On the 3rd of July MUR published an announcement confirming the date of the IMAT 2026 to be held on the 8th of October 2026
A day later it was revised to the 30th of September 2026!
Read the old announcement here.
Weeks later, the date was changed again. The IMAT date is now set for the 29th of September 2026
You can find this announcement on the MUR website here
IMAT Date 2026
The IMAT will be held on the 29th of September 2026. More information about the test is still to come.
This date is still a bit later than usual, which provides students with more time to prepare for the test than previous years.
IMPORTANT: The Exam was initially announced to be on the 8th of October, then the 30th of September, but this has since been revised and is no longer the case!
Read the old announcement here (no longer valid).
IMAT 2026 Syllabus
The IMAT 2026 syllabus outlines the scientific knowledge and reasoning skills typically required for the International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT), the entrance exam used by Italian public universities for admission to English-taught medical programmes.
At the time of writing, the official IMAT 2026 syllabus has not yet been released by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
However, the IMAT syllabus rarely changes significantly from year to year. The structure below is therefore based on the most recent official syllabus and previous exam papers, which provide a reliable guide for students preparing for the 2026 exam.
Once the official syllabus is released, this page will be updated immediately to reflect any confirmed changes.
The IMAT syllabus is usually published only a few months before the exam. Because the structure rarely changes significantly, previous syllabi remain the most reliable guide for students preparing early.
If you want to understand how the syllabus translates into the real exam structure, Read the complete IMAT 2026 guide to studying medicine in Italy here.
Important: The IMAT syllabus rarely changes significantly. The breakdown below reflects the official structure used in recent exams and should be considered the best available guide for IMAT 2026 preparation until the official syllabus is published.
The syllabus covers six main subject areas:
- Logical reasoning and problem solving
- Reading skills and general knowledge
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Physics
Understanding the official syllabus is essential when preparing for the IMAT exam, as questions are designed specifically around these topics.
Below you can find a complete breakdown of the IMAT syllabus for 2026, including all assessable topics.
IMAT 2026 Subject Distribution
The IMAT exam contains 60 multiple-choice questions distributed across several subjects.
The approximate breakdown is:
| Subject | Questions |
|---|---|
| Logical reasoning & problem solving | 5 |
| Biology | 23 |
| Chemistry | 15 |
| Physics & Mathematics | 13 |
| Reading Skills and Knowledge Acquired During Studies | 4 |
In recent IMAT exams, biology has represented the largest portion of the test. For this reason, most students spend a significant portion of their preparation time focusing on biology topics.
The IMAT exam structure has remained broadly consistent in recent years, making previous syllabi a reliable guide for students preparing for the 2026 test.
IMAT Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving Syllabus
Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving is the official name of the section in the IMAT. However, there are two distinct subsections in this section, each of which works quite differently…
Critical Thinking*:
7 Question types are assessable (a specific method exists for each which we teach you in our course)
- Summarising the main conclusion
- Drawing a conclusion
- Identifying an assumption
- Assessing the impact of additional evidence
- Detecting reasoning errors
- Matching arguments
- Applying principles
*Since 2024 this subsection has not featured any questions. It is thus not unlikely that it will be omitted from 2026 as well. However, the skills do carry over into other subsections, so it is still somewhat worth learning (albeit with less importance).
Problem Solving:
These questions test your ability to solve problems you probably have not encountered before. They can involve a diverse array of problems, such as interpreting data in a table of graph, working out financial problems, using spatial reasoning etc. While the point is to assess you on problems you have not seen before, question types do repeat. Check out our logical reasoning section to get as much exposure as possible.
Math needed for Problem Solving…
- Simple fractions and decimals
- Percentages and percentage operations (such as calculating percentage discounts)
- Place value (i.e. knowing that ‘4’ in ‘1400’ indicates ‘400’)
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
- Basic everyday calculations
- Time and the calendar
- Basic financial math
- Length units and length conversions (kilometre, metre, centimetre, millimetre)
- Weight units and weight conversions (kilogram, gram)
- Area units and area conversions (centimetre square, metre square)
- Volume/capacity units (cubic centimetre, litre, gallon)
- Identification of measurement terms (i.e. foot, inches, miles etc). Note: you do not need to be able to convert between these specific measurements, you just need to know they refer to a measurement of length. No numerical values need be remembered for these units
- Area calculation (rectangle, square, triangle)
- Perimeter calculation
- Volume calculation (of a box)
- 2D representation of 3D objects (i.e. birds eye view)
- Generalisation: For instance, recognising that going from 24 to 3 and 40 to 5 both involve division by 8
- Extracting data from tables
Reading Skills and Knowledge Acquired During Studies
This section contains 4 questions and is a combination of reading skills and general knowledge.
