How to Prepare for the English-Language Health Professions Test 2025

Preparing for the English-language Health Professions admission test 2025 can feel overwhelming at first, especially if it’s your first university entrance exam. It’s normal to wonder where to start, how much time you’ll need, which subjects to study, and how to plan your weeks effectively to be ready for the big day.

In this guide, we’ll go through everything step by step — from how to begin even if you’re starting from scratch, to how to plan your preparation month by month, which materials and manuals are most useful, how to train by subject, how to manage your time during the test, and which mistakes to avoid.

All official information comes from the Ministerial Decree 2025, published by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research, which defines the structure, scoring, and syllabus of the examination.

Where to Begin if You’re Starting from Scratch

The first step is to understand how the test actually works. The English-language Health Professions admission test 2025 is a national exam that will take place on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, at 11:00 a.m. The test lasts 100 minutes and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, identical for all courses held within the same university.

The questions are divided as follows:

• 4 on reading comprehension and general knowledge
• 5 on logical reasoning and problem solving
• 23 on biology
• 15 on chemistry
• 13 on physics and mathematics

Each correct answer is worth 1.5 points, each wrong answer –0.4 points, and unanswered questions 0 points.

If you’re starting from zero, focus first on the basics of science subjects, while gradually training with short exercises in English to familiarise yourself with technical language. Don’t rush into advanced manuals: what matters most is building a solid foundation in biology and chemistry, as these carry the greatest weight in the final score.

Weekly Planning (1–3–6 Months) and Milestones

When there are six months to go before the exam, the goal is to create a consistent study routine. During this stage, alternate theory and short practice sessions, dedicating each week to a specific topic — for example, one week on cell biology, the next on organic chemistry.

With three months left, your preparation should become more targeted: start taking full mock exams under timed conditions and carefully analyse your mistakes. Keeping a study log to track your scores and progress week by week helps you visualise improvement.

In the last two months, focus on fine-tuning: speed, concentration, and time management. Remember, the average pace should be one minute and forty seconds per question.

Manuals, Exercises, and Mock Tests: What to Choose and When

Your main point of reference is always the official ministerial syllabus, attached to the 2025 decree. Everything listed there can appear in the test, so your materials must strictly follow that structure. Avoid general or outdated sources.

If you’re taking the test in English, supplement your study with short scientific texts or summaries written in English. This will help you get used to the vocabulary and phrasing used in the questions.

Once you’ve covered the basics, full mock tests become essential. They not only assess your knowledge but also train your timing and stress management.

Inside TestBuddy, you can take simulations that exactly mirror the official test — same number of questions, time limits, and penalties. After each session, the platform shows detailed feedback by topic and creates a personalised recovery plan, adapting to your performance.

Subject-by-Subject Training: Focusing on Weak Points

To truly improve, you need to address your weak areas. Each section of the exam evaluates different skills:

Reading Comprehension and General Knowledge
You’ll need to read English texts, often scientific or academic, and understand their logic, tone, and meaning. Regularly read short science articles in English to strengthen both vocabulary and reading speed.

Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving
This part assesses your ability to think critically and identify patterns. Progress comes with consistent practice — learning to recognise common question types and avoid unnecessary calculations.

Biology
This is the largest section. It covers cells, tissues, genetics, anatomy, physiology, biotechnology, and bioenergetics. Start from these fundamentals, then expand to evolution and human systems.

Chemistry
Covers the structure of matter, bonding, reactions, equilibria, redox processes, and basic organic chemistry. Use diagrams and problem-solving exercises to make abstract concepts concrete.

Physics and Mathematics
Includes physical quantities, motion, energy, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, functions, equations, and geometry. The key is practising calculations until they become intuitive.

With TestBuddy, you can focus on specific subjects or subtopics and access detailed performance statistics that highlight exactly where you’re improving and where further review is needed.

Speed and Time Management Techniques

Time management can make or break your result. The best strategy is to go through the paper in two rounds: answer the questions you’re sure of first, then return to the more complex ones.

Guessing blindly is risky because of the –0.4 penalty, so it’s better to skip a question you’re uncertain about. To increase speed, practise under exam conditions at least twice a week, following the same timing and format as the real test.

Using TestBuddy’s timer-based mock exams helps you train for the real pace of the official test and manage your time without panic.

Common Preparation Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

A frequent mistake is focusing only on favourite subjects and neglecting others. Balance is key — even solid logic or chemistry can make a decisive difference.

Another mistake is not practising under timed conditions. Solving questions without the pressure of a clock doesn’t prepare you for the real experience.

Some students also overlook deadlines and university procedures. Registration is online and usually closes at the end of August, so it’s vital to check your university’s website for official dates.

The most common mistake, however, is failing to review your errors. TestBuddy prevents this by automatically identifying the topics where you lose the most points and generating targeted quizzes to reinforce those areas.

Using TestBuddy: Mock Exams, Error Analysis, and Adaptive Plans

Your entire preparation can revolve around TestBuddy, the intelligent study companion that adjusts to your performance. After each mock test, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of your answers and an analysis of your weak areas by subject.

Based on this data, TestBuddy builds a custom adaptive study plan, suggesting daily exercises and targeted reviews. You can also track your progress through interactive statistics that show how your scores evolve over time.

This data-driven approach transforms your preparation into a clear, motivating process — removing stress and uncertainty and showing you exactly how you’re improving.

The Final Week and the Day Before the Test

In the final week, focus on quality over quantity. Review your most frequent mistakes, redo full mock exams, and revise key formulas and definitions.

Two or three days before the test, take one last simulation at the same time of day as the real exam to align your concentration levels. The day before, avoid cramming: instead, get organised. Prepare your ID card, payment receipt, and confirmation email, and double-check your exam venue and start time.

Even during this final stretch, TestBuddy can help with short review sessions and personalised recap cards based on your previous performance.

Official Syllabus Overview

The 2025 English-language Health Professions test follows the official national syllabus, which includes:

• Reading comprehension and general knowledge: interpreting passages, vocabulary, cultural and civic awareness.
• Logical reasoning and problem solving: analogies, deductions, proportional reasoning, symbolic problems.
• Biology: chemistry of living matter, cell structure, genetics, anatomy, physiology, evolution, biotechnology.
• Chemistry: atomic structure, bonding, reactions, equilibria, acids and bases, organic chemistry basics.
• Mathematics and physics: numbers, equations, functions, geometry, probability, physical quantities, mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism.

Every topic in the syllabus can appear in the test, so your study plan should progressively cover all of them.

All details come from the official 2025 Ministerial Decree published by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research, which defines the structure, schedule, and syllabus of the test, as well as from the university calls for applications that specify registration deadlines and procedures.