Bocconi Test 2027: Dates, Format and How It Is Scored

The two rounds for 2027 entry

Bocconi runs the selection in sessions. You apply in one session, and you need a test score before you apply. For the 2027-28 academic year the official dates are:

• Early Session. Applications open on 2 September 2026 and close on 29 September 2026 at 3:00pm Italian time. The last day to sit the Bocconi online test for this round is 24 September 2026. Results come out in mid November 2026.
• Winter Session. Applications open on 25 November 2026 and close on 26 January 2027 at 3:00pm Italian time. The last day to sit the test is 21 January 2027. Results come out in mid March 2027.

The test booking platform is open from 13 July 2026 to 19 January 2027. You must book a test at least 48 hours before you want to sit it, and slots fill up in the last week before each deadline. Do not leave it to the final days.

Each test attempt costs €60. Each application costs €100. Neither is refunded.

Dates can change. Always check the official Bocconi admissions page before you book anything.

Which round should you go for?

If you are ready, the Early Session. Fewer people apply, and if it does not go well you still have the Winter Session as a second chance. Most students who prepare over the summer aim for September.

If you are reading this in September and you have not started preparing, do not rush into the Early Session. A weak score in September does not help you. Take the extra three months, sit the test in December or January, and apply in the Winter Session with a score you are happy with.

What is in the test

The Bocconi online test is 50 multiple choice questions in 75 minutes. That is 90 seconds per question. The questions are mixed by topic and difficulty, so you do not get all the maths together.

• Mathematics: 24 questions. Almost half the test.
• Reading comprehension: 11 questions.
• Critical thinking: 9 questions.
• Numerical reasoning: 6 questions.

You can take it in English or Italian. Nothing else changes between the two versions.

How it is scored

This is the part that decides how you should play the test.

• Correct answer: +1 point
• Blank answer: 0 points
• Wrong answer: −0.2 points (−0.33 on critical thinking questions with three options)

The maximum is 50. If your total score, after penalties, is below 17 you are not considered at all. For the Bachelor in Mathematical and Computing Sciences for AI you also need at least 11 points in the maths section.

A wrong answer costs you 0.2. That is small. If you can rule out even one of the four options, guessing has a positive expected value. If you have no idea and cannot rule anything out, leave it blank. This is the opposite of the SAT, where a blank and a wrong answer score the same. If you are sitting both tests in the same year, practise the two habits separately.

How many times can you sit it?

Up to four attempts per year. Bocconi uses your best score. So a first attempt early on is not a risk. It is information. Many students sit once in July or August to see where they stand, then prepare properly and sit again before the deadline.

What the maths section covers

The syllabus is Italian high school maths up to the fourth year, or the IB Maths SL level. The official list is:

• Algebra: equations, inequalities, systems, powers and roots
• Functions and their graphs
• Logarithms and exponentials
• Trigonometry
• Plane geometry and analytical geometry
• Sets, logic and discrete mathematics
• Numbers, percentages and proportions
• Probability and basic statistics
• Problem solving

None of it is hard on its own. The difficulty is speed. Ninety seconds is not enough time to work things out from scratch. You need the methods to be automatic. That only comes from doing a lot of timed questions.

We put together 50 Bocconi style maths questions with worked solutions. Sit them under time. If you score under 17 out of 24, the maths section needs work before you book a test.

Can you use the SAT instead?

Yes. Bocconi accepts the SAT and the ACT in place of its own test. If you already have a strong SAT score, you may not need the Bocconi test at all. If you are strong in maths but slow under pressure, the SAT gives you more time per question and no penalty for wrong answers, so it may suit you better. Sit both if you can and submit the stronger one.

A simple preparation plan

• Twelve weeks out. Sit one full practice test under time. Find your weak topics in the maths section. Do not skip this step.
• Weeks one to six. Fix the weak topics one at a time. Logarithms, trigonometry and probability are the usual ones.
• Weeks seven to ten. Timed sets every day. Twenty questions in 30 minutes. Track your score.
• Last two weeks. Full tests only. Practise the blank versus guess decision until it is automatic.
• Book your test at least a week before the deadline of your session. Not the day before.

If you want help with the maths section, one to one Bocconi test preparation starts with a diagnostic and a plan for the weeks you have left.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Bocconi test for 2027 entry?

There are two rounds. For the Early Session the last test date is 24 September 2026 and applications close on 29 September 2026. For the Winter Session the last test date is 21 January 2027 and applications close on 26 January 2027. Tests can be booked on the platform from 13 July 2026 to 19 January 2027.

How many questions are on the Bocconi test?

50 multiple choice questions in 75 minutes. 24 are mathematics, 11 reading comprehension, 9 critical thinking and 6 numerical reasoning.

Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the Bocconi test?

Yes. A wrong answer costs 0.2 points. A blank costs nothing. A correct answer is worth 1 point. On critical thinking questions with three options the penalty is 0.33.

What is the minimum score for the Bocconi test?

17 points out of 50, after penalties. Below that you are not considered. For the Mathematical and Computing Sciences for AI degree you also need at least 11 points in the maths section.

How many times can I take the Bocconi test?

Up to four times per year. Bocconi uses your best score. Each attempt costs €60.

Can I use the SAT instead of the Bocconi test?

Yes. Bocconi accepts SAT and ACT scores in place of its own test. You still need to submit an application in one of the sessions.

What maths is on the Bocconi test?

Algebra, functions, logarithms and exponentials, trigonometry, plane and analytical geometry, sets and logic, numbers and percentages, probability and basic statistics, and problem solving. It matches Italian high school maths up to the fourth year, or IB Maths SL.