What to Bring to the IMAT 2025: Rules and Tips

Today we’re going to look together at what to bring to the IMAT test, which documents are required, what items are allowed or forbidden, how to organize your backpack, when to arrive at the venue, and how to stay calm on the test day.

Knowing all of this in advance helps you avoid mistakes that could cost you your admission or valuable points.

Required Documents: ID, Receipts, and Declarations

The first thing exam staff will check when you arrive is your identity. You must bring a valid, original ID document, the same one you used to register on Universitaly.
For non-EU candidates, you’ll need your passport and, if required, a visa.

Alongside your ID, you must also have the registration receipt generated by the Universitaly portal and proof of payment of the IMAT participation fee. Some universities, like the University of Pavia, also ask you to bring the QR code linked to your application for check-in scanning (official IMAT 2025 candidate instructions – University of Pavia).

The data you entered during registration are treated as self-certifications under Article 46 of the Presidential Decree no. 445/2000, as stated in the Ministerial Decree no. 599 of August 7, 2025.
Providing false or incomplete information leads to sanctions and cancellation of the test.

If you have a disability or a specific learning disorder (DSA), you must request accommodations in advance, following Law 104/1992 and Law 170/2010. Each university provides its own application form during registration.

Allowed and Forbidden Items

Strict rules apply inside the examination room. It is forbidden to bring phones, smartwatches, earphones, tablets, computers, calculators, or any electronic device.
You also cannot bring your own pens, notes, or books. The test center will provide everything you need to write.

According to the official decree by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research, violating these rules results in test cancellation.

Some universities, such as Messina, allow only a clear plastic water bottle and paper tissues—no bags or backpacks are permitted in the room (official IMAT 2025 guidelines – University of Messina).

These rules ensure fairness for everyone: each candidate must take the test under the same conditions, with no tools or aids.

How to Organize Your Backpack

Prepare everything the night before. You don’t need much, but each item matters.
Pack in a transparent folder:

• Your original ID document and the Universitaly registration receipt
• Proof of payment for the IMAT fee
• The QR code or official invitation letter (if required by your university)
• Any medical certificates for authorized medications or accommodations

Leave everything else at home. Universities usually provide a storage area or cloakroom, but they are not responsible for lost items.

You may bring a clear plastic water bottle without a label. If you expect a long morning, a light snack before entering the building can help.

Each university publishes its own instructions a few days before the test — for example, Pavia and Messina both specify arrival times, allowed items, and entrance procedures in official documents available on their websites.

Arriving at the Test Venue

On test day, you should arrive early. Italian universities usually open the gates around 8:30 a.m., while the test officially starts at 11:00 a.m.

During this time, candidates go through identity checks and deposit personal belongings. Then they are guided to their assigned rooms, where staff verify IDs and distribute test materials.

At Pavia, for example, anyone arriving after the entrance deadline will not be admitted. Once identification begins, no one else can enter.

Before the test starts, the commission opens the sealed exam envelopes in front of randomly chosen student witnesses. Each candidate receives their answer sheet and personal data form, which must be completed carefully. You must apply the correct labels and never sign or mark the answer sheet, since it must remain anonymous.

All steps are described in detail in the Annex 1 of Ministerial Decree no. 599/2025.

Managing Time and Anxiety During the Test

The IMAT lasts 100 minutes and includes 60 questions: 4 reading comprehension, 5 logical reasoning and problem solving, 23 biology, 15 chemistry, and 13 physics and mathematics.
Each correct answer gives 1.5 points, each wrong answer subtracts 0.4 points, and unanswered questions score zero.

A good approach is to skim through the whole test, answer what you know for sure, and mark questions to revisit. Then focus on your stronger scientific areas, keeping 10 minutes at the end for review.

When stress rises, take slow, deep breaths and focus on one question at a time. Short mental breaks help your mind reset.

Training under real test conditions is the best way to manage timing and anxiety. On TestBuddy, you can simulate the IMAT with realistic timers, review your mistakes, and track your weak areas. This kind of preparation builds calm and confidence for the real exam.

Common Mistakes to Avoid on Test Day

Many students lose points not for lack of knowledge, but for small procedural mistakes.
One of the most serious is arriving late — once the gates close, you cannot enter, no matter the reason.

Bringing a phone, smartwatch, or personal pen results in immediate disqualification.

Another common mistake is filling out the answer sheet incorrectly. Never sign it, draw marks, or write anything except the official answers. You must stick identical labels on both the answer sheet and the personal data form — mixing them up can invalidate your test.

These same rules are clearly stated in the official decree of the Ministry of Universities and Research and in local documents such as the IMAT 2025 Candidate Guide – Messina University.

Knowing these procedures in advance allows you to enter the room calmly and focus entirely on the test.

Knowing the Rules Helps You Focus on the Exam

The IMAT 2025 keeps the traditional structure but also includes courses in Veterinary Medicine in English, all organized by CINECA for the Ministry of Universities and Research.
You can find all official references in the Ministerial Decree no. 599 of August 7, 2025, the Annex A with detailed programs, and the tables listing venues and available seats.

Understanding what to bring, what to avoid, and how to act during the test is part of real preparation. You need to train not only on content, but also on how to handle the exam day calmly and efficiently.

That’s why TestBuddy combines practice tests, adaptive study plans, score analysis, and personalized preparation — all designed to help students face the IMAT without anxiety and with full control.