In breve: Physics and mathematics are one section of 13 questions, worth up to 19.5 points. The decree does not split them into two: the programme lists a maths block (algebra, functions, geometry, probability) and a physics block (from measurement to electromagnetism), and the paper draws 13 questions across both.
Below is that programme, translated and grouped. For the exam as a whole see the IMAT 2026 guide.
1. What the section is worth
| Section | Questions | Maximum points |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 23 | 34.5 |
| Chemistry | 15 | 22.5 |
| Physics and Mathematics | 13 | 19.5 |
| Logical reasoning and problems | 5 | 7.5 |
| Reading skills and acquired knowledge | 4 | 6 |
Thirteen questions across two subjects is the worst ratio of syllabus to marks on the paper — which is exactly why it should not be studied first, and exactly why it should not be abandoned either. The strategy that works is coverage of the recurring blocks, not depth.
2. Number sets and algebra
Natural, integer, rational and real numbers; ordering and comparison; order of magnitude and scientific notation; operations and their properties; proportions and percentages; powers with integer and rational exponents and their properties; radicals; logarithms (base 10 and base e) and their properties; elements of combinatorics; algebraic expressions and polynomials; notable products, the n-th power of a binomial, factorisation; algebraic fractions; first- and second-degree equations and inequalities; systems of equations.
Percentages and orders of magnitude look trivial on a syllabus and are not trivial under time: with no calculator, an estimate that lands within one power of ten is often enough to eliminate three options.
3. Functions
Fundamentals of functions and their graphical representation — domain, codomain, sign, continuity, maxima and minima, increase and decrease. Elementary functions: integer and fractional algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric. Composite and inverse functions. Trigonometric equations and inequalities.
Note what is absent: no derivatives, no integrals, no limits as a formal topic. Questions ask you to read a graph or to reason about behaviour, not to differentiate.
4. Geometry and analytic geometry
Polygons and their properties; circle and circumference; measures of length, area and volume; isometries, similarities and equivalences in the plane; loci; angle measure in degrees and radians; sine, cosine and tangent and their notable values; trigonometric formulas; solving triangles. Then the Cartesian plane: distance between two points, midpoint, the equation of a line, parallelism and perpendicularity, distance from a point to a line, the equations of circle, parabola, hyperbola and ellipse. Pythagoras' theorem and Euclid's first and second theorems.
5. Probability and statistics
Frequency distributions by type of variable and their main graphical representations; the notion of random experiment and event; probability and frequency. The annex does not say how many questions this draws — in past papers it has typically been one or two — but they tend to be among the fastest to answer once the topic is familiar.
6. Physical quantities and measurement
Fundamental and derived physical quantities; systems of units (International and Technical); multiples and submultiples; scientific notation; the main conversions between units of different systems; scalar and vector quantities; vectors and operations on vectors.
7. Kinematics, dynamics, energy
Kinematics
Description of motion; velocity and angular velocity; acceleration and centripetal acceleration; uniform rectilinear motion, uniformly accelerated motion, uniform circular motion, harmonic motion.
Dynamics
Force as interaction between bodies; forces as applied vectors; the principle of inertia; mass and the second principle of dynamics; examples of forces — weight, elastic force, static and dynamic friction; action and reaction; impulse and momentum, and the conservation of momentum; torque and angular momentum; work and kinetic energy; conservative forces and potential energy; conservation of mechanical energy; power.
8. Fluid mechanics
Density and compressibility of fluids; gases and liquids. Hydrostatics: pressure and the principles of Pascal, Stevin and Archimedes. Fluid dynamics: one-dimensional motion, flow and flow rate, the continuity equation; ideal fluids and Bernoulli's equation; viscous forces in real fluids.
9. Thermodynamics
Equilibrium, the concept of temperature, thermometers; heat and calorimetry; modes of heat propagation; heat capacity and specific heat; changes of state and latent heats; the perfect gas laws; the first and second principles of thermodynamics.
10. Electricity and electromagnetism
Electric charges; forces between charges and Coulomb's law; electric field and potential, equipotential surfaces; dielectric constant, capacitance, capacitors; electrostatic energy; capacitors in series and parallel; generators; voltage; electric current; resistivity, resistance, resistors; Ohm's law; resistors in series and parallel; Kirchhoff's laws; work, power, the Joule effect; direct and alternating current; period and frequency; the magnetic field of an electric current; forces on currents in a magnetic field; electromagnetic induction.
It is the longest block in the physics programme and the one most often reached last. Series and parallel — for both resistors and capacitors — is the single most examinable idea in it.
11. What to study first
Our order, not the decree's:
- Units, scientific notation, dimensional analysis. An hour that pays across the whole section.
- Kinematics and dynamics. The physics block that returns every year.
- Work, energy, conservation. Few formulas, many questions.
- Algebra, percentages, powers and logs. Fast, mechanical, no-calculator friendly.
- Electricity: series and parallel, Ohm's law.
- Fluids and thermodynamics. Well-bounded, quick to revise.
- Analytic geometry, trigonometry, probability. Recognition, not derivation.
12. FAQ
How many physics and maths questions are on the IMAT?
13 together. The decree defines one area — 'physics and mathematics' — not two separate sections, so the split between the two subjects is not fixed in advance.
Is it 7 physics and 6 maths?
That is a common way to describe it, including in our own simulation, but it is a modelling convenience and not what the decree says. The decree sets 13 questions for the combined area.
What maths level is required?
Upper-secondary school: number sets and algebra, functions, geometry and analytic geometry, trigonometry, and elements of probability and statistics. No calculus is listed.
Is calculus on the IMAT syllabus?
No. Derivatives and integrals do not appear in the programme. Functions are examined through their properties and graphs — domain, sign, maxima and minima, growth — not through differentiation.
What physics topics come up most?
Kinematics, dynamics and energy carry the block, with fluid mechanics and thermodynamics close behind. Electricity and electromagnetism close the programme and are the part most often left unfinished.
Can I use a calculator?
No. The arithmetic is designed to be done by hand, which is why powers of ten and scientific notation are on the programme in their own right.
Fonte: MUR — Annex A to the ministerial decree setting the admission-test programmes (D.M. n. 1005 of 6 August 2026 for the IMAT); topic list quoted from the archived annex. Ultima verifica: .