FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

For all undergraduate programs at the School of Engineering, University of Florence with open access, there is no selection test, only an entrance knowledge assessment test, also known as the TEST OFA (Test for Additional Learning Requirements), which must be taken by all students to be allowed to take exams. Even though enrollment in an open-access course is possible without taking the TEST OFA, no exams can be taken until the test has been passed.

For the professionalizing degree in Techniques and Technologies for Construction and Territory, the TEST OFA is also used for entrance selection, as this is a locally limited-access course. For information on TOLC-LP dates, selection procedures, and assignment of Additional Learning Requirements, please refer to the official selection announcement published on the University website.

The TEST OFA for open-access programs is the TOLC-I (Online Cisia Test for Engineering), administered by the CISIA Consortium. It is valid even if taken at any participating site other than Florence. For the professionalizing degree in Techniques and Technologies for Construction and Territory, the TEST OFA is the TOLC-LP and is valid at any participating site.

Instructions for participating in the TEST OFA are indicated in the Call for Applications for the entrance knowledge assessment test.

No specific courses are required to prepare for the TEST OFA. The test topics are published on the CISIA website and cover content studied during the last two years of secondary school.

To support access from all types of secondary schools, the University of Florence has created free study compendiums to strengthen important disciplinary areas. Currently available online are:

• Logic Compendium by Riccardo Bruni
• Mathematics Compendium by Daniele Buratta
• Physics Compendium by Manuela Lima
• Biology Compendium by Filippo Frizzi
• Chemistry Compendium by Riccardo Peruzzini

Other free resources include:

• MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), free and open to everyone, including those offered by CISIA;
• exercise and self-assessment volumes, available for free in the exercise and placement area of www.cisiaonline.it;
• Mentor guides for Science, Mathematics, and Logic.

The score thresholds to fulfill OFA are published annually in the Call for Applications (BANDO).

For open-access programs, the minimum TOLC-I scores required are:

• 16/50 total (excluding English), with at least 6/20 in Mathematics for TOLC-I taken until 05/07/2023;
• 12/50 total (excluding English), with at least 8/20 in Mathematics for TOLC-I taken from 06/07/2023 to 31/03/2024;
• 16/50 total (excluding English), with at least 8/20 in Mathematics for TOLC-I taken from 01/04/2024 onwards.

For the professionalizing degree in Techniques and Technologies for Construction and Territory, the minimum TOLC-LP score is 4/10 in the Mathematics section.

Valid TOLC scores include those taken in the two years preceding and the year of enrollment.

In this case, you will be assigned Additional Learning Requirements (OFA), which entail:

• You cannot take exams in Scientific Disciplinary Sectors (SSD) MATH-02/B, MATH-03/A, MATH-05/A, PHYS-01/A, PHYS-03/A, PHYS-04/A (formerly MAT/03, MAT/05, MAT/08, FIS/01, FIS/03), such as Mathematics Analysis, Geometry, and Physics;
• Follow the OFA Recovery Pathway or take another TOLC to achieve a sufficient score (maximum one per type of TOLC per month, regardless of location).

IMPORTANT: If you have never taken a TOLC, you must take at least one TOLC at any CISIA site before accessing the recovery pathway.

Scores from recovery tests are valid only at the Florence site.

To fulfill OFA requirements, the TOLC can be taken starting from the fourth year of secondary school. Florence considers TOLC taken up to two years before enrollment as valid. It is also possible to take the TOLC after enrollment. However, it is strongly recommended to take it by August 31 of the enrollment year.

You can take the TOLC at any CISIA site with available seats, even outside Florence. The TOLC result is valid at all participating sites. After enrollment at a course of the School of Engineering, the TOLC result will automatically be added to your academic record.

Follow CISIA instructions to register for the TOLC.

Note: Candidates cannot choose the session; it is assigned automatically based on priority. Registration closes at 2 PM six days before the test.

The TOLC result is automatically recorded by November 30 for students who enrolled before the ordinary deadline (usually first week of November). For TOLC taken later, results are recorded within 30 days.

Students will see two exams in their online record:

• OFAB###SOS – indicates that at least one valid TEST OFA has been taken;
• OFAB###SUP – indicates that the OFA has been fulfilled.

B### is the code of the enrolled course of study. Both exams must show SUP to confirm OFA fulfillment. Otherwise, OFA are considered incomplete.

Every year, the University of Florence issues the Call for Applications for the entrance knowledge test. It contains information on test features, thresholds, registration, scoring, OFA assignment, and exemptions. This is the official reference document.

Withdrawal resets the academic record, including any OFA fulfilled. Re-enrolling requires treating OFA as unfulfilled and following the Call for Applications rules.

Until you take at least one TEST OFA, you can enroll in any program but will be assigned all OFA and cannot take ANY exams.

Florence does not consider the English section for OFA score purposes. However, it is recommended to complete it for assessing English proficiency, useful for courses requiring English exams.

The table below indicates recommended English course levels based on the score: