The procedure and contents of the admission test for Laurea and single-cycle Laurea Magistrale programmes for the specific discipline of architect are governed by Italian Ministerial Decree No. 627 of 24 April 2024 and its annexes.
TEST-ARCHED:
- is done remotely according the procedures shown on the CISIA website;
- consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, each of which has only one correct answer;
- lasts 100 minutes.
Please refer to the instructions contained in the document ‘TEST@HOME room configuration, testing and network requirements’ and in the document ‘Technical specifications for students to register for and participate in the ARCHED test'.
In order to be accepted onto the programmes, a sufficient level of general cultural knowledge is required, particularly in relation to historical, social and institutional subject matters, in addition to the ability to work on various types of written texts (artistic, literary, historical, sociological, philosophical, etc.) and an aptitude for abstract logical reasoning, in both mathematical and linguistic contexts.
The test will cover the following topics:
10 questions in 20 minutes
the questions assess candidates’ ability to understand Italian-language texts of various kinds with different communicative purposes, including texts such as scientific essays, narratives by classic or contemporary authors or current affairs pieces published in newspapers or in generalist / specialist magazines.
10 questions in 20 minutes
the questions test candidates’ ability to solve a problem logically according to presuppositions. These will be shown in symbols or words and will focus on cases or problems, including abstract ones, which require different forms of logical reasoning to solve them.
10 questions in 20 minutes
the questions (or brief texts of various types and topics) test skills acquired in previous study and general knowledge of cultural topics or current affairs.
In particular, the questions test for:
- •the ability to recognise the place and time represented or to locate the time and place of significant historical-cultural events, including specific artistic and architectural events, works of architecture or artistic trends;
- knowledge of the main national and international institutions;
- understanding of phenomena in the fields of law, economics and citizenship.
For non-EU candidates residing abroad:
questions relating to international general cultural knowledge on topics encountered during previous studies or currently topical issues complete this area of assessment
10 questions in 20 minutes
The test assesses candidates’ ability to analyse graphs, drawings and renderings or terms relating to the object represented, as well as their grasp of the basic notions of representation (plans, elevations, axonometries).
10 questions in 20 minutes
The test assesses knowledge of:
- numerical sets and arithmetic (natural, relative, rational and real numbers; sorting and comparing numbers; order of magnitude; operations, exponents, radicals, logarithms), algebraic calculus, Euclidean geometry (polygons, circumference and circle, measurements of lengths, surfaces and volumes, isometry, similarities and equivalences, geometric loci), analytical geometry (fundamentals), probability and statistics (fundamentals), elements of trigonometry (fundamentals)
- basic knowledge of the principles of mechanics: definition of fundamental physical quantities (displacement, velocity, acceleration, mass, momentum, force, weight, work and power); law of inertia, Newton's law and principle of action and reaction), fundamentals of statics
- basic knowledge of the principles of thermodynamics (general concepts of temperature, heat, specific heat, expansion of bodies)
- basic knowledge of electrostatics and electrodynamics: Coulomb's law, electric field and potential, capacitors, series and parallel capacitors, direct current, electrical resistance, Ohm's law, series and parallel resistances
It is also possible to take the architecture test in English.
When registering, you will be able to choose whether to take the ARCHED test in Italian or in English.
The language of the test cannot be changed via the online services, so please take care when selecting your choice. If you want to change it after your registration has been confirmed, you will have to contact the Registrar’s Office.
Proof of English language proficiency
Politecnico di Milano requires that students are proficient in the English language.
After sitting the admission test provided by CISIA in italian language you will be asked to complete the TENG (Test of English) English language test.
The TENG consists of 30 multiple choice questions to be completed from your personal computer and will last 15 minutes.
If you take the ARCHED test in Italian you will have to take the TENG English test even if you already have external certificates attesting your knowledge of the English language.
The TENG English test is only used to assess your level of English for programmes delivered in Italian and it does not affect the calculation of scores for the purposes of rankings but it may result in an Additional Education Obligation (OFA).
If you answer fewer than 24 questions correctly, you will be assigned an Additional Educational Obligation (OFA) for English.
The TENG English test is only used to assess your level of English for programmes delivered in Italian and it does not affect the calculation of scores for the purposes of rankings but it may result in an Additional Education Obligation (OFA).
If you answer fewer than 24 questions correctly, you will be assigned an Additional Educational Obligation (OFA) for English.
To learn more about the limitations of an OFA for English and how to fulfil it, visit the OFA page.
If you take the ARCHED test in English, you will not need to take the TENG test and, once enrolled, you will automatically be assigned the English OFA.
Remember that if you enrol in a course taught in English you will need to demonstrate your knowledge of the language by presenting a higher level certificate as indicated on the dedicated page.
How to prepare
Arched test structure and topics (syllabus)
To learn about the subjects included in the ARCHED test that you need to revise, go to the CISIA page: Arched test structure and syllabus
MOOCs
We also advise you to join our MOOCs ( massive open online courses) free online courses open to all and free to attend..
Each module includes lectures, tutorials and self-assessment Test.
MOOCs are aimed at different kinds of users. Those for high school students are named for “ Bachelor of Science”. Most useful for Arched test preparation are:
- Introduction to university maths: Pre-Calculus
- Introduction to the History of Contemporary Architecture
You can find them on Moocs website using the Search function.
To follow courses is necessary to visit the POK website and enroll according to the calendar of each individual course.