TOLC-E preparation, for state-university Economics or Bocconi.
If you want to study economics, almost every Italian state university asks for the TOLC-E. The three big private universities have tests of their own: Bocconi has its own online test (or SAT/ACT), Cattolica has the TIEC (the TOLC-E is not needed there), and LUISS has the Test Luiss. I will help you work out, honestly, which one is worth preparing for (often a state university and a private one together) and we build the plan around logic, reading comprehension and maths.
State or private? First, which test?
The students I work with
- Students choosing between the TOLC-E and the Bocconi test who do not know where to start: in the first lesson we make an honest assessment of which test rewards your profile more.
- Students who want to sit both tests to improve their chances of admission, with a common base of maths and logic in the first months and a gradual switch to SAT-style questions.
- Students who are strong at maths and underestimate logic, thinking it is "easy": it is the section where most time is lost through slowness, not difficulty.
How it works
- First lesson: a diagnostic practice test on the test you care about most, to see where to start.
- A weekly plan that alternates theory review on weak areas (trigonometry, probability, syllogisms) with sets of real CISIA questions.
- If you are also preparing for Bocconi, a gradual switch to SAT-style questions in English from the third month.
- A full timed practice test every 2-3 weeks, to measure your score in real conditions.
- Last 3-4 weeks: almost only full practice tests and error analysis, to stabilise your score.
The 3 main areas of the TOLC-E.
The TOLC-E is a standard CISIA test, entirely in Italian and with no calculator: it rewards solid foundations and good time management, not complicated tricks. Logic carries significant weight and is the section most underestimated by people who are already strong at maths.
- Logic
- Number sequences and series
- Syllogisms and deductions
- Fast numerical reasoning (not just correct)
- Reading comprehension
- Analytical reading of passages
- Inferences, theses and antitheses
- Skim and scan strategies for long passages
- Basic maths
- Algebra and elementary functions
- First- and second-degree equations and inequalities
- Minimal trigonometry
- Basic probability and combinatorics
The number of questions, timing and sections can change from one year to the next: always check the official syllabus for the current year and your university's call for applications before setting up the plan. The full comparison with the Bocconi test is in the TOLC-E vs Bocconi guide.
TOLC-E: frequently asked questions.
Is it better to prepare for the TOLC-E or the Bocconi test?
It depends on what you already have, not on which is "harder". Students who are strong at maths but weak at English usually do better at the TOLC-E: maths weighs more overall and English is not part of it. Students who are strong at critical reading often feel more at home with the Bocconi test, where comprehension, numerical reasoning and critical thinking together are worth more than half of the score (and anyone with IB or A-levels can use the SAT/ACT as an alternative). We talk about it in the first diagnostic lesson.
How long does TOLC-E preparation take?
Starting from a standard high school base, 2-3 months with 1-2 lessons a week is enough to consolidate maths and logic and to do around ten timed practice tests. If you come from a technical or vocational school, without trigonometry or probability in your syllabus, you usually need 4-5 months.
Can I prepare for the TOLC-E and the Bocconi test at the same time?
Yes, it is a common strategy: the basics of maths and logic overlap a lot. A sensible path works on the common base for the first two months, then gradually introduces the formats specific to the Bocconi test (3-option critical thinking, reading tables and graphs) from the third month, alternating practice tests for the two exams in the last months before the sittings.
Is the TOLC-E valid for Bocconi, Cattolica or LUISS?
No. Each of the three big private universities has its own test: Bocconi uses its own online test (it also accepts the SAT or ACT as an alternative), Cattolica uses the TIEC (the TOLC-E is neither required nor accepted), and LUISS uses the Test Luiss (or SAT/ACT/IB for direct admission). The TOLC-E is for state universities: the University of Milan (Statale), Bicocca, Bologna, Padua and most public economics faculties.
Can you use a calculator in the TOLC-E?
No. The TOLC-E is entirely in Italian, timed and calculator-free: it rewards solid foundations and good time management, not people who can do complicated calculations. That is one of the reasons we work a lot on mental arithmetic and algebraic shortcuts.
What is the most common mistake among students who are already good at maths?
Underestimating logic, thinking it is "easy" because there is nothing to study. In reality number sequences and syllogisms are designed to be quick rather than hard: if you do not train specifically on those question types you waste precious time that you would need elsewhere. The other typical mistake is working out the first maths questions on paper, when they are simple and can be done in your head.
Ready to prepare?
We start with a free diagnostic practice test. We find out where you are, and whether it makes sense to prepare for Bocconi in parallel, then we build the plan.