CEnT-S Exam for Italy: Complete Guide for Indian Students 2026/27

CEnT-S Exam for Italy: Complete Guide for Indian Students 2026/27

If you are an Indian student planning to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Italy, particularly an English-taught programme in Engineering, Economics, Science, Biology or related fields, you may now come across a new entrance examination called CEnT-S.

Introduced by CISIA from November 2025, CEnT-S represents one of the most significant recent changes to undergraduate admissions in Italy.

But what exactly is CEnT-S? Who needs to take it? Has it replaced TOLC? Can Indian students take it from India? And what subjects should you prepare?

Here's a complete guide.

What Is CEnT-S?

CEnT-S stands for CISIA English Test – Sciences.

It is an English-language computer-based admission and assessment test administered by CISIA – Consorzio Interuniversitario Sistemi Integrati per l'Accesso, a consortium of Italian universities.

Italian universities can use CEnT-S to evaluate applicants to certain English-taught undergraduate programmes.

The important point is that CEnT-S is not compulsory for every Bachelor's programme or every university in Italy.

Whether you need it depends on the particular university, programme and admission call.

What Did CEnT-S Replace?

This is particularly important for students who have been researching Italian universities using older websites, videos or admission guides.

From November 2025, CEnT-S replaced three previous English-language CISIA tests:

• English TOLC-I
• English TOLC-E
• English TOLC-F

These tests had previously been used for English-taught programmes in areas such as Engineering, Economics and Pharmacy.

Instead of maintaining separate English TOLC examinations for these areas, CISIA introduced the unified CEnT-S.

However, this does not mean that all TOLC examinations have disappeared. Italian-language TOLC tests continue to be used by universities.

What Subjects Are Tested in CEnT-S?

The CEnT-S examination consists of 55 questions divided into five sections.

Section	Questions	Time
Mathematics	15	30 minutes
Reasoning on Texts and Data	15	30 minutes
Biology	10	20 minutes
Chemistry	10	20 minutes
Physics	5	10 minutes
Total	55 questions	110 minutes

Students therefore have 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete the entire examination.

1. Mathematics

Students can expect their mathematical knowledge and problem-solving ability to be assessed.

Preparation should include areas specified in the official CISIA syllabus, such as fundamental mathematical concepts, algebra, equations, functions and geometry.

2. Reasoning on Texts and Data

This section evaluates a student's ability to understand information, interpret data and apply logical and analytical reasoning.

It is particularly relevant because some university programmes may place greater importance on this section alongside Mathematics.

3. Biology

The examination includes 10 Biology questions assessing fundamental knowledge expected from upper-secondary education.

4. Chemistry

Another 10 questions cover fundamental Chemistry concepts.

5. Physics

The final section consists of 5 Physics questions.

An important point is that universities do not necessarily use every CEnT-S section equally.

For example, the University of Padua's Economics, Governance and Decision-Making admission procedure considers only the Mathematics and Reasoning on Texts and Data sections of CEnT-S.

Therefore, students must check how their chosen programme calculates its admission score.

How Is CEnT-S Scored?

For the initial test score:

Correct answer: +1 point

Unanswered question: 0 points

Incorrect answer: -0.25 points

This means students should be careful about random guessing because incorrect answers carry a penalty.

There is another important feature of CEnT-S: normalised scoring.

Different candidates may receive different combinations of questions. At the end of each macro-period, CISIA applies a statistical normalisation process intended to make scores from different test sessions comparable.

Therefore, students receive an initial result after completing the test, while the official normalised result becomes available after the relevant macro-period.

When Can You Take CEnT-S?

Unlike an entrance examination conducted on only one day each year, CEnT-S is organised across four macro-periods.

For the current cycle, these broadly cover:

First Macro-Period: November – January

Second Macro-Period: February – March

Third Macro-Period: April – June

Fourth Macro-Period: September – October

Candidates can generally take CEnT-S once during each macro-period.

This means that a student who needs to improve their result may potentially take CEnT-S again in a later macro-period, subject to the admission deadline of the chosen university.

However, students should not assume that every macro-period will be acceptable for their application.

For example, an Italian university may require international applicants to complete CEnT-S by March even though CISIA offers further examinations later in the year.

Your university's admission deadline is therefore more important than the final CEnT-S examination date available nationally.

Can Indian Students Take CEnT-S From India?

Potentially, yes.

CEnT-S has two delivery modes:

CEnT@UNI

The examination is taken in person at a participating university location.

CEnT@HOME / CEnT@CASA

The examination is taken remotely from home under CISIA's specified online examination conditions.

This is particularly useful for international applicants because certain universities permit students residing abroad to take CEnT-S remotely.

For example, current University of Padua documentation explicitly states that CEnT-S can be taken from abroad, either remotely through CEnT@CASA or at a participating university.

However, whether a remote CEnT-S is accepted depends on the admission rules of the university and programme.

For example, the University of Bologna's 2026/27 rules distinguish between applicants and programmes when determining whether @UNI or @HOME results are valid.

Therefore, an Indian student should check the specific admission call before booking the test.

Do I Need to Travel to Italy to Take CEnT-S?

Not necessarily.

If your university accepts CEnT@HOME/CEnT@CASA for your applicant category, you may be able to complete the examination remotely from India.

If your programme specifically requires CEnT@UNI, you would need to attend an approved physical test location.

Do not assume that an online CEnT-S will automatically be accepted by every university.

