For months they took the first course, attending classrooms and meeting with teachers. But now only a portion of them are able to continue on the path that will lead them to a medical degree. The selection of future doctors is underway: after the start of the open semester in September, today the candidates have to take the first exams that will be held simultaneously throughout Italy. Of the 53 thousand who registered for the appeal, 87 percent of students chose to take part in the open semester of medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. There are 19,707 places available, an increase compared to the previous year. Therefore, more or less, at least one student for every three candidates will enter. However, 13 percent of the more than 62,000 people who registered in September did not register for the appeal this morning: either because they did not achieve at least 51 percent attendance on the course, or because they planned to take part in the next appeal, on December 10.
The proof
Today’s exam is actually not an entrance exam but a real exam involving three subjects: chemistry, physics and biology. Of the three subjects, physics is the most feared: if there are 53,504 people registering for biology and 53,433 people who will also take chemistry, then for physics the number of people registering stops at 53,003.
Regarding the distribution between regions, the numbers are quite homogeneous among the 44 state universities involved, but there are some regional differences. Participation was particularly high at Genoa, where 100 percent of those starting the filter semester registered. Registration for appeals is also high in other cities in the north-central region such as Udine, Brescia, Florence, Padua (above 90 percent). However, participation was lower in Rome (Sapienza and Tor Vergata did not exceed 80 percent) and in Naples.
For each test, students have 45 minutes to answer 31 questions (15 multiple choice questions and 16 advanced questions), with a break between subjects of 15 minutes. To pass the exam, each student must pass all three tests with a minimum score of 18 out of 30. The results will be published on December 3 on the Universitaly portal. And if the score obtained is not satisfactory to the student, it is possible to re-register for the second session (but only by giving up the score obtained previously, without being able to return again if the second score is lower). After the second appeal, the national merit rankings will be published on January 12, 2026. At that time, registration will open to access the second semester and, therefore, the medical degree program.
Simulation
What is certain is that students have been training in recent months: since July, the “Faculty” platform has recorded 1.6 million online training sessions and 400 thousand on-demand exercises. And the percentage of students achieving passing scores quadrupled in biology and tripled in physics. “It means only one thing: the pathway is successful – comments Minister of Universities and Research Anna Maria Bernini – It is successful because you end up studying inside the University, no longer at the door”. And once again, wishing the candidates all the best: «Now the protagonist is you. This is the first step towards a profession that requires courage, learning, mind and heart. And you’ve shown that you have it.”
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