Selection process

The Bocconi test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, divided in 4 subject areas:

• Logic: 15 questions;
• Mathematics: 15 questions;
• Reading comprehension: 13 questions;
• Numerical reasoning: 7 questions. 

Logic: Logical questions are designed to assess one’s ability to reason and analyze information in a rational way, knowing how to discriminate between relevant and irrelevant information for a proper resolution of the question. These questions are not based on specific concepts learned during the course of study, but they test transversal skills of logical reasoning. For example, given the truth of a starting proposition, you may be asked to evaluate the truth of propositions derived from them through the use of logical connectives (operators that transform one or more propositions into other propositions, whose truth value depends on the truth value of the starting proposition). Examples of logical connectives are "not" (negation), "and" (conjunction) or "or" (disjunction). You may also be required to apply set-theoretical logic or probabilistic reasoning.

Mathematics : The specific questions in mathematics deal with the subjects covered during the high school, or are considered solvable through reasoning. From year to year, questions are developed from one or more of the following topics, as an example:

• Understanding information given in elementary statistical terms;
• Solution of simple concrete problems that require equations of 1st or 2nd degree or simple exponential equations;
• Simple linear equations;
• Simple enumeration of problems solution;
• Elementary numerical calculations, numerical sensitivity;
• Simple inequalities solution;
• Elementary problems of probability; 
• Simple problems of geometry (lines and parabolas);
• Elementary logic problems (true / false), the Euler-Venn diagrams;
• Interpretation of passages describing complex situations.

Reading Comprehension: the Bocconi test will feature a series of questions designed to test your understanding of passages and ability to process the information contained therein. Be sure to read the passage carefully. Questions will immediately follow the passage. In order to answer them correctly, you will need to have absorbed the meaning of the text and the information contained therein: some of these questions are designed to assess your understanding of the information that has been clearly presented, while others will relate to the implicit meaning of parts of the passage or the passage as a whole.

Numerical reasoning: No advanced knowledge of mathematics is required because each time the task will be to solve the problem primarily through reasoning and by paying attention to the data you have been given. Whenever you are required to perform sums, these will generally be simple. More often than not, the biggest challenge lies in being able to read a chart or table correctly, understand it and differentiate between information that is critical and information that is superfluous to solving the problem.

For more information we suggest you to refer to the test samples available in the Download area.

The online Bocconi test lasts 75 minutes.

The questions are distributed within the test in a mixed way both by difficulty level and by topic.

It is important to try to address all the questions, as probably there will be no time to review the skipped ones.The solution of some problems may require less than a minute, while other problems may require longer to be solved. Each student independently chooses which answers to give and if / how many questions to deal with considering that the objective of all the participants is to correctly answer the most questions and get to face the whole test until the last question. It is therefore necessary to know how to move from one topic to another with speed, without wasting time.

The test results are calculated according to the following rules: 1 point is awarded for each correct answer; any missing answer to individual problems or questions will not be penalized; each wrong answer will be penalized by 0.2 point.

Applicants who receive a total score (penalties included) lower than 17 will not be considered in the selection process.

There are no official Bocconi test preparation textbooks. In order to practice for the test, we suggest you to carefully read the information available on the subject areas and refer to the test samples (.PDF) that you find in the Download area.