Reading Skills
This subsection was introduced for the first time in 2023, thus, we do not have many example questions from past IMAT papers. However, we have analysed multiple similar tests in the Italian language from the same test writer as the IMAT. From this, we can deduce a lot about this section.
The section will present you with a short passage, your job is to be able to read and understand the meaning in the passage. This can require to rely simply on what is contained in the passage itself, or in some cases, can even test you on prior general knowledge. We will explore general knowledge below…
General Knowledge:
General Knowledge usually comprises between 1 and 3 questions in recent IMAT exams, and a similar distribution is expected for the 2026 test.
The syllabus includes a wide range of non-scientific topics. There is a tendency of focusing mainly on European and Italian components of the topics below (i.e. European and Italian history, literature, etc). You do not need to study these topics in detail, in fact, there are generally just 3 or four things you need to focus on for each topic, and these are at a basic level. We explain what these details are in our course.
The most common topics are (in no particular order)…
- Literature
- Politics and Political/Legal Systems
- History
- Economics
- Social Culture
- Philosophy
- Linguistics (identification of languages, language families etc)
- Nobel Prizes
- Art history
- Music history (opera, theatre, composers etc)
- Current affairs
- History of Science
- Political Geography (knowing about countries)
- Religion
- International Institutions (such as the UN and other important institutions)
- The European Union
IMAT Biology Syllabus Topics
Biology is the most content-heavy section in the IMAT. With 23 questions, it is by far also the most important section. The IMAT is quite unique in how it likes to ask questions for this section, so it is vital you study biology in an IMAT specific way, not just in a general way. Take a look at some of our lessons to see what we mean.
The following topics are assessed…
The chemistry of living things
- The biological importance of weak interactions
- Organic molecules and their functions.
- The role of enzymes
The cell as the basis of life
- Cell theory
- Cell size
- Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (animal and plant cells)
- Viruses
- The structure and function of the cell membrane and membrane transport
- Cellular structures and their specific functions
- Cell cycle and cell division: mitosis and meiosis
- Chromosomes and chromosome maps
Bioenergetics
- ATP
- Redox reactions in living things
- Photosynthesis
- Glycolysis
- Aerobic respiration
- Fermentation
Reproduction and Inheritance
- Life cycles
- Sexual and asexual reproduction
- Mendelian genetics: Mendel’s laws and their applications
- Classical genetics: chromosomal theory of inheritance
- Inheritance patterns
- Structure and replication of DNA
- The genetic code
- Protein synthesis
- Prokaryotic DNA
- Eukaryotic chromosome structure
- Genes and regulation of gene expression.
- Human genetics: mono- and multifactorial character transmission;
- Hereditary diseases (autosomal and X linked)
- Biotechnology: recombinant DNA technology and its applications
Inheritance and environment
- Mutations
- Natural and artificial selection
- Evolutionary theories
- The genetic basis of evolution
Anatomy and physiology of animals and humans
- The animal tissues
- Anatomy and physiology of systems in humans and their interactions
- Homeostasis
IMAT Chemistry Syllabus Topics
Chemistry is typically the second most important section of the IMAT. In recent exams it has contained around 15 questions, making it an important subject to master during preparation. With 15 questions, it is definitely a topic you need to master. Chemistry is quite unique, in that it involves a lot of content memorization and practical skills. In the IMAT you will not have a calculator nor will you have a periodic table, so it is vital you know what is required to prepare for and what is not. Take a look at our lessons for more details on what you will need.
The following topics are assessed…
The composition of matter
- States of matter
- Heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures
- Compounds and elements
- Ideal Gas Laws
Atomic structure
- Elementary particles
- Atomic number and mass number
- Isotopes
- Electronic structure of atoms of different elements.
The periodic table of the elements
- Groups and periods
- Transition elements
- Periodic properties of elements: atomic radius, ionization potential, electron affinity, metallic character.
- The relationships between electronic structure, position in the periodic table, and element properties.
The chemical bond
- Ionic, covalent and metallic bonds
- Binding energy
- Polarity of bonds
- Electronegativity
- Intermolecular bonds
Fundamentals of inorganic chemistry
- Nomenclature and main properties of inorganic compounds: oxides, hydroxides, acids, salts.