How Much Does CEnT-S Cost?

The current CEnT-S registration fee is €55.

Registration and booking are handled through the official CISIA system.

Students should remember that the CEnT-S fee is separate from any university application fee.

Which Universities Require CEnT-S?

There is no single national list saying that every programme at a particular university requires CEnT-S.

The requirement is generally determined at the programme level.

For example, for 2026/27, the University of Padua lists CEnT-S for English-taught Bachelor's programmes including:

• Animal Care
• Biology of Human and Environmental Health
• Economics, Governance and Decision-Making
• Information Engineering
• Earth and Climate Dynamics

CEnT-S is also being used in admission procedures at other Italian universities.

The University of Bologna, for example, uses CEnT-S for various degree-programme admission procedures, with the exact test requirements specified in individual calls.

The inter-university Bachelor's programme in Artificial Intelligence, involving the University of Pavia, University of Milano-Bicocca and University of Milan, also recognises CEnT-S for certain applicant categories.

This illustrates why students should check the exact admission notice rather than simply asking:

"Does this university accept CEnT-S?"

The better question is:

"Does my specific Bachelor's programme require or accept CEnT-S for my applicant category?"

Is CEnT-S the Same as SAT?

No.

CEnT-S and SAT are completely different examinations.

CEnT-S is administered by CISIA for participating Italian university programmes.

SAT is administered internationally by the College Board.

Some Italian universities/programmes may use CEnT-S, some may accept SAT, and others may have completely different admission procedures.

In some cases, the test requirement can even depend on the applicant category.

For example, the current admission information for the inter-university Bachelor's in Artificial Intelligence states that certain EU/non-EU applicants residing in Italy can use CEnT-S, while non-EU applicants residing outside Italy are required to use SAT.

For an Indian student residing in India, this distinction can be extremely important.

Does CEnT-S Replace IELTS?

No.

This is one of the most important points for international students.

CEnT-S is an admission/academic assessment test.

IELTS, TOEFL and similar examinations are used to demonstrate English-language proficiency.

Therefore, completing CEnT-S does not automatically satisfy a university's English-language requirement.

A programme could potentially require:

CEnT-S + proof of B2 English

depending on its admission regulations.

Always check the programme's language requirement separately.

Is There a Pass Mark for CEnT-S?

There is no universal CEnT-S pass mark applicable to every Italian university.

Universities and individual degree programmes determine how the CEnT-S result will be used.

A programme may:

• establish a minimum score;
• use the score to create an admission ranking;
• consider only selected sections;
• use it to assess initial knowledge; or
• assign Additional Learning Requirements (OFA) when certain thresholds are not achieved.

Therefore, students should never rely on a generic statement such as "X score means you passed CEnT-S."

The required score must be checked against the admission rules of the chosen programme.

How Many Times Can I Take CEnT-S?

Candidates can generally take the examination once per macro-period.

Therefore, if you are unhappy with your performance in one macro-period, you may potentially attempt it again during another macro-period.

However, your new result must still be available within your university's admission deadline.

This is another reason Indian students should consider taking CEnT-S early rather than waiting for the final available test date.

Where Do You Register?

Students register for CEnT-S through the official CISIA portal.

The CISIA system publishes available dates and participating locations and handles test registration.

Before paying for the examination, however, students should first:

1. Shortlist their university and Bachelor's programme.
2. Read the official admission call.
3. Confirm that CEnT-S is accepted for their applicant category.
4. Check whether CEnT@HOME/CASA or CEnT@UNI is required.
5. Check the last acceptable test date.
6. Only then register for an appropriate CEnT-S session.

CEnT-S vs TOLC vs SAT vs IELTS

Exam	Main Purpose	Is It Mandatory for Every Italian Bachelor's?
CEnT-S	Academic/entrance assessment for participating English-taught programmes	No
TOLC	Admission/initial knowledge assessment used by various Italian programmes	No
SAT	Standardised academic admission test accepted/required by certain programmes	No
IELTS	Proof of English-language proficiency	Depends on university
Italian Language Test/Certificate	Demonstrates Italian proficiency for Italian-taught study	Depends on programme

CEnT-S: Key Facts at a Glance

Full Name: CISIA English Test – Sciences
Language: English
Questions: 55
Duration: 110 minutes
Sections: Mathematics, Reasoning, Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Current Fee: €55
Modes: CEnT@UNI and CEnT@HOME/CASA
Frequency: Four macro-periods
Attempts: Generally once per macro-period
Introduced: November 2025
Replaced: English TOLC-I, English TOLC-E and English TOLC-F
Used for: Selected English-taught Bachelor's programmes in Italy

Final Advice for Indian Students

CEnT-S is an important development in Italian undergraduate admissions, but students should avoid treating it as a new compulsory national entrance examination for Italy.

Not every Indian student applying for a Bachelor's degree in Italy needs CEnT-S.

The requirement depends on the university, programme, admission year and sometimes even whether the applicant is EU, non-EU residing in Italy, or non-EU residing abroad.

Before registering, ask these five questions:

Does my programme require CEnT-S?

Does it accept CEnT@HOME from India?

Which CEnT-S sections will be considered?

What score or ranking requirement applies?

What is the last CEnT-S date accepted for my application?

Answering these questions before booking the examination can prevent unnecessary tests, missed deadlines and incorrect applications.

Admission requirements and CEnT-S rules may change between academic years. Students should always check the latest CISIA rules and the official admission call issued by their chosen university.

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