IMAT Scores and Rankings: Marks, Penalties and Admission Lists
How IMAT correct, wrong and blank answers contribute to a raw score, and why an admission rank is different from a score or percentile.
Ayşe Erdem · Senior IMAT Biology Instructor / TestPrep QBank Author · since 2016
Reviewed by: Tolga Akman · Senior IMAT Mathematics Instructor · since 2017
In this article (10 sections)
An IMAT raw score and a place in an admission ranking answer different questions. The score records the marked performance; admission depends on the applicable ranking rules, available places and applicant category. Use the official call for your year and the university’s instructions rather than treating a previous year’s cutoff as a guaranteed offer.
Correct, incorrect and unanswered questions
The University of Pavia describes 60 multiple-choice questions with five options each and one correct answer. Under the published marking scheme, a correct answer earns 1.5 points, a wrong answer subtracts 0.4 and an unanswered question earns zero. The maximum raw score is therefore 90.
For c correct and w wrong answers, the mark is 1.5c − 0.4w. The unanswered count must complete the total number of questions. For example, 40 correct, 10 wrong and 10 blank gives 60 − 4 = 56. Reporting 60 would ignore the penalty.
A raw score is not a percentile
A score of 56/90 is about 62.2% of the maximum possible mark. It is not automatically the 62nd percentile and does not state what percentage of candidates scored lower. A percentile requires the score distribution of the relevant population. A ranking is an ordering of candidates under the published rules.
For your IMAT prep
What changes an admission comparison?
- Entry year: applicant performance and available places can change.
- Applicant category: the applicable EU/equivalent or non-EU route and quota must be identified.
- University and preferences: follow the rules of the relevant ranking and choice system.
- Ties and subsequent rounds: use the criteria and deadlines in the official call.
A single “score-to-university conversion table” cannot guarantee admission across those conditions. Label historical figures with their year, category and stage of the allocation process.
Guessing under a penalty
The expected mark for answering with probability p of being correct is 1.9p − 0.4. It becomes positive when p exceeds 0.4/1.9, approximately 21.1%. A blind guess among five equally likely options has a small negative expectation; reliable elimination improves the odds. This calculation supports decision-making but does not predict the outcome of one answer.
Before using a score estimate
Check that your practice test uses the correct marking scheme and entry-year syllabus. Record correct, incorrect and blank counts separately. Then consult the official admissions information for the intended university and category. Avoid invented percentile conversions or assurances that a practice score guarantees a place.
Frequently asked questions
How many options does an IMAT question have?
The published format has five options with one correct answer.
Does a wrong answer have the same mark as a blank?
No. Under the published scheme a wrong answer is −0.4; a blank is 0.
Does a percentage of the maximum equal a percentile?
No. A percentile depends on the distribution of other candidates’ scores.