Chemical reactions and stoichiometry
- Atomic and molecular mass
- Avogadro’s number
- Mole concept and its application
- Elementary stoichiometric calculations
- Balancing simple reactions
- Different types of chemical reactions
Solutions
- Solvent properties of water
- Solubility
- The main ways of expressing the concentration of solutions.
- Equilibria in aqueous solution
- Chemical kinetics and catalysis.
Oxidation and reduction
- Oxidation number
- Concept of oxidizing and reducing
- Balancing of simple reactions
Acids and bases
- The concept of acid and base
- Acidity, neutrality and basicity of aqueous solutions.
- The pH scale
- Hydrolysis
- Buffer solutions
Fundamentals of organic chemistry
- Bonds between carbon atoms
- Structural formulas
- The concept of isomerism
- Aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons.
- Functional groups: alcohols, ethers, amines, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides.
- Chemical nomenclature
IMAT Mathematics Syllabus Topics
Math in the IMAT can be made challenging by the fact that you do not have access to a calculator. You also have no formula sheet in the exam. Thus, you may need to study math differently to how you studied in high school. Make sure you thus study math in a very IMAT specific way. Take a look at our Math lessons to see how this works.
The following topics are assessed…
Algebra and numerical sets
- Natural numbers, integers, rational and real numbers
- Sorting and comparison: scales and scientific notation
- Operations and their properties
- Proportions and percentages
- Powers with integer and rational exponents, and their properties
- Roots and their properties
- Logarithms (base 10 and base e) and their properties
- Elements of combinatorics
- Algebraic and polynomial expressions
- Major products and nth power of binomial expansions
- Factorisation of polynomials
- Algebraic fractions
- Algebraic equations and inequalities of the first and second order
- Systems of equations
Functions
- Basic concepts of functions and their graphical representations (domain, codomain, sign, maximum and minimum, increasing and decreasing, etc.)
- Elementary functions: whole and fractional algebraic functions; exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions
- Composite and inverse functions
- Trigonometric equations and inequalities
Geometry
- Polygons and their properties
- Circle and circumference
- Measurements of lengths, surfaces and volumes
- Isometries, similarities and equivalences in the plane
- Geometric loci
- Measurement of angles in degrees and radians
- Sine, cosine, tangent of an angle and their significant values
- Trigonometric formulas
- Solving triangles
- Cartesian reference system in a plane
- Distance between two points and the midpoint of a segment
- Straight line equation
- Conditions for parallel and perpendicular lines
- Distance of a point to a line
- Equation of the circle, the parabola, the hyperbola, the ellipse and their representation in the Cartesian plane
- Pythagoras’ theorem
- Euclid’s first and second theorems
Probability and statistics
- Frequency distributions and their graphical representations
- Concept of random experiments and events
- Probability and frequency
IMAT Physics Syllabus Topics
Physics in the IMAT is made harder by the fact that you do not have access to a formula sheet. There are quite a few formulas to memorise, so it is important to understand which ones are most commonly required in recent IMAT exams.
The following topics are assessed…
Measures
- Direct and indirect measures
- Fundamental and derived quantities
- Physical dimensions of quantities
- Knowledge of the metric system and the CGS System of Units
- Technical (or practical) (ST) and International System (SI) units of measurement (names and
- relationships between fundamental and derived units)
- Multiples and sub-multiples (names and values)
Kinematics
- Kinematic quantities
- Various types of motion with particular regard to uniform and uniformly accelerating rectilinear motion
- Uniform circular motion; harmonic motion (for all motions: definition and relationships between quantities)
Dynamics
- Vectors and vector operations
- Forces
- Moments of forces about a point
- Moment of a force couple
- Vector composition of forces
- Definition of mass and weight
- Acceleration due to gravity
- Density and specific gravity
- The law of universal gravitation
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd laws of motion
- Work, kinetic energy, potential energy
- Principle of conservation of energy
- Impulse and momentum
- Principle of conservation of momentum
Fluid mechanics
- Pressure, and its unit of measure (not only in the SI system)
- Archimedes’ Principle
- Pascal’s principle
- Stevino’s law
- Density and compressibility of fluids
- Gases and liquids
- One-dimensional motion, flow and rate, continuity equation
- Ideal fluids and Bernoulli’s equation.
