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IMAT TEST
Medical program Entrance Exam
What is the IMAT test ??
The International Medical Admissions Test is one of the aptitude tests used for the admissions process for some Italian university courses. If you’re planning to apply for medicine, surgery or dentistry courses in Italy
Preparing for the IMAT is a big undertaking, but it’s also an exciting opportunity. By earning a high score on the exam, you’ll be one step closer to realizing your dream of studying medicine in Italy in English
The score you earn on the IMAT is the sole basis for admission to Italian public medical schools. That means that the pressure is on you to perform well on the exam. But don’t let that discourage you! With the proper preparation, you can earn a competitive score and achieve your goal of studying medicine in Italy in English.
Remember, studying for the IMAT is a challenging but rewarding journey. By putting in the effort now, you’ll set yourself up for success in your future medical career.
So, let’s dive into the details of the IMAT. The exam comprises four sections: logical reasoning and general knowledge, biology, chemistry, and physics and math. Each section is composed of multiple-choice questions, and the exam lasts for 100 minutes, or 130 minutes if you are eligible to get a time extension.
For more information, please refer to the detailed explanation below.
IMAT Exam Structure
The IMAT consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answers. The exam lasts 100 minutes and does not allow any aids, such as calculators or dictionaries..
IMAT Exam Format
The IMAT is divided into five sections: General Knowledge, Logical Reasoning, Biology, Chemistry, and Math/Physics. The exam format may change yearly, so be sure to check the official website for the latest information.
General Knowledge: 12 Questions: The general knowledge section is quite broad, so we do not recommend trying to study for it.
Logical Reasoning: 10 Questions: There are many resources available to help you prepare for the critical thinking questions on the IMAT exam.
Biology:15 Questions: The biology section of the IMAT is similar to the IB, SAT, and BMAT.
Chemistry:15 Questions: The chemistry section focuses mainly on simple inorganic chemistry and less on organic chemistry. It is also similar to the IB, SAT, and BMAT.
Math/Physics: 10 Questions : (combined)The math and physics sections are becoming more challenging with each passing year.
THE SCORE
The IMAT is scored based on the following system:
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Correct answer: +1.5 points
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Incorrect answer: -0.4 points
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Unanswered question: 0 points
The maximum score on the exam is 90 points
Section 1: General Knowledge
The general knowledge section of the IMAT covers a broad range of topics, including history, geography, politics, economics, literature, and philosophy. While we don’t recommend that you stress over this section, it’s still essential to have a basic understanding of these topics, as they may appear in the exam.
The logical reasoning section of the IMAT is a critical component of the exam and consists of two main types of questions: critical thinking and problem-solving. These questions require you to think logically and analytically, which is an essential skill for success in medicine. Therefore, we highly recommend that you practice these types of questions as much as possible.
It’s important to remember that the IMAT is not just a test of knowledge but also a test of your ability to think critically and solve problems. By practicing logical reasoning and problem-solving skills, you’ll improve your chances of success on the exam and develop valuable skills that will serve you well throughout your medical career.
So, don’t stress too much over the general knowledge section, but do make sure that you have a basic understanding of the topics covered. And most importantly, focus on practicing logical reasoning and problem-solving skills, following the guidelines and strategies we provide on our website
Section 2: Logic Section Topics
The IMAT's general knowledge section encompasses a wide array of subjects such as history, geography, politics, economics, literature, and philosophy. While we advise against excessive worry about this section, possessing a fundamental grasp of these subjects remains crucial as they might feature in the exam.
The logic section within the IMAT constitutes a pivotal aspect, comprising two main question types: critical thinking and problem-solving. These queries necessitate logical and analytical thinking, pivotal skills for success in the field of medicine. Hence, we strongly advocate for ample practice of these question types.
It's imperative to understand that the IMAT evaluates not just knowledge but also your ability to critically think and solve problems. By honing logical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, you increase your prospects of excelling in the exam while developing invaluable skills applicable throughout your medical journey.
So, while minimal stress is recommended for the general knowledge segment, ensure a foundational understanding of the covered topics. Most importantly, dedicate efforts to practicing logical reasoning and problem-solving, adhering to the strategies outlined on our website.
IMAT Critical Thinking Topic Overview
Critical thinking represents a vital skill essential for IMAT success, involving the scrutiny and assessment of arguments and evidence. Not confined solely to the logic section, nearly every IMAT question necessitates a degree of critical thinking and problem-solving.
