Exam Guide ·
By Yunus Emre · Rome Consultancy
The TOLC Exam: TOLC-I, TOLC-E and the Other TOLC Tests Explained
The TOLC is the online entrance test most Italian-taught bachelor's programmes in Italy use: TOLC-I for engineering, TOLC-E for economics, 10 types in all. You can take it from home, retake it every month, and it costs €35. Here is how it works, from official CISIA sources.
Short answer: the TOLC (Test Online CISIA) is the online entrance test Italian universities use for Italian-taught bachelor's programmes. There is a type for each field, such as TOLC-I for engineering and TOLC-E for economics. The test is in Italian and ends with an English section. If the university accepts it you can take it from home; you can retake the same type once a month; and in 2026 it costs €35. A TOLC result is valid at every university that asks for that type.
TOLC or CEnT-S?
English-taught programmes now use the CEnT-S, not the TOLC; the TOLC is for programmes taught in Italian. Architecture uses ARCHED, and English-taught medicine uses the IMAT.
TOLC types and what they are for
- TOLC-I: engineering. 50 questions in 110 minutes: mathematics (20), logic (10), sciences (10), verbal comprehension (10).
- TOLC-E: economics, statistics and social sciences. 36 questions in 90 minutes: logic (13), verbal comprehension (10), mathematics (13).
- TOLC-S: sciences. 55 questions in 120 minutes.
- TOLC-B: biology. 50 questions in 110 minutes.
- TOLC-F: pharmacy. 50 questions in 72 minutes.
- TOLC-PSI: psychology. 50 questions in 100 minutes.
- TOLC-AV: agriculture and veterinary sciences. 50 questions in 100 minutes.
- TOLC-SU: humanities. 50 questions in 100 minutes.
- TOLC-SPS: political and social sciences. 40 questions in 90 minutes.
- TOLC-LP: professionally oriented bachelor's programmes.
Every type ends with a separate English section of 30 questions in 15 minutes. The call for applications (bando) of your target programme tells you which TOLC to take.
Scoring: what score do you need?
- Correct answer: +1
- No answer: 0
- Wrong answer: -0.25
- Wrong answers in the English section cost nothing.
There is no national pass mark. Each university states the score it requires in its call. For programmes with limited places, the TOLC is used for ranking; for open-access programmes it is a placement check, and students with low scores get extra learning requirements (OFA).
Can you take the TOLC from abroad?
Yes. With TOLC@CASA you take the test from home, with a laptop and a phone or tablet with a camera, in a supervised Webex virtual classroom. Under CISIA's 2026 regulation you must take it from the country you declared when booking, and VPNs are forbidden. Check that your target programme accepts results taken from home. TOLC@UNI is taken in university computer labs in Italy.
Students in the last two years of secondary school and holders of a recognised diploma can take the TOLC.
Don't forget the language: the TOLC itself is in Italian, and applicants who need a visa usually must show B2 Italian for Italian-taught programmes. Plan your TOLC preparation together with learning Italian.
Dates, booking and fee
- When: from February to November, on dates opened by universities.
- Retakes: once a month for the same type.
- Fee: €35 in 2026, paid by credit card or MAV, non-refundable.
- Booking: in CISIA's student area: create an account, choose home or university, pick a date and pay. Bookings close about a week before the test, at 14:00.
- Results: shown on screen at the end; for tests taken from home, the official result appears in your area 48 hours later.
- Validity: wherever you take it, your result counts at every university that asks for the same TOLC.
CISIA announces changes to the test structure by 31 December each year. We will update this article if anything changes for 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TOLC in English?
No. The TOLC is in Italian; only the final language section is in English. English-taught programmes use the CEnT-S.
How many times can I take the TOLC?
Once a month for the same type. Which score counts (the best or the latest) is set by each university's call.
What is the difference between TOLC-I and TOLC-E?
TOLC-I is for engineering and focuses on mathematics and sciences. TOLC-E is for economics and covers logic, reading and mathematics.
Bottom line
The TOLC has a clear structure and plenty of chances to retake it. What matters is choosing the right type, fitting Italian lessons into your timeline and knowing the score your university asks for. We can plan which TOLC to take and when for your target programme. Fill in the free assessment form to get started.
Last checked: 3 November 2026. Compiled from CISIA's official pages and the 2026 TOLC Regulation.