IMAT Format & Syllabus 2026: Sections, Questions, Timing
By Velacai · June 25, 2026 · 12 min read
The IMAT format and syllabus at a glance
The IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test) is a 60-question, 100-minute, five-option multiple-choice exam used to select students for English-taught Medicine, Dentistry, and (from 2025) Veterinary Medicine at Italian public universities. The current 2024–2025 syllabus splits those 60 questions across five sections, with Biology (23 questions) carrying the most marks, followed by Chemistry (15) and a combined Physics & Mathematics block (13). Understanding exactly where the questions live — and how little time you get per question — is the foundation of any sensible prep plan.
This article breaks down the structure, the syllabus by subject, the important 2024 syllabus change, and what all of it means for your timing on test day. For the bigger picture, start with our complete IMAT guide; for how points are awarded and how rankings work, see the scoring and ranking article.
The IMAT format: 60 questions, 100 minutes, 5 options
Before the syllabus, get the mechanics straight. These are the non-negotiable facts that shape your whole strategy:
- 60 multiple-choice questions in total.
- 100 minutes to answer them — that's an average of about 100 seconds per question.
- Five answer options per question (labelled A–E), exactly one correct.
- Negative marking: for a correct answer, for a wrong one, and for a blank. The maximum possible score is points.
- The exam is paper-based and not adaptive — every candidate sees the same fixed set of questions, and there is no on-screen calculator, no scratch app, and no question-by-question difficulty routing. (If you've prepped for the Digital SAT, forget those features; the IMAT is a different animal.)
The IMAT is taken in English and is open to both EU and non-EU candidates. It is administered by Italy's Ministry of University and Research (MUR) with CINECA as the technical partner — not Cambridge Assessment, which stepped back after 2023. You register through the Universitaly portal (universitaly.it), and the annual ministerial decree fixes the date, the seats, and the rules each cycle.
A quick reassurance, because it causes a lot of panic online: Italy's "semestre filtro" reform abolished the entrance test for Italian-language Medicine only. The English-taught IMAT is unchanged — it still selects by IMAT score and merit ranking. The IMAT was not abolished or replaced.
The IMAT syllabus by section (2024–2025)
Here is the current section breakdown. This is the 2024–2025 syllabus; 2025 was identical to 2024, and 2026 is expected to be similar — but the official 2026 structure is confirmed only when the ministerial decree is published, so always check the current decree before exam day.
| Section | Questions | Share of exam | Max points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Skills & General Knowledge | 4 | ~7% | 6.0 |
| Logical Reasoning (problem solving) | 5 | ~8% | 7.5 |
| Biology | 23 | ~38% | 34.5 |
| Chemistry | 15 | ~25% | 22.5 |
| Physics & Mathematics (combined) | 13 | ~22% | 19.5 |
| Total | 60 | 100% | 90.0 |
The headline is unmistakable: the science sections account for 51 of 60 questions (about 85% of the exam, worth up to 76.5 points). The "general" sections — reading, GK, and logic — together make up just 9 questions. Your preparation should be weighted accordingly.
Biology — 23 questions
Biology is the single largest section and the one where most marks live. If you improve in only one place, make it here. Expect questions across the full pre-university biology curriculum, including:
- Cell biology — cell structure, organelles, membranes and transport, the cell cycle and mitosis/meiosis.
- Molecular biology and genetics — DNA/RNA, transcription and translation, Mendelian inheritance, dominance/recessiveness, genetic disorders.
- Human physiology and anatomy — the major organ systems (circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous, endocrine), homeostasis, and how systems interact.
- Biochemistry of living systems — enzymes, metabolism, respiration and basic energy pathways.
- Evolution, ecology, and the chemistry of life — natural selection, classification, and the biological roles of water, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Because Biology is broad but largely recall- and application-based, it rewards consistent revision and lots of practice questions more than raw cleverness.
Chemistry — 15 questions
Chemistry is the second-heaviest science block. Core topics include:
- The atom and periodic table — atomic structure, electron configuration, periodic trends.
- Chemical bonding — ionic, covalent, and intermolecular forces.
- Stoichiometry — moles, balancing equations, concentration, and reaction calculations.
- Solutions and acid–base chemistry — pH, acids and bases, buffers, and basic equilibria.
- Thermochemistry and reaction types — oxidation–reduction, energetics, and reaction rates at an introductory level.
- Organic chemistry basics — functional groups, simple nomenclature, and the main classes of organic compounds (no advanced mechanisms required).
Many Chemistry questions are quick stoichiometry and concept-recognition items, so accuracy and speed both pay off.
Physics & Mathematics — 13 questions (combined)
These two subjects share a single 13-question block, and the internal split between physics and maths varies year to year — so don't assume a fixed ratio and don't neglect either one. Typical content:
- Physics: mechanics — kinematics, forces, Newton's laws, work, energy, and momentum.
- Physics: electricity and other topics — circuits, electric charge and fields, plus thermodynamics, fluids, and waves/optics at a foundational level.
- Mathematics: algebra and functions — equations and inequalities, linear and quadratic functions, exponentials and logarithms.
- Mathematics: geometry and trigonometry — coordinate geometry, basic trig, and properties of shapes.
- Mathematics: probability and statistics — simple probability, combinatorics, and reading data.
Remember there is no calculator, so practice doing arithmetic and unit conversions cleanly by hand. The maths here is conceptual and shouldn't require heavy computation if you set problems up correctly.
