Understanding IMAT Exam for Medical Studies in Italy

If you dream of studying medicine in Italy, IMAT is an important entrance test. It assesses your aptitude and knowledge, attracting global candidates, including local students willing to study medicine. The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) and Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing collaborate to prepare for, manage, and administer the English-language test for admission to Italian universities with English as the medium of instruction.

What is IMAT

The International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) is an exam intended for students who want to study medical science in English at Italian universities. The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) administers this 100-minute subject-specific admission exam. Its purpose is to evaluate candidates' aptitude and knowledge in preparation for pursuing undergraduate medical programs taught in English at Italian universities. The IMAT is essential to promote international collaboration, make it easier for overseas students to be admitted into Italian medical programs, and guarantee that future doctors receive top-notch training.

IMAT Highlights

Some of the key highlights of the International Medical Admission Test (IMAT) are:

• IMAT aims to assess the academic aptitude and critical thinking of candidates seeking admission to the medical program.
• The exam is divided into four major sections:

• The exam is conducted entirely in the English language.
• It is a non-computerized pen-and-paper test. 
• The exam centers for IMAT are present worldwide, providing opportunities to students across the globe.
• The registration window for this exam typically opens from early July to late July. It only lasts for three weeks.
• The IMAT marking scheme:
  • Each correct answer is awarded 1.5 points 
  • Each incorrect answer is awarded -0.4 points 
  • Each unanswered question is given 0 points 
• The students who want to take the exam can apply on the universItaly website.

IMAT Registration and Exam Date

Italian universities offer several spots for domestic and international students with IMAT scores as the basis for eligibility. Registration usually opens in September. 

• Anyone who has lived in an EU country with a residency period of 1 year or is a resident of the EU is considered an EU candidate.
• A non-EU candidate needs to visit the Italian embassy/consulate in their respective country of residence.

While the specific exam date for IMAT 2024 is still pending an announcement, it's worth noting that IMAT 2023 took place on October 17, 2023. Based on this precedent, the IMAT exam for 2024 will likely be scheduled for October.

IMAT Application Process

Non-EU students need to complete the pre-enrollment process. This usually starts around April. MUIR releases various information, including exam dates, syllabus, and registration periods. Things to be taken care of to begin with the application process include:

• Once pre-enrollment dates are announced, a non-EU candidate must visit their residence country's Italian diplomatic representation (embassy/consulate). The embassy provides information regarding the required documents, which might differ from country to country.
• The commonly needed documents include a Declaration of Value (DoV) (proof of receiving 12 years of education and ensuring eligibility for an Italian university, Form A, photographs, and a copy of the passport.
• The registration process begins around July and is similar for both EU and non-EU students. This process remains open for around three weeks.
• Make a Universitaly account.
• Register and pay the IMAT exam fee online using this account after the Ministry of Italy releases the IMAT registration date. 
• Choose the exam center from the available options.
• After completing the process, the candidate receives two emails they must print and carry on the exam day. The first mail confirms that the candidate has created a university account, and the second mail confirms the payment and the order placed with Cambridge English Language Assessment acceptance.

IMAT Admission Process 

While the admission process may differ among universities, the common practice is to request scanned copies of specific documents, usually your passport and Declaration of Value (DoV). Once you settle the fees, you're good to go – officially part of the university.

Now, the student gears up for the next big step: applying for a student visa at their embassy or consulate. Keeping the university in the loop is wise throughout this process, ensuring they know the visa application progress.

IMAT Admit Card

The admit card for IMAT contains all necessary information, including the registration confirmation, exam date, time, test center, candidate name, and other related information.

Additional instructions are also provided on the admit card, such as items allowed or prohibited in the examination hall. You can download the admit card from the UniversItaly website using the ID and password you created during registration.

IMAT Result

Approximately two weeks after the exam, an anonymized list of results, identified solely by codes and devoid of names, is published on the UniversItaly website.  Proceeding to the three-week mark post-exam, candidates gain access to their individual scores through their personalized section on the UniversItaly website. This stage marks the revelation of a detailed breakdown, offering insights into performance across various sections.

Then, around four weeks after the exam, the official ranking is unveiled. For EU candidates, this information is accessible within the reserved area at UniversItaly. However, non-EU candidates must refer to their first-choice university, as they independently publish their ranking. This phase mirrors a ceremonial acknowledgment of academic accomplishments.

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