Seven question types exist in the IMAT that assess critical thinking skills:
1. Summarizing the main conclusion: Identifying the primary idea or conclusion in a passage or argument.
2. Drawing a conclusion: Deriving a logical inference from presented information.
3. Identifying an assumption: Recognizing underlying assumptions within a passage or argument.
4. Assessing the impact of additional evidence: Evaluating how new evidence affects the conclusion.
5. Detecting reasoning errors: Recognizing and rectifying flawed reasoning.
6. Identifying parallel reasoning: Recognizing similar patterns of reasoning in various passages.
7. Applying principles: Employing general principles to analyze specific cases or examples.
These question types are fundamental in law school, philosophy, and linguistics, serving as the foundational tools for comprehending and approaching texts. Moreover, they are integral skills in medical studies and practice. By nurturing your ability to discern arguments, conclusions, and fallacies, you enhance your capacity to analyze medical research and make informed decisions as a medical professional.
What About Problem Solving?
The problem-solving segment in the IMAT primarily evaluates numerical and spatial skills akin to an IQ test. Proficiency in mathematical concepts and spatial recognition is crucial for this section. To prepare effectively, extensive practice and strategy development before the exam are imperative.
IQ question banks available online serve as an excellent resource for practicing problem-solving, focusing particularly on spatial recognition of 3D shapes, rooms, and visual concepts recurrent in the exam. Mastering these question types enhances your preparedness for spatial reasoning queries in the IMAT.
Note that each problem-solving question in the IMAT typically takes 3-4 minutes to solve, significantly longer than other sections. Hence, attempting to solve every problem-solving question is unnecessary. Prioritize gaining maximum points from simpler questions and topics instead.
Section 3: Biology
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The chemistry of living organisms.
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The biological importance of weak interactions. • Organic molecules present in organisms and their respective functions. The role of enzymes.
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The cell as the basis of life. Cell theory. Cellular dimensions. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, animal and plant cells. Viruses.
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The cell membrane: structure and functions; transport through the membrane. Cellular structures and their specific functions.
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Cell cycle and cell reproduction: mitosis and meiosis - chromosomal complement and chromosomal maps.
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Reproduction and heredity. Life cycles. Sexual and asexual reproduction.
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Mendelian genetics: Mendel's laws and their applications. Classical genetics: chromosomal theory of inheritance - inheritance patterns. Molecular genetics: structure and duplication of DNA, the genetic code, protein synthesis. Prokaryotic DNA. Eukaryotic chromosome structure. Genes and the regulation of gene expression. Human genetics: transmission of mono- and polygenic traits; autosomal and X-linked hereditary diseases.
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Mutations. Natural and artificial selection. Evolutionary theories. Genetic basis of evolution. Heredity and environment.
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Biotechnology: recombinant DNA technology and its applications. • Anatomy and Physiology of animals and humans. Animal tissues. Anatomy and physiology of human systems and organs and their interactions. Homeostasis.
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Bioenergetics. Cellular energy currency: ATP. Redox reactions in living organisms. Energy processes: photosynthesis, glycolysis, aerobic respiration, and fermentation.
Section 4: Chemistry:
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Constitution of matter: states of matter; heterogeneous and homogeneous systems; compounds and elements.
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Laws of perfect gases.
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Atomic structure: elementary particles; atomic number and mass number, isotopes, electronic structure of atoms of various elements.
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Periodic table of elements: groups and periods; transition elements. Periodic properties of elements: atomic radius, ionization potential, electron affinity, metallic character. Relationships between electronic structure, position in the periodic table, and properties of elements.
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Chemical bonding: ionic, covalent, and metallic bonding. Bond energy. Bond polarity. Electronegativity. Intermolecular bonds.
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Fundamentals of inorganic chemistry: nomenclature and main properties of inorganic compounds: oxides, hydroxides, acids, salts.
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Chemical reactions and stoichiometry: atomic and molecular mass, Avogadro's number, concept of mole and its application, elementary stoichiometric calculations, balancing simple reactions, different types of chemical reactions.
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Solutions: solvent properties of water, solubility, main ways of expressing solution concentration.
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Equilibria in aqueous solution.
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Basics of chemical kinetics and catalysis.
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Oxidation and reduction: oxidation number, concept of oxidizing and reducing agents. Balancing simple reactions.
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Acids and bases: acid and base concepts. Acidity, neutrality, and basicity of aqueous solutions. pH. Hydrolysis. Buffer solutions.
