IMAT practice test, entirely in English, with the real structure of the exam.
Same number of questions, same total time and same scoring as the real IMAT, the admission test for Medicine and Surgery taught in English. The test itself is entirely in English, like the real IMAT: questions, answer options and marking are all in English, so you practise reading and reasoning in English against the clock, not just the subject. At the end you get by email your score, the breakdown by area and topic, and the correct answer to every question — even the ones you skipped; with an account you see them straight away on this page. The step-by-step solution (in English) unlocks with your first lesson.
The IMAT is the admission test for the Medicine and Surgery degrees taught entirely in English in Italy.
Test in EnglishThe questions, answers and solutions of this simulator are in English, as in the real exam.
| Area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading skills & general knowledge | 4 |
| Logical reasoning | 5 |
| Biology | 23 |
| Chemistry | 15 |
| Physics & Mathematics | 13 |
60 questions in total · 100 minutes on a single clock (no separate sections, move freely between questions). Scoring: +1.5 correct · −0.4 wrong · 0 blank (max 90). Original IMAT-style questions, checked one by one, all in English.
Two worked examples from the test
Which organelle is responsible for producing most of a eukaryotic cell's ATP through aerobic respiration?
Solution
The mitochondrion carries out the Krebs cycle (in the matrix) and oxidative phosphorylation (across the inner membrane), which together generate the bulk of a cell's ATP from glucose breakdown products in the presence of oxygen.
The Golgi apparatus modifies, packages and sorts proteins and lipids but does not generate ATP in this way. The smooth ER synthesises lipids and detoxifies compounds. The lysosome degrades macromolecules and damaged organelles. The nucleus stores DNA and coordinates transcription, but does not produce ATP.
The correct answer is the mitochondrion.
Which electron configuration correctly represents a neutral oxygen atom (atomic number 8) in its ground state?
Solution
Oxygen has 8 electrons. Filling orbitals by increasing energy (Aufbau principle): 1s (2 electrons) -> 2s (2 electrons) -> 2p (remaining 4 electrons), giving 1s2 2s2 2p4 (2+2+4 = 8).
1s2 2s2 2p6 (10 electrons) describes neon, not oxygen. "2s4" is impossible, since an s subshell holds a maximum of 2 electrons. Skipping the 2s subshell (1s2 2p6) violates the Aufbau filling order. Adding a 3s2 subshell would require 10 electrons, too many for oxygen.
The correct answer is 1s2 2s2 2p4.
In the online practice test you will find 58 more questions like these; the correct answer to every question arrives by email.
Frequently asked questions.
Is the practice test in English like the real exam?
Yes, entirely: questions, answer options and solutions are all in English, exactly like the real IMAT. That is deliberate: practising reading and reasoning in English against the clock is part of the preparation, not a detail — students who study only in Italian and test themselves in English at the last minute turn up unprepared.
Does the structure match the real IMAT?
It follows the most recent public structure: 60 questions in 100 minutes on a single clock (you move freely between areas, as in the TOLC-MED) — 4 questions of reading skills & general knowledge, 5 of logical reasoning, 23 of biology, 15 of chemistry, 13 of physics & mathematics. Scoring is +1.5 for a correct answer, −0.4 for a wrong one and 0 for a blank (maximum score 90). The call for applications from the Italian university ministry (MUR) and Cambridge Assessment may revise numbers and criteria from year to year: always check the official call for the year you sit the test. The questions are original, written in the style and to the syllabus of the IMAT — they are not copied from the real test.
What score do I need to get in?
There is no fixed threshold: the ranking depends on the places available at each university and course, and it is international — the places reserved for students from outside the EU do not lower the bar for those competing for EU places. As a purely indicative reference, a score of 45+ out of a maximum of 90 has historically been a competitive position in recent rankings; this is not, however, a promise of admission.
Can I retake the practice test more than once?
Yes, as often as you like. The questions are drawn at random from a bank of verified questions for each area, so every attempt is a different test. If you close the page halfway through, the test resumes where you left off.
Do I see the correct answer or the full reasoning too?
Your score, the breakdown by area and topic and the correct answer to every question — even the ones you skipped — arrive by email; with an account you see them straight away on this page. The step-by-step solution (the full reasoning in English, question by question) unlocks with your first lesson: that is where we go through your mistakes together, not just the result.
IMAT or TOLC-MED: how do I choose?
It depends on the language of the course you are aiming for: the IMAT gives access to Medicine and Surgery courses taught entirely in English, the TOLC-MED to those taught in Italian. It is not “easier” in itself — competition is international and the cut-offs on the most sought-after courses are high anyway. For a deeper comparison, see the guide how to prepare for the IMAT or the IMAT preparation page.
Want to prepare for real, in English?
The practice test shows you where you lose points; in lessons we work exactly there, on questions in English, with a timed practice test every 3–4 lessons. Start with the free diagnostic call to see how many lessons you need and what to focus on.