Logical Reasoning — 5 questions
This is the problem-solving section: short logic puzzles, numerical and verbal reasoning, pattern recognition, and "select the best inference" items. No outside knowledge is needed — everything you need is in the question. These are highly trainable with practice, and because they're knowledge-free, they're often quick wins if you build a method.
Reading Skills & General Knowledge — 4 questions
The smallest section. It mixes short reading-comprehension passages (answer based only on the text) with a handful of general-knowledge / general-culture questions. This is the section with the worst effort-to-reward ratio: GK is hard to study efficiently, so most candidates do light, broad reading rather than cramming, and lean on the comprehension items they can actually reason out.
The 2024 syllabus change: less GK, more science
If you're using older prep material, beware — the IMAT was significantly rebalanced in 2024. The historical format featured a much larger "general" block: roughly 20+ questions combining General Knowledge and Logical Reasoning. The 2024 revision slashed that block and redistributed the questions into the sciences, especially Biology.
The practical effect:
- General Knowledge shrank from a major section to just a handful of questions.
- Logical Reasoning was trimmed.
- Biology, Chemistry, and Physics & Maths absorbed the difference, with Biology gaining the most.
So if a guide tells you to spend weeks memorising general-culture trivia, it's out of date. 2025 matched 2024 exactly, and 2026 is expected to follow the same pattern — but, again, that's an expectation, not an official confirmation, so verify against the current ministerial decree once it's published.
The strategic takeaway is simple: the exam now rewards science depth far more than broad general knowledge. Your study hours should flow toward Biology first, Chemistry second, and Physics & Maths third.
Time management: ~100 seconds per question
With 60 questions in 100 minutes, you have an average of 100 seconds per question — but treating every question equally is a mistake. Use the structure to your advantage.
Where the marks are vs. where the time goes
The four-question Reading & GK section and the five-question Logic section are only 9 questions, but a tricky logic puzzle or a dense passage can eat several minutes each. Meanwhile, Biology — your biggest mark pool — is mostly recall, so well-prepared candidates answer many Biology items in well under a minute. A sensible plan:
- Bank time on Biology. Move fast on the items you know cold; this is where you build a cushion.
- Cap your logic/reading time. Don't let a single puzzle drain three minutes. Mark it, move on, come back.
- Budget Physics & Maths carefully — these can be the most time-expensive per question because of setup and (calculator-free) arithmetic.
A simple section time budget
This is illustrative, not prescriptive — adjust it to your own strengths from practice:
| Section | Questions | Suggested time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Skills & General Knowledge | 4 | ~6 min | brisk |
| Logical Reasoning | 5 | ~10 min | capped |
| Biology | 23 | ~32 min | fast |
| Chemistry | 15 | ~24 min | steady |
| Physics & Mathematics | 13 | ~24 min | careful |
| Review / buffer | — | ~4 min | flexible |
Marking and guessing under negative marking
Because of the penalty, blind guessing barely costs or gains anything, but informed guessing pays. With five options, a fully random guess has an expected value of — essentially break-even, very slightly worse than leaving blank. But eliminate just one option and the maths flips positive: . Rule out two and it's roughly . So the rule is: leave it blank only if you genuinely can't eliminate anything; if you can rule out even one option, guess. We cover the full scoring and ranking maths in the scoring article.
The only way these timing instincts become reliable is repetition under real conditions. Sitting full-length, timed 60-question mocks with the official scoring — like the realistic IMAT practice simulator on Velacai — teaches you exactly how fast Biology should feel and when to abandon a stubborn logic puzzle. Knowing the format is step one; internalising the pace is what actually moves your score. For a complete study roadmap, see how to prepare for the IMAT.
Putting it together
The current IMAT is a science-heavy, time-pressured exam: 60 questions in 100 minutes, five options each, with negative marking, and Biology, Chemistry, and Physics & Maths making up 51 of the 60 questions. The 2024 rebalancing cut general knowledge and boosted the sciences, and 2025 repeated it. Build your prep around that reality — Biology first — practise under timed conditions, and use informed guessing whenever you can eliminate an option. For everything from registration to university choice, return to the complete IMAT guide, and check pricing if you want structured practice.
FAQ
How many questions are on the IMAT and how long is it?
The IMAT has 60 multiple-choice questions and lasts 100 minutes, giving you an average of about 100 seconds per question. Each question has five answer options, with exactly one correct.
What is the IMAT syllabus breakdown by section?
Under the current 2024–2025 syllabus: Biology (23 questions), Chemistry (15), Physics & Mathematics combined (13), Logical Reasoning (5), and Reading Skills & General Knowledge (4) — 60 in total. The sciences account for 51 of the 60 questions.
Did the IMAT syllabus change recently?
Yes. The format was rebalanced in 2024: the old large General Knowledge / Logic block (about 20+ questions) was cut, and those questions were shifted into the sciences, especially Biology. 2025 was identical to 2024, and 2026 is expected to be similar — but confirm against the official ministerial decree, since the 2026 structure isn't officially fixed until then.
Which IMAT section is the most important to study?
Biology, by a wide margin. At 23 questions (up to 34.5 points) it's the single biggest mark pool, and most items are recall- and application-based, so consistent revision and practice pay off directly. Chemistry is the next priority, then Physics & Maths.
Is the IMAT still happening in 2026, or was it abolished?
The IMAT is still running. Italy's "semestre filtro" reform abolished the entrance test for Italian-language Medicine only; the English-taught IMAT is unchanged and still selects by score and merit ranking. The 2026 exam is expected around mid-September 2026, with the official date confirmed each year by the ministerial decree.