The CISIA TOLC Online Test: general information

The CISIA Online Test (TOLC) is required to apply to many restricted-access degree programmes and is also used by some open-access degree programmes to assess basic knowledge in order to assign Additional Learning Requirements if need be.

TOLCs and instructions given on this page do not apply to single-cycle degree programmes in Medicine and Surgery, Primary Teacher Education, Architecture, nor to first-cycle and second-cycle programmes for health professions. These are restricted access degree programme at national level and are governed by a specific call for applications.

What is the TOLC?

The CISIA Online Test (TOLC) is an orientation tool used to assess your initial abilities. 

This individual test, different for each participant, comprises questions that are selected automatically, at random, from the CISIA TOLC database by software developed and administered by CISIA - Consorzio Interuniversitario Sistemi Integrati per l'Accesso (Consortium of Inter-University Integrated Access Systems).

For the degree programmes of the University of Bologna can be requested one of the following TOLC that differ in terms of the number, nature and time available:

  • TOLC-I: 50 questions (20 on mathematics,10 on logic, 10 on science, 10 on verbal comprehension) with a duration of 1 hour 50 minutes; 
  • TOLC-E: 36 questions (13 on logic, 10 on the comprehension of text, 13 on mathematics) with a duration of 1 hour 30 minutes; 
  • TOLC-F: 50 questions (15 on biology, 15 on chemistry, 7 on mathematics, 7 on physics, 6 on logic) with a duration of 1 hour 12 minutes;
  • TOLC-SU: 50 questions (30 on reading comprehension and knowledge of Italian, 10 on knowledge acquired through secondary education, and 10 on logical reasoning) with a duration of 1 hour 40 minutes;
  • TOLC-MED: 50 questions (7 on reading comprehension and knowledge acquired through secondary education, 15 on biology, 15 on chemistry and physics, 13 on mathematics and reasoning) with a duration of 1 hour 30 minutes;
  • TOLC-VET: 50 questions  (7 on reading comprehension and knowledge acquired through secondary education, 12 on biology, 18 on chemistry and physics, 13 on mathematics and reasoning) with a duration of 1 hour 30 minutes;
  • TOLC-LP: 30 questions (10 on logic, 10 on reading comprehension, 10 on mathematics) with a duration of 1 hour 30 minutes.

Each test (except TOLC-MED and TOLC-VET) is followed by additional section on English, comprising 30 questions (duration: 15 minutes). See the call for applications for your chosen degree programme for information about the importance of the English section.

A TOLC-I, TOLC-E and TOLC-F in English (English TOLC) may be required for access to some degree programmes. Consult the call for applications of the degree programme you are interested in to check the type of TOLC required.

Register to sit the TOLC

You must register for the TOLC on-line via the CISIA website and pay a fee of €30.

To take the TOLC test you need to register in advance for the date selected on the basis of the deadlines set by CISIA.

For the 2023/24 selections, TOLCs are valid if sat on or after 1 January 2022. All TOLC tests, whether taken in person or remotely, are valid for admission to degree programmes. TOLC-MED and TOLC-VET can only be taken in person.

TOLC tests can be taken at any university, even a different one from the one you want to enrol at. 

The University of Bologna organises TOLCs between February and July 2023 and only in person. To find other ways to take the TOLC, please visit the CISIA website.

The locations of the University of Bologna where the tests will be held are Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna e Rimini.

Check on the CISIA website:

  • dates and venues where can already register,
  • deadline by which you must register,
  • available places.

What to do after sitting the TOLC

You can find information about how to participate in the selections and enrol on the website of your chosen degree programme. Remember to read carefully the call for applications, or the information provided about your chosen degree programme, and check the deadlines for registering for selections and for enrolment.

Please note that only the score from the last TOLC taken by the deadline set in the call will be considered valid. Some degree programmes make exceptions to this rule. Always check the call for applications.

The calls for applications for restricted access degree programmes specify the minimum score required in order to register for selection, and that below which you can still enrol, if allocated a place, but with Additional Learning Requirements.

The selection procedures do not foresee further tests or exams and the ranked list of successful candidates is based on the TOLC scores, as weighted in accordance with the criteria specified in the call for applications.

As for open-access degree programmes, after taking the TOLC you can enrol in the degree programme of your choice. If your TOLC score is lower than the minimum requirement you will be assigned Additional Learning Requirements.

Information for students with special needs or learning disabilities

If you are a student with special needs or learning disabilities, and want to request adaptations to be made for the TOLC test, you must select this option when registering to the TOLC section of the CISIA website.