Exams guide

The exams that open global doors

A plain-English guide to every entrance and language test you might need to study in Italy or Germany — what each exam is for, how it works, and which ones actually apply to you.

Find out which exams you need MBBS in Italy →

Exam formats, scores, acceptance and validity change over time and differ by university. Everything here is indicative — we confirm the exact current requirements for your target programs.

University admission tests (Italy)

Merit-based entry tests for Italian degree programs.

IMAT

International Medical Admissions Test

Admission to English-taught MBBS / Medicine & Surgery at Italian public universities.

English MCQ: reasoning, general knowledge, biology, chemistry, physics & maths
~60 questions in ~100 minutes
Held once a year (typically September) — format under reform, so confirm each cycle

TOLC

Test OnLine CISIA

Admission to Italian bachelor's programs — engineering (TOLC-I), science (TOLC-S), economics (TOLC-E) and more.

Online, computer-based — multiple attempts allowed per year
Maths, logic, sciences, verbal & English (varies by test type)
An English-language version (TOLC-I) is available

CEnT

CISIA English Test

Admission to English-taught bachelor's in engineering, economics, pharmacy and other scientific fields at many Italian universities.

Taken entirely in English, computer-based (CISIA)
CEnT-S: 55 questions in 110 min — maths, reasoning, biology, chemistry, physics
Scoring +1 correct · 0 blank · −0.25 wrong (normalised)

English language tests

Proof of English for English-taught programs and your student visa. Most universities accept one of these.

IELTS

International English Language Testing System

The most widely accepted English proficiency test.

Four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
Band score 0–9 — many programs ask for 6.0–6.5 overall
Take the Academic version · valid 2 years

TOEFL iBT

Test of English as a Foreign Language

Widely accepted English test, especially at research universities.

Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing
Score 0–120 — often 80–90+ required
Valid 2 years

PTE

Pearson Test of English (Academic)

Computer-based English test with fast results.

Score 10–90 · single-sitting, AI-scored
Accepted by a growing number of universities
Valid 2 years

DET

Duolingo English Test

Affordable, at-home English test with quick turnaround.

Online · score 10–160 · results in ~2 days
Increasingly accepted — check each university
Valid 2 years

Italian language tests

Only needed for Italian-taught programs. English-taught degrees do not require these.

CILS

Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera

Italian proficiency certificate from the University for Foreigners of Siena.

Levels A1 – C2
Italian-taught degrees usually require around B2

CELI

Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana

Italian proficiency certificate from the University for Foreigners of Perugia.

Levels A1 – C2
Accepted alongside CILS for Italian-medium programs

German language tests

Needed for German-taught programs. Many German master's are in English and don't require these.

TestDaF

Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache

Standardised German proficiency test for university admission.

Reported in levels TDN 3 – 5
German-taught programs typically want TDN 4 (≈ B2/C1)

Goethe

Goethe-Zertifikat

German certificate from the Goethe-Institut, recognised worldwide.

Levels A1 – C2
B2 / C1 is commonly required for German-medium degrees

DSH

Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang

University-run German exam taken for admission (often in Germany).

Graded DSH-1, DSH-2, DSH-3
Most programs require DSH-2

Graduate & aptitude tests

Sometimes required for master's, MBA or select international bachelor's programs.

GRE

Graduate Record Examinations

Requested by some master's/PhD programs, especially in STEM.

Verbal + Quantitative (130–170 each) & Analytical Writing (0–6)
Valid 5 years

GMAT

Graduate Management Admission Test

Standard entry test for MBA and management master's programs.

Score range 205–805 (Focus Edition)
Valid 5 years · up to 5 attempts per year

SAT

Scholastic Assessment Test

Accepted by some international bachelor's programs in Europe.

Digital · score 400–1600
Check acceptance with each university

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