- Viscous forces in real fluids.
Thermodynamics
- Thermometry and calorimetry
- Specific heat
- Heat capacity
- Mechanisms of heat propagation
- Changes of state and latent heats
- Ideal Gas Laws
- First and second laws of thermodynamics
Electrostatics and electrodynamics
- Coulomb’s law
- Electric field and potential
- Dielectric constant
- Capacitors
- Capacitors in series and in parallel
- Direct current
- Ohm’s Law
- Kirchhoff’s Principles.
- Electrical resistance and resistivity, electrical resistances in series and in parallel.
- Work, Power, Joule effect
- Generators
- Electromagnetic induction and alternating currents
- Direct and alternating current. Period and frequency.
- Effects of electrical currents (thermal, chemical and magnetic)
Preparing for the IMAT 2026 Using the Official Syllabus
Understanding the IMAT 2026 syllabus is the first step when preparing for the exam. Because the test evaluates both scientific knowledge and logical reasoning, students should aim to build a strong foundation across all six subject areas.
In most years, the largest portion of the exam focuses on biology, followed by chemistry and logical reasoning questions. Physics and mathematics usually account for a smaller number of questions but can still influence your final ranking.
Students preparing for the IMAT should therefore prioritise the most commonly assessed topics while still ensuring they are familiar with the full syllabus.
For a complete overview of the exam structure, dates and admissions process, see the complete IMAT 2026 guide to studying medicine in Italy.
Which IMAT 2026 Topics Are Most Important?
While the IMAT syllabus 2026 covers a wide range of subjects, some topics appear more frequently in past exams.
Based on previous IMAT papers, the following areas are commonly tested:
Biology
- Cell structure and function
- DNA replication and protein synthesis
- Genetics and inheritance
- Human physiology
- Cellular Respiration
Chemistry
- Chemical bonding
- Acid–base chemistry
- Stoichiometry
- Organic functional groups
Logical reasoning
- Interpreting data
- Problem solving with numerical information
- Identifying assumptions and conclusions
Students preparing for the IMAT should therefore spend the majority of their study time focusing on these areas while still reviewing the entire syllabus.
Frequently Asked Questions About the IMAT 2026 Syllabus
The IMAT syllabus is expected to include biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, logical reasoning and general knowledge topics based on the structure used in recent exams.
While the core subjects of the IMAT (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Logic/General Knowledge) remain consistent, the official syllabus is not strictly certain to be identical every year.
Biology usually represents the largest portion of the exam, recently containing 23 questions.
The IMAT exam contains 60 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 100 minutes.
Have Questions about the IMAT Syllabus?
If you are preparing for the IMAT and have questions about specific topics included in the IMAT 2026 syllabus, feel free to ask below.
Many students are unsure which topics to prioritise when studying for the exam. Understanding how the syllabus translates into real exam questions can make preparation much more effective.
You can also explore the complete IMAT 2026 guide for more information about the exam format, registration process and university admissions.
55 responses
Is there any IMAT 2024 syllabus change?
There is no change from the previous year
The IMAT syllabus is the same every year.
Is it necessary (or recommended) to memorize the reactivity series of metals?
It can potentially be helpful, but it is very low yield knowledge and has not showed up before, so I only recommend worrying about memorizing it if you have mastered the higher yield content in chemistry.
How can I get these lectures
You will find them in our course
Ben sınava katılmak istiyorum ama ingilizce bilmek gerekli mi
It is necessary to speak English at a B2 level. The exam as well as the degree itself is conducted in English
Is their any official syllabus pic from IMAT conducting body for 2026 exam
The official syllabus for 2026 will be released later, probably between June to August 2026. The syllabus generally does not change year to year.
We will publish it when it is released
hi, i want to know that can a imat syllabus change i mean to say that if i prepare this syllabus it may or may nt helpful for me
The official syllabus has remained the same every year. It is of course not possible to say with 100% certainty until the IMAT specifications are released, but it is very unlikely the syllabus will be changed.
What sometimes does change is the question allocations to each section.
Hello, first thank you for all your efforts !
I was wondering how to know if I studied everything with the smallest details requested ? like for example I know that the lesson ” The role of enzymes” is demanded but to what level ? In fact, how to make sure I studied everything ?
The IMAT syllabus is quite vague by design, from just reading the syllabus, there is no sure way to know you have ¨studied everything that could possibly be assessed¨. However, the IMAT tends to only ask about certain things, our lessons are designed to focus on this so that only relevant details are covered.