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Fundamentals of organic chemistry: carbon atom bonding, empirical and structural formulas, concept of isomerism. Aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Functional groups: alcohols, ethers, amines, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides. Basics of nomenclature.
Section 5: Mathematics
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Numeric Sets and Algebra: Natural, integer, rational, and real numbers. Ordering and comparison; magnitude and scientific notation. Operations and their properties. Proportions and percentages. Powers with integer and rational exponents and their properties. Radicals and their properties. Logarithms (base 10 and base e) and their properties. Introduction to combinatorial calculation. Algebraic expressions, polynomials. Notable products, nth power of a binomial, polynomial factorization. Algebraic fractions. Algebraic equations and inequalities of the first and second degree. Systems of equations.
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Functions: Fundamental concepts about functions and their graphical representations (domain, codomain, sign study, continuity, maximum and minimum, increasing and decreasing, etc.). Elementary functions: whole and fractional algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric. Composite functions and inverse functions. Trigonometric equations and inequalities.
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Geometry: Polygons and their properties. Circumference and circle. Measures of lengths, surfaces, and volumes. Isometries, similarities, and equivalences in the plane. Geometric locations. Measurement of angles in degrees and radians. Sine, cosine, tangent of an angle, and their notable values. Trigonometric formulas. Resolution of triangles. Cartesian reference system in the plane. Distance between two points and the midpoint of a segment. Equation of a line. Conditions of parallelism and perpendicularity. Distance of a point from a line. Equation of the circle, parabola, hyperbola, ellipse, and their representation in the Cartesian plane. Pythagorean theorem. Euclid's theorems (first and second).
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Probability and Statistics: Frequency distributions according to the type of data and main graphical representations. The notion of random experiment and event. Probability and frequency.
Section 6: Physics
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Physical quantities and their measurement: Fundamental and derived physical quantities. Systems of measurement units: International and Technical. Multiples and submultiples. Scientific notation. Main conversions between units of measurement from different systems. Scalar and vector quantities. Vectors and operations on vectors.
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Kinematics: Description of motion. Speed and angular velocity, acceleration and centripetal acceleration. Uniform rectilinear motion, uniformly accelerated motion, uniform circular motion, harmonic motion.
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Dynamics: Concept of force as interaction between bodies. Forces as applied vectors. The principle of inertia. Mass and the 2nd law of dynamics. Examples of forces: weight force, elastic force, static and dynamic friction. Action and reaction: the 3rd law of dynamics. Impulse and momentum. Principle of conservation of momentum. Moment of a force and angular momentum. Work and kinetic energy. Conservative forces and potential energy. Principle of conservation of mechanical energy. Power.
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Fluid mechanics: Density and compressibility of fluids. Gases and liquids. Hydrostatics: pressure and Pascal's, Stevin's, and Archimedes' principles. Dynamics of liquids: one-dimensional motion, flow and flow rate, equation of continuity. Ideal fluids and Bernoulli's equation. Viscous forces in real fluids.
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Thermodynamics: Equilibrium, concept of temperature, thermometers. Concept of heat and calorimetry. Modes of heat propagation. Thermal capacity and specific heat. Changes of state and latent heats. Laws of perfect gases. First and second laws of thermodynamics.
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Electricity and electromagnetism: Electric charges. Forces between charges and Coulomb's law. Electric field and potential, equipotential surfaces. Dielectric constant, capacitance, capacitors. Electrostatic energy. Series and parallel of capacitors. Generators. Electric voltage. Electric current. Resistivity, resistance, resistors. Ohm's law. Series and parallel of resistors. Kirchhoff's principles. Work, Power, Joule effect. Direct and alternating current. Period and frequency. Magnetic field of an electric current. Forces on electric currents in a magnetic field. Electromagnetic induction.
Previous exam questions with their answers from the past 10 years.
Country | City |
|---|---|
China | Pechino |
Cyprus | Nicosia |
France | Parigi |
Germany | Francoforte |
Greece | Atene |
Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
India | New Delhi |
Italy | Pavia |
Pakistan | Lahore |
Poland | Varsavia |
South Africa | Johannesburg |
Spain | Madrid |
Switzerland | Zurigo |
UK | Londra |
USA | New York |
Canada | Toronto |
Brazil | Sao Paolo City |
Azerbaijan | Baku |
Canada | Toronto |
Azerbaijan | Baku |
Turkey | Ankara |
Turkey | Instanbul |
UAE | Dubai |
Saudi Arabia | Jeddah |