The International Medical Admission Test (IMAT) is a critical exam for students seeking admission to English-taught medical and dentistry programs in Italy. Administered by the Italian Ministry of Education in collaboration with CINECA, the IMAT is a paper-based exam that tests a wide range of knowledge and reasoning skills.
IMAT 2024: Key Dates and Registration
The IMAT 2024 was scheduled for September 17, 2024. Registration for the test was open from September 2, 2024, until 3:00 p.m. (GMT+2) on September 12, 2024.
To register for the exam, candidates must complete the procedure through the official UniversItaly portal. Since test centers are limited and high in demand, early booking is strongly advised to secure a spot.
IMAT Exam Format and Structure
In 2024, the IMAT retains its traditional structure, consisting of 60 multiple-choice questions across several subject areas:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Logical reasoning
- General knowledge
The exam lasts 100 minutes. The scoring system is as follows:
- 1.5 points for each correct answer.
- -0.4 points for each incorrect answer.
- 0 points for unanswered questions.
Ranking and Scrolling
After taking the IMAT, candidates are ranked based on their total score. The ranking is divided into two categories: EU and non-EU students, with specific seats allocated to each group at various universities.
- EU candidates can be ranked for multiple universities.
- Non-EU candidates are ranked only for their first-choice university.
Once the results are released, the highest-ranked students are offered admission immediately. However, the admission process allows for flexibility through the “scrolling” mechanism. If a higher-ranked student declines their offer, that position becomes available, allowing lower-ranked students to move up and claim the spot. This process continues until all available places are filled.
Seats and Cut-off Scores for 2024
For 2024, there has been an increase in available spots for both EU and non-EU candidates:
- EU seats: 919 (+40 compared to 2023)
- Non-EU seats: 475 (+50 compared to 2023)
Each university has its own cut-off score, which is the minimum score required for admission. These scores vary significantly depending on the university and the competition level each year. For example, in 2023:
- The minimum score for EU candidates at the University of Catania was 33.7.
- At La Sapienza University in Rome, the cut-off was 45.4.
- At Pavia, it was 38.4.
- Politecnico di Milano had the highest cut-off, at 46.6.
Cut-off scores depend on the overall performance of all test-takers and the number of available seats at each institution, so they fluctuate annually.
With CINECA managing the IMAT, there has been an increased focus on biology and chemistry to better align the test with medical school curricula.
Good luck to all the candidates preparing for IMAT 2025!