Assessment methods for student preparation at the start of the degree course:

The Department of Political and International Sciences of Siena organises an entrance test, the TOLC-SPS. The outcome of this exam does not prevent students from enrolling in one of the degree programmes offered.

The test consists of multiple-choice questions and some open-ended questions divided into the following assessment areas:

1. Text comprehension (2 text passages with 5 related text comprehension questions each)
2. Acquired knowledge
3. Logic, reasoning and mathematical language
4. English language competence level

For information about the test syllabus, click here.   https://www.cisiaonline.it/struttura-e-argomenti-test-sps/

Participation in the entrance test is compulsory for all first-year students in the L-36 course on the dates set by the Teaching Committee and, in any case, before the start of the second year of study. Failure to comply will result in the student's academic progress being suspended until the next agreed examination date. Students who do not achieve the required minimum score on the exam must either attend the required remedial courses or obtain the required course materials to prepare for an oral test, which will be arranged with the instructor responsible for the remedial course.

With the reform of the study cycles, the University of Siena has also introduced entrance tests for students in non-limited enrolment degree courses.

The test aims to assess the student's aptitude and level of preparation in certain subjects considered particularly important for the success of the chosen course of study. This allows students to fill any gaps through targeted remedial courses (where provided), which will be organised during the first year of study.

The test is compulsory, but a negative result does not prevent enrolment.

(Note: This is not to be confused with the admission test required for limited enrolment degree courses)

To register for the TOLC-SPS test, CISIA must pay a fee of 30 euros. You can register for the test online on the CISIA website. You can also access the syllabi for the required knowledge and other helpful information on the same site.

ENGLISH SECTION

As part of the CISIA entrance exam (TOLC), students must answer 30 questions in English. For those who do not have a B1 certificate or higher, these English questions are sufficient to assess their English competence level. Therefore, these students do not need to take the placement test at the Language Centre to gain access to the English courses. Submitting the score obtained in the Language Centre front office using the equivalence table between the TOLC test scores for the English section and the Language Centre placement test scores is sufficient.

For more information, please click here.  https://www.cla.unisi.it/it/node/781