Hi ,i want to ask if there is a six month program instead of a year ?since there is only 5 months until the test ? 🥲
Hi! There is only one subscription length. We set the subscription at 12 months to provide flexibility to students who wish to start early. The course does not take a full 12 months to complete however.
Hi, i want to ask is 2 months of preparation for it enough?
It depends a bit on your prior background. If you have a solid grasp of science, 2 months is fine. If you are starting from scratch, this makes it harder, but nothing is impossible with hard work and dedication.
hi, i want to ask you is it possible to pass in imat in 2 months. starting from now
Yes, with proper study this is indeed possible
HI! HOW CAN I DOWNLOAD THIS IMAT SYLLABUS FOR 2026?
IS THERE ANY PDF VERSION OF IT?
We unfortunately do not have a PDF of the syllabus currently, but you can review it on the article
HI, IS IMAT HAS OFFICAL WEBSITE
The IMAT does not have an official website specifically dedicated to the test, but the MUR website is where the official announcements regarding the test are announced
HI, IS IMAT HAS OFFICAL WEBSITE FOR STUDENT AND SHARE PREVIOUS YEAR SYLLBUS[PDF]
The IMAT does not have an official website specifically dedicated to the test, but the MUR website is where the official announcements regarding the test are announced. This is where the official test specifications, including the syllabus, are announced.
IS THERE IS ANY OFFICAL WEBSITE FOR IMAT AND PLEASE ALSO SHARE LAST YEAR IMAT SYLLBUS [PDF]
HOW CAN I APPLY FOR IMAT
You can apply for the IMAT on Universitaly
IT,S MEAN FIRST I GET ADMISSION IN ANY UNIVERSITY THEN I TAKE PART IN IMAT
You take the IMAT first, then if you get a passing score you can enroll in the university
IT,S MEAN FIRST I GET ADMISSION IN ANY UNI OF ITALY THEN I TAKE PART IN IMAT
TELL ME THE UNI NAME IN WHICH I GET ADMISSION EASILY EVEN AFTER LOW SCORE IN IMAT
The easiest university to gain entry to can change each year, there is no single answer for this question. Historically, southern universities tend to be easier, with Cagliari being a typical example. There is no guarantee of this however
SOMEONE TELL ME FIRST I SELECT UNI THEN I APPEAR IN IMAT AFTER IMAT IF MY SCORE IS ENOUGH TO UNI REQUIREMENT
You apply to the university first (pre-enrolment if you are a non-EU and potentially also pre-evaluation if the university requires it), then take the IMAT, then if your score is high enough you can enroll
then for eu students ?
For EU students you often only need to register for the IMAT to select your university preferences, but some universities do also require a pre-evaluation even for EU students
IS PRE ENROLMENT HAS ANY FEE AND PLEASE TEII ME REQUIRED DOCUMENT
No there is no fee. You can read about the requirements here: https://www.imatbuddy.com/the-ultimate-pre-enrolment-guide-to-study-medicine-in-italy/
sir please tell me the on which i can pre enroll my self for university
sir i am talking about website
SIR DOCUMENT REQUIRED FOR PRE ENROLLMENT
Can I pass IMAT after preparing for MCAT , can I go to London after completion of medical course in Italy university, how much I can get in IMAT after 1 month preparation?
Preparing for the MCAT is of course going to help with IMAT preparation, but it is not an identical syllabus. The score you can get with 1 month of study depends on a lot of factors.
Italian medical qualifications are generally accepted in the UK, if that is what you are asking.
so, every question will come from the syllabus right, not from somwhere else
that is , i need to read only from the syllabus and no where else , right ?
The syllabus is where questions will come from, but as you will notice, it is quite a vague syllabus. Thus the writers have a lot of freedom to choose questions from these broad topics
The official syllabus is the one pasted on the mur website? The one with 2025 on it ?
They said its thesame thing with 2026
The syllabus in 2026 is the same as for 2025
What about the most important topics for physics and mathematics?
You can check the strategy section of the course for the most important topics
in 2026 medicine and surgery in english (University of Parma), Does we need English official certificate for proving B2 Level OR MOI from previous college can fulfil this requirement? #2026
You can check with your specific university if it is required, as some universities dont enforce the requirement if you pass the IMAT. If you are a non-EU student, make sure as well with the consulate/embassy that they do not require a proof of English competency for the visa.