The IMAT Test: how is the Logical Reasoning section structured?

The IMAT Test

In the IMAT test (International Medical Admissions Test) students are required to answer 60 multiple-choice questions with five response options in 100 minutes:

The detailed programme for the preparation of the test, information about test procedures and support for candidates with disabilities will be reported in the related Call for Applications for EU and NON-EU.

IMAT is developed by the Admissions Testing Service, part of Cambridge English Language Assessment, a not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge.

The test scores are assigned as follows:

• 1,5 points for each correct answer
• – 0,4 points for each incorrect answer
• 0 points for each non-given answer.

Highest achievable score: 90 points. Minimum score: 20 points.

In case of a draw, the points scored by the candidates respectively in the logic and problem solving subjects, general culture, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics respectively will prevail in descending order.

In case of further draw, the youngest student will prevail.

Logical Reasoning

In the Logical Reasoning section, there are 2 subsections: Verbal and Numerical. In the test there are 10 questions of Numerical Logical Reasoning, which include topics such as: tables, visualization, percentages, graphs, geometry, basic combinatorics, etc.

We asked our teacher Riccardo Sarti to give some advice to the students.

When preparing for this section, take all the time you need to find the right answer and to make sure you understand all the logical passages from the initial data to the solution. Try solving the same exercises many times, to verify that you really absorbed the various techniques needed to solve them. Then, after you have seen all possible kinds of questions in this section and solved them 3-4 times, start doing them or new ones within a measured time window (e.g. for 10 questions, calculate 16 minutes). To reach a good result in the real test, you should reach 8 correct answers out of 10, in this section, which correspond to 12 points.

On the day of the real test, avoid answering at random, maybe because of panic: if you think a question is too difficult, just move on and leave it unanswered. In a test, there are always easier questions and more difficult questions, and they give the same points. On the other hand, take some time to really understand what the text says and what it is asking for. Many mistakes come from a superficial or too fast reading. Be sure of your answers. Go random only if you have excluded 3 certainly incorrect options, and you have to choose between 2. Do not worry if you see many empty spaces in your answer sheet. It is better to get no points for an unanswered question, than to lose points for an incorrect answer. In total, aim to answer 44 questions, 33 of which you are sure of.