IMAT Simulator: practise for the IMAT 2027 with the real exam rules
Last updated: 31 October 2026
The IMAT (International Medical Admission Test) is the single national test for the English-taught degrees in Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine at Italian universities. It has 60 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes: +1.5 for a right answer, -0.4 for a wrong one, 0 if you leave it blank. The IMAT 2026 took place on 29 September 2026; the date of the IMAT 2027 has not been announced yet. TestBuddy's simulator follows the same rules, explains every answer and shows you where you lose points.
Free account, works in your browser. No download needed.
IMAT at a glance
- Questions
- 60 multiple-choice questions, 5 options each, one correct
- Time
- 100 minutes
- Scoring
- +1.5 correct, -0.4 wrong, 0 blank. Maximum score: 90
- Minimum score
- 20 points to enter the national ranking (EU candidates and non-EU candidates living in Italy). Non-EU candidates living abroad need a score above 0 and are ranked by each university
- Format
- On paper, in person, at Italian universities and at test centres abroad
- How often
- Once a year
- Score validity
- Only for that year's admission
- Registration
- On Universitaly
Source: Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), Ministerial Decree no. 1005 of 6 August 2026
The 5 sections of the IMAT
Since 2023 the IMAT is mostly science: 51 of the 60 questions are biology, chemistry, physics and maths. Reading and logic are only 9 questions.
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading skills and knowledge from your studies | 4 |
| Logical reasoning and problem solving | 5 |
| Biology | 23 |
| Chemistry | 15 |
| Physics and mathematics | 13 |
How TestBuddy's IMAT simulator works
Practise the way the exam works, then fix what you got wrong.
Timed simulations
Full simulations with the IMAT rules: 60 questions, 100 minutes, the same scoring. Every simulation is built new from our IMAT question bank.
Practice by subject
Pick a subject or a topic, choose how many questions and how long. Good for 10 minutes between classes.
An explanation for every answer
Every question has a step-by-step solution, also the ones you got right.
Buddy, your AI tutor
Ask Buddy to explain a step or a topic. After a simulation, Buddy tells you where you lost points and what to review.
See how you compare
Premium shows how your score compares with other candidates: "you are ahead of N% of candidates".
Web, iPhone and Android
One account on the web, iOS and Android. Your progress stays in sync.
- 1
Pick a mode: a quick drill on one topic or a full simulation.
- 2
Answer under the timer: same clock and same scoring as the real IMAT.
- 3
Get your score: right away, with the breakdown by section.
- 4
Review: read the solution, ask Buddy, open the theory chapter.
IMAT scoring: should you guess?
A right answer gives you +1.5, a wrong one costs you -0.4, a blank is 0. If you guess completely at random among 5 options, on average you lose a little (-0.02 points per question). If you can rule out one option, guessing among the other 4 gains you +0.075 points on average; if you can rule out two, +0.23. So: leave it blank when you have no idea, guess when you can eliminate at least one answer.
Ties: if two candidates have the same score, the higher biology score wins, then chemistry, then physics and maths, then logic, then reading.
Official IMAT past papers, 2011 to 2026
The Ministry publishes every past IMAT paper as a PDF. We have collected them in one page, with how the test changed year by year. Download a paper, set a 100-minute timer and mark it with +1.5 / -0.4. The past papers are PDFs: inside the TestBuddy app you practise with new simulations that follow the same rules.
See all IMAT past papersIMAT key dates
IMAT 2026 (academic year 2026/27): registration on Universitaly from 26 August to 9 September 2026 (3 pm); test on 29 September 2026 at 1:30 pm (Italian time); anonymous scores on 8 October; personal results on 19 October; national ranking on 26 October; first ranking update ("scorrimento") on 3 November 2026.
IMAT 2027: not announced yet. In 2025 and 2026 the Ministry published the IMAT decree in early August, registration opened on 26 August and the test was in September. We update this page as soon as the 2027 decree is out.
IMAT candidate alerts
Be the first to know when the IMAT changes.
One email when the IMAT 2027 dates are announced or the format changes.
How many places? (2026/27)
For 2026/27 the decree offers 3,792 places in Medicine and Surgery in English, 60 in Dentistry and 70 in Veterinary Medicine, across state and non-state universities. Non-state universities such as Cattolica, Humanitas, San Raffaele, Campus Bio-Medico, UniCamillus and Neuromed also use the IMAT for their English-taught places.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IMAT simulator free?
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Yes, you can start for free: create an account and practise in your browser or in the app. The free plan has daily limits; Premium makes everything unlimited. See exactly what is included on the pricing page.
How many questions are in the IMAT and how long is it?
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60 multiple-choice questions with 5 options each, in 100 minutes: 4 reading and knowledge, 5 logic and problem solving, 23 biology, 15 chemistry, 13 physics and maths.
What is the minimum score to pass the IMAT?
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You need at least 20 points out of 90 to enter the national ranking (EU candidates and non-EU candidates living in Italy). Passing 20 does not guarantee a place: admission depends on your position in the ranking and on the places available. Non-EU candidates living abroad need a score above 0 and are ranked by each university.
Should I guess on the IMAT?
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A wrong answer costs 0.4 points and a right one gives 1.5. A random guess among 5 options loses a little on average, so leave it blank if you have no idea. If you can rule out at least one option, guessing pays on average.
When is the IMAT 2027?
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Not announced yet. In 2025 and 2026 the decree came out in early August, registration opened on 26 August on Universitaly and the test was in September (29 September in 2026). We update this page when the 2027 decree is published.
Where can I find IMAT past papers?
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The Italian Ministry of University and Research publishes all past IMAT papers as PDFs. You find them all, from 2011 to 2026, on our IMAT past papers page. They are PDFs to download: in the TestBuddy app you practise with new simulations that follow the same rules.
Can I take the IMAT outside Italy?
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Yes. The IMAT is taken on paper at Italian universities and at test centres abroad listed in the yearly decree. You register on Universitaly.
Can I use my IMAT score next year?
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No. The score is valid only for that year's admission; to try again you take the next IMAT.
Start practising for the IMAT today.
Free account, in your browser or on iOS and Android.