What to expect on the TIL-I PoliTo
Honest, no-hype information about the exam — what we know, what we don't, and how to calibrate your preparation.
Exam structure
Overall difficulty
Rigorous — Politecnico di Torino tests deep mathematical reasoning, limit evaluations, free body diagrams, and boolean logic. High precision is required.
Question style
Multiple-choice (5 options), single correct answer, conducted online or at PoliTo campuses in English and Italian. Questions require 2-step calculations.
Time per question
~2.1 minutes per question. Section timers are strict — Mathematics receives 36 minutes for 16 questions.
What's on the exam
Mathematics
16 questions- Functions, domain restrictions, and logarithm properties
- Limits, standard limits, and L'Hôpital's rule
- Derivatives, tangent lines, and optimization
- Definite integrals and area under curves
- Analytical geometry (lines, circles, spheres) and trigonometry
Physics
10 questions- Kinematics and projectile motion
- Newton's laws, inclined planes, and friction
- Work, energy conservation, and simple harmonic motion
- Thermodynamics (ideal gases, isothermal/adiabatic processes)
- Electromagnetism (Ohm's law, circuits, magnetic Lorentz force)
Reading Comprehension, Logic & Technical Knowledge
16 questions- Formal logic, Modus Tollens, and syllogisms
- Boolean algebra and De Morgan's laws
- SI units, dimensional analysis, and engineering fundamentals
- Binary trees, algorithm complexity, and flowcharts
What this platform covers
- Mathematics: domain analysis, trigonometric identities, L'Hôpital's rule, definite integrals, perpendicular lines, and conditional probability
- Physics: inclined planes, friction, work integrals, simple harmonic motion, isothermal gas expansion, parallel circuits, and Snell's law
- Logic & Technical Knowledge: Modus Tollens, De Morgan's laws, SI unit dimensional analysis, CAD rigid transformations, and binary tree depth
- Exact 42-question / 90-minute simulation mode with −0.25 wrong answer penalty
What it does not cover
- Politecnico di Torino university administrative registration fees
- The physical campus check-in and identity verification procedures on test day
Exam-day tips
- 1Mathematics carries the heaviest weight (16 questions out of 42). Master domain restrictions and basic integrals first.
- 2Manage penalty risk: −0.25 applies to wrong answers. Skip questions where you cannot eliminate at least 2 distractors.
- 3Draw free body diagrams immediately for incline and force problems in physics to avoid sign errors.
Community signal
Candidates consistently report that time pressure on the Mathematics section is the main challenge. Pacing yourself at ~2 minutes per question is key to securing a 60%+ score.
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