IMAT exam-day guide
IMAT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid passport or national ID card
Bring the original document whose details match your registration exactly. Photocopies and expired documents are normally refused. Confirm with the provider which document types are accepted for your test centre.
Admission ticket / registration confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your candidate number, test centre and session time. If you have not received it, contact the provider immediately rather than assuming you can enter with ID alone.
Black ballpoint pens (at least two)
The answer sheet is normally completed in black ink. Bring a spare; pencil is usually only for rough work on the question booklet.
Pencil and eraser for rough work
You will calculate by hand. A pencil and eraser let you annotate the question booklet without wasting time; do not use pencil on the answer sheet unless the invigilator says so.
Analogue watch (no smart features)
A simple wristwatch helps you pace the sections. Smartwatches and any device with connectivity are normally prohibited. Confirm with the provider whether a watch is allowed at your centre.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Hydration matters over a long paper. Many centres require a transparent bottle with no label. Confirm the centre's policy on drinks.
No electronics in the exam room
Leave phones, earphones and smart devices switched off and stored as instructed. A phone sounding during the test can lead to disqualification.
Know your test centre route and arrival time
Check the address and transport the day before. Arrive with margin; late candidates may be refused entry once the paper has started. Confirm the reporting time with the provider.
Review the official instructions for the current session
Section structure, timing and calculator policy can change between sessions. Read the current official candidate instructions rather than relying on older material.
Confirm calculator policy with the provider
Do not assume a calculator is allowed or banned. Check the current official rules for your session and plan your arithmetic practice accordingly.
Confirm break and toilet arrangements with the provider
Break policy varies by centre and session. Check in advance so you can plan fluid intake and timing.
Plan a light meal and sleep before the test
A long multiple-choice paper rewards sustained attention. Avoid heavy meals and last-minute cramming the night before.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Re-read your summary sheets for Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, and do one timed mixed set under exam conditions. Log every error by topic and decide which two or three weak areas get the remaining review time.
Check logistics: confirm the test centre address, reporting time and transport. Prepare the ID and admission documents in one place. Confirm with the provider any rule you are unsure about, such as calculator use or permitted items.
Do a focused review of high-yield recall: biological molecules, cell structure, genetics, human physiology, chemical bonding and stoichiometry, mechanics and electricity, and core algebra and geometry. Use spaced self-testing rather than re-reading.
Light review only. Re-read your error log and formula sheet. Do not attempt a full mock. Prepare clothes, ID, pens, pencil, eraser, watch and water bottle. Set two alarms and sleep at a normal hour.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive early. Avoid discussing content with other candidates, which raises anxiety. Use the waiting time for calm breathing, not for cramming new facts.
Read the instructions on the cover, check the number of questions and sections, and confirm how to mark and change answers. Fill in your candidate details exactly as instructed before starting.
Divide the available time by the number of questions to get an average per question. Answer in passes: first the questions you can solve quickly, then the ones needing calculation, then the rest. Never leave a blank if there is no penalty for wrong answers; confirm the scoring rule with the provider.
If a question stalls you, mark it and move on. Eliminate clearly wrong options first, then choose between the remainder. For numerical items, estimate the order of magnitude before computing.
Transfer or verify all answers on the answer sheet, check that the question number sequence matches, and erase stray marks. Use remaining time to revisit flagged questions, not to start long calculations.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID document used at registration; entry can be refused if details do not match. Confirm accepted document types with the provider.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times. Talking, passing materials or looking at another candidate's paper is treated as misconduct.
Keep phones and all electronic devices switched off and stored away. A device that sounds or is used during the test can lead to removal and cancellation of your result.
Do not bring unauthorised notes, books or written material into the exam room. Rough work goes only on the paper provided.
Mark answers on the answer sheet in the required format. Answers written only in the question booklet are normally not scored.
Scoring is typically one mark per correct answer with no penalty for wrong answers, so attempt every question - but confirm the current rule with the provider before relying on it.
Stay for the full session unless the provider's rules allow early departure. Leaving early may forfeit your chance to check answers.
If you believe there is a problem with a question or a disturbance, report it to the invigilator during or immediately after the test rather than after leaving the centre.