be made with full awareness of the rules.

If you are not admitted: what the official system allows

If a candidate is not admitted at all, the official system provides options such as administrative appeals, within strict deadlines, or access to later-year admissions where places are available.

There is no official definition of a “gap year” within the regulations. What matters is staying within recognised procedures and using the time to build a stronger, more structured preparation path, reducing uncertainty in future attempts.

Official sources

The information in this guide is based on institutional documentation and official platforms related to IMAT, including the Accesso Programmato portal, the Ministry of University and Research, Universitaly, and the official ranking system.