TIL-I test in English: structure, scoring and strategy for Politecnico di Torino
If you want to study Engineering at Politecnico di Torino (PoliTo), you will almost certainly meet one key acronym: TIL-I.
The TIL-I test (Test In Laib – Ingegneria) is the official admission test for engineering bachelor’s degrees at Politecnico di Torino. It is:
- mandatory for almost all engineering programmes,
- available in English and Italian,
- and used directly to rank candidates and assign places. Polito
This guide explains the TIL-I test in English from an international-student point of view:
- what the TIL-I test is,
- how the TIL-I structure works (sections, timing, contents),
- how TIL-I scoring and thresholds work,
- how many times you can take the TIL-I test,
- and a section-by-section strategy to maximise your TIL-I score.
1. What is the TIL-I test?
The TIL-I test is the entrance exam for engineering bachelor’s degrees at Politecnico di Torino. TIL stands for “Test In Laib” (LAIB are PoliTo’s computer labs).
According to the official Call for Applications for Engineering at Politecnico di Torino, the TIL-I test:
- is a computer-based test taken in the university’s labs,
- is an individual test, different for each candidate but with equivalent difficulty,
- is available in English and in Italian,
- is required for admission to engineering bachelor’s programmes (unless you belong to very specific exemption categories listed in the Call).
For students with a non-Italian qualification, passing the TIL-I test is usually the main route into PoliTo engineering (SAT can sometimes exempt you, but not for all programmes, and not for Architecture).
2. TIL-I structure: sections, questions and timing
The official English call for Engineering 2025/26 describes the TIL-I structure very clearly:
- Total TIL-I questions: 42
- Total TIL-I time: 90 minutes (1 hour 30 minutes)
- Question format: multiple choice, 5 options (A–E), only one correct
The TIL-I test is divided into 4 sections:
- Mathematics – 16 questions – 36 minutes
- Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning – 10 questions – 20 minutes
- Physics – 10 questions – 22 minutes
- Basic Technical Knowledge – 6 questions – 12 minutes
Once the time for a section is over, you cannot go back to it. Each candidate receives a TIL-I test where the questions are randomly selected by a computer system but with the same overall difficulty.
2.1 TIL-I Mathematics section
- 16 questions – 36 minutes
- Focus on high-school mathematics relevant to engineering:
- algebra (equations, inequalities, systems),
- functions and graphs,
- geometry and trigonometry,
- sequences, combinatorics/probability (depending on syllabus).
Because Mathematics is the largest section, it also carries the most weight in tie-breaking and rankings.
2.2 TIL-I Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning section
- 10 questions – 20 minutes
- Tests your ability to:
- understand short texts (often technical or semi-technical),
- interpret statements and arguments,
- apply logic and deduction.
Even if maths and physics are strong, poor performance here can drag down your overall TIL-I score.
2.3 TIL-I Physics section
- 10 questions – 22 minutes
- Topics typically include:
- kinematics (velocity, acceleration),
- Newton’s laws and forces,
- work, energy, power,
- simple circuits (voltage, current, resistance).
Calculus is not required: the focus is on conceptual understanding and basic formula application rather than long calculations.
2.4 TIL-I Basic Technical Knowledge section
- 6 questions – 12 minutes
- Covers technical drawing, basic engineering concepts and informatics (depending on the year’s syllabus).
Although it’s the smallest section, it can give you extra points that make the difference in highly competitive courses.
3. TIL-I scoring and admission thresholds
3.1 How the TIL-I is scored
The TIL-I scoring system is straightforward and is explicitly defined in Art. 7 of the Call for Engineering:
- +1 point for each correct answer
- 0 points for each unanswered question
- –0.25 points for each wrong answer
Your raw TIL-I score is then converted into a value on a 0–100 scale (effectively a percentage), which is used for rankings and thresholds.
3.2 TIL-I thresholds: minimum and “guarantee” score
Specialist test-prep sites that quote PoliTo’s regulations summarise the thresholds like this: Unitest
- Minimum threshold (soglia minima): 30/100
- You need at least 30/100 to be included in the ranking lists for engineering.
