First, what you are preparing for
The IMAT is a paper-based test in English, designed by Cambridge Assessment. It has 60 multiple-choice questions with five options each, and you get 100 minutes. You score +1.5 for a correct answer, -0.4 for a wrong one and 0 for a blank, so the maximum is 90. Topics are logical reasoning, general knowledge and reading comprehension, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.
Sources disagree on the exact number of questions per section. Biology and chemistry carry the most weight, but the split changes by year, so confirm it in the official annex of the current ministerial decree. Our guide to the IMAT syllabus 2027 by section goes through the topics in detail.
The 6-month IMAT study plan, month by month
This is an IMAT 6 month study plan built on the late-March start above. Shift every month earlier or later if the real date changes.
| Month | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1-2 (late Mar – May) | Foundations | Go through every subject once. Fix weak basics in biology and chemistry first, then physics and maths. Start the error log. Read a little English science text every day. |
| Months 3-4 (late May – Jul) | Practice by section | Do questions section by section: logic, reading, biology, chemistry, physics and maths. Aim for accuracy first and speed second. Review every mistake in the log. |
| Month 5 (Aug) | Timed full papers | Sit full 60-question papers in 100 minutes. Score them with +1.5 / -0.4 / 0. Practise deciding when to answer and when to leave a blank. |
| Month 6 (late Aug – late Sep) | Revision and exam-day routine | Re-read your error log, revise weak topics, do a few more timed papers, and rehearse the exam day: sleep, travel, documents, timing. |
Months 1-2: build the base
Do not start with full tests. If you cannot yet explain the main ideas in biology and chemistry, a mock paper only tells you what you already know. Learn the content, then test yourself with short quizzes the next day and a week later. This spaced repetition is a widely recommended study habit, not a guarantee.
Months 3-4: practise by section
Now switch to questions. Take one section at a time so you can see which one is dragging you down. The IMAT practice course and the free preparation course are good places to find structured questions.
Month 5: timed papers with negative marking
Run each paper like the real day: 100 minutes, no pauses, no phone. Then calculate your score by hand. The free IMAT simulator and the IMAT score calculator help here.
Here is the key arithmetic. A worked example: 40 correct, 10 wrong and 10 blank gives 60 – 4 = 56. If those 10 wrong answers had been blank, the score would be 60. A guess is only worth it if your chance of being right is above about 21%. With five options, a blind guess is 20%, which is slightly negative. If you can remove even one option, your chance becomes 25%, and the guess becomes positive. Read more in IMAT scoring and negative marking explained.
Month 6: revise and rehearse
Stop learning large new topics. Re-read your error log, redo questions you got wrong, and keep one or two timed papers a week. In the last days, focus on sleep and routine rather than cramming.
A weekly template you can copy
This works for most weeks in months 2-5. Adjust it around school or university.
| Day | Session |
|---|---|
| Monday – Thursday | 1.5-2 hours: one or two subjects. Study new content, then do 15-20 questions on it. |
| Friday | 1 hour: logic and reading practice, plus 20 minutes on the error log. |
| Saturday | 2-3 hours: a timed section set or, from month 5, a full paper. Mark it and log every mistake. |
| Sunday | Light review of the week’s errors (1 hour), then rest. |
Those hours are a suggestion, not a research result. Consistency matters more than long sessions.
The error-log method
An error log turns every mistake into a lesson. Keep it in a notebook or spreadsheet. For each wrong or guessed question, write:
- Section and topic (for example, chemistry: acids and bases).
- Why you missed it: a knowledge gap, a misread question, a maths slip, or running out of time.
- The correct idea in one or two sentences, in your own words.
- A review date. Revisit it after a few days and again after a few weeks.
After each week, count the reasons. If most errors are misreads, you need slower reading, not more content. If they are knowledge gaps, go back to the foundations.
Only 3 months? A compressed plan
If you start in late June 2027 (again, based on the late-September assumption), you cannot copy the full plan. Be selective.
| Weeks | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1-4 | Quick content pass, biology and chemistry first. Take a short diagnostic test in week 1 to find weak areas. Start the error log immediately. |
| 5-8 | Mixed section practice every day. Use the error log to pick topics. Begin one timed section a week. |
| 9-12 | Timed full papers with negative marking, error-log review, and the exam-day routine. |
Three months is tight, and we cannot promise a result. If you are unsure which plan fits your situation, you can talk to our consultancy team, or look at the structured IMAT course.
Why a serious plan matters
Scores in 2026 were higher than in 2025. One aggregator analysed 18,368 IMAT 2026 results and, going by third-party figures, first-round EU cut-offs were roughly 9-11 points higher at most universities. For example, Milan (Statale) was 74.9 in 2026 against 65.8 in 2025. The cause is not established, and these are provisional, aggregator figures that vary by source and round, so verify on Universitaly. We use them only to show that a vague plan is risky.
Key takeaways
- Plan in four stages: foundations, section practice, timed papers, revision.
- The 2027 date is not announced. Late September 2027 is only a planning assumption.
- If you read this in November 2026, use the extra time for foundations.
- Negative marking matters: blind guessing is slightly negative, but removing one option makes a guess worthwhile.
- Keep an error log and review it weekly.
- With only 3 months, prioritise biology and chemistry, and move to timed papers earlier.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I study for the IMAT?
We suggest about six months as a comfortable plan, with a compressed three-month version if you start later. The right amount depends on your starting level and how many hours you can study each week.
When is the IMAT in 2027?
The official date and registration window had not been announced as of 2 November 2026. In 2026 the test was on 29 September. Always confirm the date on Universitaly and the Ministry website.
Should I guess on the IMAT?
A blind guess among five options has a 20% chance of being right, and the break-even point is about 21%, so it is slightly negative. If you can eliminate at least one option, the chance rises to 25% and a guess is worth taking.
Which subjects should I study first?
Start with biology and chemistry, since they carry the most weight, then physics, maths, logic and reading. The exact section split changes by year, so check the official annex of the current decree.
Can I start with past papers right away?
It is better to build foundations first, then practise by section, and only then sit full timed papers. Early full papers mostly show gaps you already know about.
Want help building your plan?
Book a free consultation and we will help you choose between the 6-month and 3-month routes. You can also try the free IMAT simulator to see where you stand today.
Sources & official links
- Universitaly – registration and official notices
- Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
- Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing
- AlphaMedSchool articles hub
