How should you prepare for the Bocconi admissions test? Begin with a timed diagnostic, then work on your weakest topics and review each error. The standard Bachelor test covers mathematics, reading comprehension, numerical reasoning and critical thinking.
Bocconi Test Preparation: Format and Vocabulary
The Online Bocconi Test (OBT) is a 50-question multiple-choice exam covering four sections. This guide gives you an overview of the test format, the scoring rules, and the key areas to focus your preparation on.
Test Structure at a Glance
- Mathematics: 24 questions.
- Reading comprehension: 11 questions.
- Numerical reasoning: 6 questions.
- Critical thinking: 9 questions.
Format and scoring: 50 questions in 75 minutes. Correct answers earn 1 point; unanswered questions score 0. An incorrect answer costs 0.2 points, or 0.33 for critical-thinking questions with three options. Check the official test specifications.
What to Focus Your Preparation On
Effective Bocconi test preparation comes down to a few core principles: mastering the elimination strategy, understanding your error patterns, building your mathematical vocabulary in both English and French, and practising under timed conditions. The sections below give you the key vocabulary you need and an overview of each section’s demands.
For a complete step-by-step preparation strategy, including a full 8-week study plan, section-by-section tactics, and practice exercises, see the Your Dream School Bocconi Prep Guide, developed by tutors who have coached hundreds of successful Bocconi applicants.
Mathematics & Science Vocabulary: English-French Reference
The test is offered in English or Italian. This English to French glossary is a study aid for French-speaking candidates preparing to take it in English.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Absolute value | Valeur absolue |
| Acute angle | L’angle aigu |
| Arc length | Longueur d’arc |
| Asymptote | Asymptote |
| Average | Moyenne |
| Axis of symmetry | Axe de symétrie |
| Binomial theorem | Formule du binôme |
| Calculus | Calcul différentiel et intégral |
| Circumference | Circonférence |
| Combination | Combinaison |
| Completing the square | Compléter le carré |
| Cosine | Cosinus |
| Decreasing | Décroissant |
| Denominator | Dénominateur |
| Even number | Nombre pair |
| Exponent | Exposant |
| Factorization | Mise en facteurs |
| Function | Fonction |
| Graph | Courbe |
| Increasing | Croissant |
| Inequality | Inégalité |
| Integer | Entier |
| Inverse function | Fonction réciproque |
| Irrational number | Nombre irrationnel |
| Logarithmic function | Fonction logarithmique |
| Midpoint | Point médian |
| Obtuse angle | Angle obtus |
| Parabola | Parabole |
| Parallel | Parallèle |
| Perpendicular | Perpendiculaire |
| Polynomial function | Fonction polynomiale |
| Pythagorean theorem | Théorème de Pythagore |
| Quadratic formula | Formule quadratique |
| Radian | Radian |
| Radius | Rayon |
| Rational number | Nombre rationnel |
| Reciprocal | Inverse d’un nombre (1/x) |
| Remainder | Reste |
| Right angle | Angle droit |
| Root of an equation | Racine d’une équation |
| Sequence | Suite |
| Set | Ensemble |
| Sine | Sinus |
| Slope | Pente |
| Square root | Racine carrée |
| Subset | Sous-ensemble |
| Trigonometry | Trigonométrie |
| Vertex | Sommet |
| x-intercept | Abscisse à l’origine |
| y-intercept | Ordonnée à l’origine |
Our Bocconi test preparation packs
Essential Pack: 10 hours
€1,200
Ten hours of one-to-one coaching with a Bocconi test expert, an initial diagnostic and access to online practice resources. See the pack details.
Intensive Pack: 20 hours
€2,300
Twenty hours of one-to-one coaching, in-depth work on the logic and maths sections, marked mock tests and personal follow-up between sessions. See the pack details.
Excellence Pack: 30 hours
€3,300
Thirty hours of one-to-one coaching, full preparation for all four sections of the test, marked mock tests and a mid-point review to adjust your plan. See the pack details.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many weeks should I study for the Bocconi test?
There is no single preparation period that fits every candidate. Use a diagnostic test and your application deadline to plan regular practice, leaving time to review errors and repeat timed exercises.
Should I guess on the Bocconi test?
Incorrect answers carry a penalty. Practise eliminating unsupported options and managing the time available; use the scoring rules above when reviewing your practice results.
What official resources does Bocconi provide?
Bocconi publishes official sample questions and a test guide on their admissions website. These are your most authoritative source for understanding the exact question types you will face on test day.
New to the exam? Start with the complete Bocconi test preparation guide, then come back to this study plan.