- Guarantee threshold (soglia di garanzia): 60/100
- With 60/100 or higher, you generally have a “guarantee score” that allows you to enrol in your first-choice degree (subject to details in the Call and available spots).
Candidates with scores between 30/100 and 60/100 are admitted based on: Unitest
- the number of places available in each course,
- their position in the ranking for that course,
- tie-breaking rules that prioritise higher scores in Mathematics, then Reading & Logic, then Physics, then Technical Knowledge, and finally the younger candidate in case of perfect ties.
3.3 How many times can you take the TIL-I?
The Call explicitly states that: Polito
- you can take the TIL test (TIL-I included) at most 3 times in total,
- but only once per session.
PoliTo organises several TIL-I sessions across the year (spring and summer), and the best TIL-I score you obtain is normally used for admission.
4. TIL-I in English vs Italian: what changes?
The Engineering Call clarifies that the TIL-I test is available in both English and Italian.
For international students applying to English-taught engineering programmes, the typical scenario is:
- you choose the English version of the TIL-I,
- the structure, number of questions and scoring are exactly the same as the Italian version,
- only the language of the statements and passages changes.
Taking the TIL-I test in English has two advantages if you plan to study in English:
- you prove that you can handle technical reasoning in English,
- you avoid the extra cognitive load of reading physics and logic questions in Italian.
However, note that language requirements (B2 English, possible Italian requirements) are separate from TIL-I—those are handled under language certificates and programme rules in the Call for Applications.
5. Registration, sessions and course choices
5.1 How to register for the TIL-I test
The official Admission Test (TIL) page explains that you need to: Polito+1
- Create an account on Apply@polito (PoliTo’s application platform).
- Select the TIL-I test session you want from the calendar.
- Pay the TIL test fee and complete the registration before the specified deadline.
The detailed procedures, deadlines and fees are always listed in the Call for Applications for the Engineering area for the relevant academic year. Polito+1
5.2 Choosing up to 5 engineering programmes
When you register for the TIL-I test, you can indicate up to 5 engineering bachelor’s degrees you would like to study, in order of preference. Polito
- Each engineering course has a limited number of seats.
- After the TIL-I sessions, PoliTo creates a ranking list for each programme, where applicants are ordered by their TIL-I scores and preferences.
- Your TIL-I score and your order of preferences determine which course you are admitted to.
Because of this, strategy in choosing and ordering your 5 preferences is almost as important as your raw TIL-I score.
6. Strategy for each section of the TIL-I test
Now that we’ve covered TIL-I structure and TIL-I scoring, let’s look at how to prepare strategically, especially if you’re taking the TIL-I test in English.
6.1 TIL-I Mathematics: your main weapon
Mathematics has:
- the largest number of questions,
- strong impact in tie-breaking,
- and is closest to first-year engineering courses.
Goals:
- Aim to be solid on all standard high-school maths topics:
- algebra, equations, inequalities,
- functions, graphs and domains,
- geometry (areas, volumes, trigonometry basics),
- word problems, proportionality and percentage.
- Practise on TIL-I style questions with a timer:
- 16 questions in 36 minutes is just over 2 minutes per question.
Strategy tips:
- Start each question by spotting what’s being asked: “equation solving? geometry? function behaviour?”
- Use rough estimates to quickly eliminate obviously wrong options.
- If a question seems very long or unusual, mark it and move on, coming back only if time allows. One very hard problem can burn the time needed to answer three easier ones.
6.2 Reading Comprehension & Logical Reasoning: don’t neglect it
For international students taking TIL-I in English, this section is often the most surprising.
Goals:
- Read short English passages efficiently: identify main idea, key details, and logical connections.
- Recognise common patterns: cause–effect, comparison, conditional statements, contradictions.
Strategy tips:
- In practice, always:
- read the question first, then the passage (so you know what to look for),
- underline or mentally note numbers, keywords and negatives (“not”, “except”).
- If you don’t know a word, don’t freeze—use context. The question rarely hinges on understanding a single obscure term.
- For logic puzzles, draw a quick mini diagram or table instead of juggling all the information in your head.
Because there is no separate penalty for reading slowly, the main danger here is rushing and misreading, which leads straight to –0.25 penalties.
