CEnT-S practice test, the new CISIA test taken entirely in English.
Test in EnglishThe questions, answers and solutions of this simulator are in English, as in the real exam.
Same structure, same separately timed sections and same scoring as the real CISIA CEnT-S — the test that replaces the English versions of TOLC-I, TOLC-E and TOLC-F from 2025-26 for courses taught entirely in English. Questions, options and marking are in English, as in the real test. The correct answer to every question and your weak topics arrive by email for free; with an account you see them straight away here, together with the score, which is already on the page for everyone. The guided step-by-step solution unlocks with your first lesson.
For international applicants: this free practice test mirrors the official CEnT-S structure — Reading and Comprehension, Mathematics, Reasoning on Texts and Data, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, each separately timed — used for admission to English-taught degree programmes in Italy. Results and full solutions are emailed to you.
| Section | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Comprehension | 10 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 15 | 30 |
| Reasoning on Texts and Data | 15 | 30 |
| Biology | 10 | 20 |
| Chemistry | 10 | 20 |
| Physics | 5 | 10 |
65 questions in total · 140 minutes across six separately timed sections · 5 options per question. Scoring: +1 correct · −0.25 wrong · 0 blank. Original questions at the level and in the style of the CISIA test (high-school syllabus, no calculator), checked one by one, all in English. Each section draws from a much larger pool than a single test needs, so two consecutive practice tests will not look alike.
Two worked examples from the test
Coastal regions usually show smaller day-night temperature variations than inland regions. Which property of water, arising from hydrogen bonding between its molecules, best explains this?
Solution
- Many hydrogen bonds between water molecules must be stretched or broken before the molecules move faster.
- So water absorbs or releases a lot of heat for a small change in temperature.
- Large bodies of water therefore buffer the temperature of nearby land.
A small metal object has a mass of 60 g. It is fully submerged in a graduated cylinder containing water, and the water level rises from 40 mL to 52 mL. What is the density of the metal, in kg/m³?
Solution
- The volume of the object is the rise of the water level: mL cm³.
- Density g/cm³.
- Since g/cm³ kg/m³, the density is kg/m³.
- Dividing the mass by 52 mL (the final reading) is a classic mistake: the object's volume is the difference between the two readings.
In the online practice test you will find 63 more questions like these; the correct answer to every question arrives by email.
Frequently asked questions.
What is the CEnT-S?
It is the new CISIA test taken entirely in English (CISIA English Test — Science), introduced in the 2025-26 cycle in place of the English versions of TOLC-I, TOLC-E and TOLC-F: it is used for admission to degree programmes taught entirely in English in engineering, economics, pharmacy and other scientific fields.
What is the real structure of the test?
65 questions in 140 minutes, in six separately timed sections: Reading and Comprehension (10 questions, 30 minutes, English texts at B2 level), Mathematics (15 questions, 30 minutes), Reasoning on Texts and Data (15, 30 minutes), Biology (10, 20 minutes), Chemistry (10, 20 minutes), Physics (5, 10 minutes). Before the 2025-26 cycle there was no reading section (55 questions, 110 minutes): the structure above is the current one on the CISIA site. Every question has 5 options, only one correct; scoring is +1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for a wrong one and 0 for a blank — the CISIA standard. Source: cisiaonline.it.
Do I have to answer in English?
The real test is entirely in English — texts, questions, options — and this practice test reproduces exactly the same style. It is not a language test in itself: it assesses knowledge of maths, reasoning and science, but you have to read and think about them in English against the clock.
When is the CEnT-S held?
CISIA publishes the calendar of sittings for each cycle on cisiaonline.it: we do not announce dates here because they may change. Always check the official calendar before registering for a sitting.
What do I see at the end of the practice test?
The correct answer to every question and your weak topics arrive by email for free; with an account you see them straight away here, together with the score, which is already on the page for everyone. The guided step-by-step solution unlocks with your first lesson.
Want to prepare for real, in English?
The practice test shows you where you lose points; in lessons we work exactly there, on questions in English, with a timed practice test every 3–4 lessons. Start with the free diagnostic call to see how many lessons you need and what to focus on.