TMS 2026: Structure, Scoring and What the New TMSnat Changes From 2027

What the TMS is and why it matters

The Test for Medical Studies, commonly known as the "Medizinertest," doesn't test subject knowledge - it tests aptitude for studying: spatial reasoning, concentration, memory, reading comprehension and handling scientific relationships. That's exactly what makes it so effective: unlike your school-leaving grade, it can be improved significantly through targeted training.

In Germany's place-allocation process, the TMS counts in two of the three admission quotas. In the Additional Aptitude Quota, where the school-leaving grade explicitly plays no role, it's often the deciding factor. In universities' own selection procedures, it's weighted heavily at many faculties and can noticeably offset a weaker grade.

The structure

The test takes a full day and consists of several task groups. The best-known include:

• Pattern Matching and Tube Figures: spatial reasoning under time pressure
• Basic Medical and Scientific Understanding: word problems with a scientific context
• Quantitative and Formal Problems: calculations drawn from everyday medical scenarios
• Diligence and Concentration: an endurance test lasting many minutes
• Memory for Figures and Memory for Facts: memory tested through a learning phase and a recall phase
• Reading Comprehension and Charts and Tables: extracting information from technical texts and data

Scoring

Wrong or skipped answers aren't scored negatively - they simply earn no points. So guessing doesn't hurt you. Your raw score is converted into a standard score on a scale from 70 to 130. The mean is 100, with a standard deviation of 10. Scores from around 110 upward are considered above average, and top scores reach around 130. The results report also shows a percentile rank.

This standardisation keeps results comparable across different test sittings, regardless of how difficult any single sitting was.

Dates, cost and retaking the test

Registration details and deadlines change from year to year, so if you'd like help planning around them, feel free to book a free consultation with us.

{{cta}}

Important for 2026: the TMS is being phased out

The autumn sitting on 7 and 8 November 2026 is the last round of the classic TMS. From 2027 it will be replaced by the TMSnat, a nationally standardised test that combines the TMS's cognitive task groups with the scientific content previously tested in the HAM-Nat. The first sitting is planned for 8 and 9 May 2027.

For applicants, that means: if you can still sit the test in 2026, you'll be taking a test whose format and prep material are well known. If you're only starting out in 2027, get familiar early with the scientific task groups, since the share of subject content is increasing. Any TMS result you've already achieved remains valid.

How to prepare effectively

• Start early. Three to six months of regular practice gets you further than four weeks of cramming.
• Practise under time pressure. Most points are lost not through lack of knowledge, but through pace.
• Run full simulations. Getting through an entire test day is a feat of concentration in itself, and it needs training too.
• Prioritise your weakest task groups. The standard score comes from your overall result, and the biggest gains come from wherever you're currently weakest.

We're happy to talk through how the test fits into your personal timeline - book a free consultation with us.

And what if it still isn't enough?

A good score significantly improves your chances, but it doesn't guarantee a place, because the number of study places remains limited. That's why it's worth exploring the route via a university in the EU alongside it. There, admission is usually decided by the university's own entrance exam, and the degree is recognised in Germany, Austria and Switzerland under Directive 2005/36/EC. We'll help you work out which locations fit your profile in a free initial consultation.