6.3 Physics: connect formulas to intuition
Physics questions usually test conceptual understanding plus basic algebra, not heavy calculus.
Goals:
- Memorise the core formulas for:
- constant and uniformly accelerated motion,
- forces and Newton’s laws,
- work, potential and kinetic energy, power,
- Ohm’s law and simple series/parallel circuits.
- Practise converting words into equations: “constant speed”, “uniform acceleration”, “power consumed”, etc.
Strategy tips:
- Before plugging into formulas, ask yourself:
“Should the result be bigger or smaller than X? Positive or negative?”
This helps you catch sign or magnitude mistakes. - Keep units consistent (m, s, kg, N, J, W…). If the units in your answer don’t match, something is wrong.
- If a problem looks very messy, check whether you’re overcomplicating it; many TIL-I physics questions only require one or two simple steps.
6.4 Basic Technical Knowledge: easy points if you prepare
Even though it’s only 6 questions, this section can give you “bonus” points that push you above a threshold or above another candidate.
Goals:
- Learn the basic vocabulary of technical drawing and engineering (e.g. orthogonal projections, scale, simple mechanical elements).
- Review simple informatics concepts if they are listed in the year’s TIL-I topics (binary vs decimal, hardware vs software, basic logic gates).
Strategy tips:
- Because the section is short and time is tight, avoid getting stuck. If you have no idea, it may be better to leave a question blank than to give a random answer and risk –0.25.
- Use common sense: some questions can be answered by reasoning about how things work in real life (e.g. what happens if you increase the resolution of a drawing, or how a simple machine behaves).
7. Global TIL-I strategy: before, during and after the test
7.1 Before the TIL-I test
- Check the latest Call for your year and for the Engineering area:
- structure and scoring (in case of updates),
- test dates and sessions,
- registration deadlines and conditions,
- any exemptions or special rules for non-Italian qualifications. Polito+1
- Decide whether you will sit the TIL-I in English or Italian (for an English-taught degree, the English TIL-I is usually more natural).
- Plan at least 8–12 weeks of preparation, with progressively more timed practice and full mock exams as the test day approaches.
7.2 On TIL-I test day
- Arrive early at the LAIB computer lab; technical checks and seat assignment can take a bit of time.
- Bring all required documents (ID, any special needs documents if applicable).
- In each section:
- skim all questions quickly,
- start with the ones that look easiest or most familiar,
- keep one eye on the section timer—it moves faster than you expect.
For the negative marking:
- Do not blindly click answers just to avoid blanks;
- Guess only when you can eliminate several options;
- Leave truly impossible questions blank to avoid “free” –0.25 hits.
7.3 After the TIL-I test: retakes and strategy
Since you can attempt the TIL-I up to three times (once per session), it’s smart to: Ammissione
- book an early session in the year, so you have room to retake if needed,
- after each attempt, analyse which section was weakest and adapt your preparation,
- keep track of how your TIL-I score evolves across attempts.
If you reach or exceed the 60/100 guarantee threshold, you may be eligible for early enrolment in your first-choice course (check the specific instructions and dates in your year’s Call). Unitest
8. Key takeaways: TIL-I test in English for PoliTo
- The TIL-I test is the official entrance exam for engineering bachelor’s degrees at Politecnico di Torino. Polito
- The TIL-I structure: 42 questions, 4 sections (Maths, Reading & Logic, Physics, Basic Technical Knowledge), 90 minutes total.
- The TIL-I scoring system: +1 for correct, 0 for blank, –0.25 for wrong answers; thresholds are 30/100 (minimum for ranking) and around 60/100 (guarantee threshold for first preference, subject to the Call). Unitest
- The TIL-I test is available in English and Italian, and the English version is especially relevant for international students aiming at English-taught engineering programmes.
- You can take the TIL-I up to three times, once per session; PoliTo considers your best score for admission.
With a clear understanding of the TIL-I test in English, its structure and scoring, and a solid preparation plan focused on Mathematics, Logic, Physics and Technical Knowledge, you can turn the TIL-I from a mysterious hurdle into a structured challenge you know how to approach.
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