IMAT Instructions and What to Do on The Test Day

The IMAT 2024 will be held on the 17^th of September 2024. Before then, it is a good idea to know what to expect on the day and what you need to do beforehand. 

What to Bring to the IMAT

You should bring the following to the test centre. Be aware that not all the following may be brought into the test room itself. 

• Your ID: This can be a passport, ID card or other type of accepted identification. It must be an original and cannot be a photocopy. We recommend you bring your passport if you have one and (if different) the same ID you submitted on Universitaly. Some centers require you to bring the ID that you submitted on Universitaly.
• Your IMAT receipt and booking confirmation: Print off your payment receipt, email confirmation, and any other confirmations of your test booking from Universitaly. Make sure you have paper copies with you on the day.
• Water bottle (optional): This must be a colourless and clear water bottle with no paper or writing on it. 
• Stationary: Black pens are usually provided by the test centre, in which case you will not be able to bring your own. If your test centre has not mentioned anything you should bring your own, but make sure to not bring them into the test centre if it is not allowed!
• Parent consent form (only required if you are under 18)
• A bag: You will not be able to bring this to the test, but you will be able to store it in the cloakroom provided at the test centre. We recommend having a bag to put the objects you are not allowed to bring to your desk, such as phones and other valuables.

What NOT to Bring to the IMAT

The following are not a good idea to bring to the IMAT

• Unnecessary valuables: Computers, jewellery, along with other unnecessary valuables are not good to bring. Your test centre will not take responsibility for any loss of property
• Electronic devices: If you must bring any electronic device, leave it in the bag that you will store in the cloakroom. You may be scanned with a metal detector on entry to the test room and candidates found with any unauthorised electronic devices will be disqualified.
• Help material: Under no circumstances should you carry any notes, periodic tables, calculators or any unauthorised written material with you into the test room.

IMAT Instructions

You will receive a white envelope. When instructed by the invigilator, open the envelope and check it contains:

• A set of question papers (you must not look through this until told to start).
• A cover sheet, with a barcode.
• A Candidate Data Sheet.
• An answer sheet (do not sign or write your name on this).

There is a barcode printed on the cover sheet and the answer sheet, and a number on the front of your question paper. Please check that the numbers on these three documents are identical. If they are not, raise your hand and notify the staff. There is no barcode on the datasheet.

When instructed, complete the Candidate Data Sheet but do not sign it. If you sign it, notify the invigilator as you will need a replacement. If you are a non-Italian candidate, you do NOT need to fill out the Fiscal Code (Codice Fiscale). If you are an Italian candidate, you need to memorise your Fiscal Code and write it where instructed. 

You can see an example of what this Candidate Data Sheet looks like below (please note it might look slightly different on your test day, but the essence is the same)

Only open the question papers when instructed to do so. You will have 100 minutes (unless you have been granted additional time). You will be given warnings 30 minutes and then 10 minutes before the end of the test.

At the end of the test, put down your pen immediately, which will shortly be collected. 

Put your answer sheet and unsigned data sheet to the side of your desk. Do not put them in your white envelope.

Put your question papers, cover sheet and this candidate instruction sheet back into the white envelope, so the barcode on the cover sheet can be seen in the window. Leave this on your desk. It will be collected by the staff.

When instructed, go to the designated desk with your unsigned data sheet and your answer sheet.

At the designated desk, you must choose a pair of matching barcode stickers. Ensure that the barcodes match each other and stick one on your data sheet and the other on your answer sheet, in the appropriate boxes.

Now sign the declaration on the Candidate Data Sheet to confirm that the barcode stickers match and that your personal details are correct. Put your data sheet in the container available. Take your answer sheet to the second desk and place it in the container there. Place the sheets in the correct containers as they cannot be removed or swapped.

IMAT Answer Sheet

You must not write any personal information, signatures or any identifying information on your answer sheet (front or back). Any answer sheet with any identifying information will be disqualified!

The answer sheet is what you will use to select the options for each question in the test. Please take a look below to see how you should fill out the answer sheet.

Remember the following…

• 1.5 marks for a correct answer
• -0.4 marks for an incorrect answer
• 0 marks for an unanswered question or invalid response

IMAT Rules

Make sure to be aware of the following rules when inside the test room. Breaking even one of these rules may result in you being disqualified. 

The following things will be required of you…

• You must arrive on time. Late arrivals cannot sit the test. Try arrive well before the stated latest entry time for your test venue
• You must ask for permission during the test if you wish to leave your desk (i.e. to go the bathroom). If you leave your seat without permission, you may be disqualified. 
• You must put down your pen when the test end has been announced. Do NOT keep writing after this announcement!
• You must fill in the answer sheet before the test ends. Once the test has ended, you cannot make any adjustments
• You may only leave the test centre when instructed to do so. 
• You must put all your belongings and coats in the cloakroom provided. This includes items in your pocket and your ID.
• You must only use the black pen provided to you. Do not use any other pen except the one authorized to you. 

The following are things you must NOT do…

• DO NOT write your name or any other identifying information on your answer sheet or you will be disqualified!
• No verbal or physical communication in any way with another candidate during the test. 
• No ID at your desk. Your ID must be kept in the cloakroom after it has been verified by the staff
• No electronic devices whatsoever may be brought to the test room. These must be stored in the cloakroom.
• No cheating in any form. You can face severe consequences for this.
• Do not ask the staff for help with solving a question. If your paper is damaged in any form, raise your hand and alert the staff. 
• Do not make any noise in the test room. 
• Do not take any test papers or answer sheets with you from the test room.
• Do not use erasers, test correction tape or any other kind of whiteout to blank out answers. 
• Do not eat, smoke or drink during the test (except from your clear water bottle if you bring one)
• Do not leave the test room without permission

Recommendations for the IMAT Test Day

Listen to the test supervisors: They will give you instructions on the day. Make sure you are paying attention to what they are saying

Raise your hand if you want to ask a question. Under no circumstances call out!

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the question paper and answer sheet.

Arrive earlier than the stated time! Be aware that traffic delays and trouble finding the venue can occur on the day. It is thus advised to be at the venue much earlier than the stated required entry time for your venue.

Other Recommendations and Tips

Fix your sleeping pattern before the test. Try get up at the same time in the morning as you will need to on the test day. This will harmonize your sleeping pattern, helping you maximise the chance of a good night’s sleep before the IMAT. Being well rested on the day is essential. 

If taking the test centre outside your city of residence, get there a few days before the test. Flights can be delayed or cancelled, so getting to the city of your test the night before the exam can be risky. If possible, try get there a few days beforehand. 

Visit the test centre at least once before the IMAT. If you are taking the test in a foreign country it can be hard to know how to get around the city. Make sure you visit the test centre beforehand to get an idea of where it is, what the traffic conditions are like, and the time taken to reach the venue. You do not want to stress on the day trying to find your test centre. 

Plan everything the night before. This includes things like what clothes to wear, packing your backpack with everything you need for the exam, booking taxis or other transport, if necessary, etc. These things can take time to do the following morning. You do not want to get delayed. 

Don’t overstudy the night before the exam. There is no point burning yourself out and working the whole night long before the test. It is far better to relax yourself and get ready for the next morning. 

Plan how you will approach the test. Make sure you know what sections you will start with and implement this on practice papers beforehand. It’s a good idea to start with the sections in the IMAT you are most confident in so that you start the exam on a win.

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