Bocconi Specialized Masters Test exam-day guide
Bocconi Specialized Masters Test · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID matching your registration details
Bring the exact identity document the provider requires. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted (passport versus national ID card) and that the name spelling matches your application exactly. If your name has diacritics or multiple surnames, verify in advance how it should appear.
Admission confirmation and test-day instructions
Download and read the confirmation email or portal message that states your test date, session time, and venue or online platform. Confirm with the provider whether you must print it or can show it on a phone.
Know your exact reporting time and arrival buffer
Note the reporting time, not just the start time. Plan to arrive well before it, since late arrivals may be refused entry. Confirm with the provider the cut-off after which candidates cannot be admitted.
Route and transport plan
Check the venue location and public transport on the day before. For Milan venues, allow extra time for traffic and for finding the correct building and room. If testing online, confirm your room and internet setup instead.
Permitted calculator and stationery, if any
The quantitative section may or may not allow a calculator. Confirm with the provider which models are permitted and whether scratch paper and pens are supplied or must be brought. Do not assume a policy from another test.
Acceptable watch or timekeeping
Many venues prohibit smartwatches and phones during the test. Confirm with the provider whether a simple analogue watch is allowed and whether a clock is visible in the room.
Water and a light snack for before or after
Stay hydrated and eat a normal meal before the session. Check whether food and drink are allowed at your seat or only outside the testing room.
Review logistics for any break
Confirm with the provider whether the test includes scheduled breaks, how long they are, and whether you may leave the room. Plan water and restroom visits around that.
Practice under time pressure in the final days
Complete at least one full timed run of each section type using the official format and timing you have confirmed. Focus on pacing and on which questions to skip, not on new content.
Prepare for the English and reasoning sections
Skim your error log for recurring mistakes in reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and numerical reasoning. Rehearse a fixed strategy for each question type so you do not improvise on the day.
Sleep and morning routine
Protect sleep in the last two nights. Set two alarms and prepare clothes, ID, and confirmation the evening before so the morning is calm.
Backup plan for online delivery, if applicable
If your session is remote, confirm with the provider the platform, device requirements, and what to do if your connection fails. Have a phone hotspot and a charged device ready.
Plan the day
Re-read the official test-day instructions and confirm every logistical detail with the provider: ID type, reporting time, permitted items, break policy, and delivery mode. Resolve any open question now, not on the morning.
Do one full timed practice run in the confirmed format. Afterwards, list your three biggest time sinks and decide a concrete rule for each, such as a maximum number of minutes per question before guessing and moving on.
Review only your error log and formula or strategy sheets. Stop learning new material. Confirm your travel route and, for an in-person test, do a dry run or check the map and building entrance.
Pack ID, confirmation, permitted stationery, water, and any allowed calculator. Lay out clothes. Check the weather and transport disruptions. Confirm your alarm and go to bed at a normal hour.
Do light review only: skim strategies and a few easy questions to stay sharp. Avoid heavy practice tests that could dent confidence. Eat a normal dinner and limit screens late in the evening.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and leave with a generous buffer. Arrive early, use the restroom before entering the room, and keep your phone off and stored as instructed.
Read the instructions and note the section timings. Start with a steady pace, answer easier questions first within each section if the format allows navigation, and never leave a blank if there is no penalty for guessing, once you have confirmed the scoring rule.
Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints, for example one third and two thirds through each section. If you fall behind, guess and move on. Use any break to stand, drink water, and reset rather than to review answers.
Stop solving and make sure every question has a response if guessing is not penalized. Confirm any flagged questions are answered before time expires.
Note what felt difficult while it is fresh, in case you need to plan next steps. Confirm with the provider how and when results are released and what the next application deadlines are.
Rules to check
Bring the exact identity document required and ensure the name matches your registration. If there is any mismatch, contact the provider before test day, as entry may be refused.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Late candidates may not be admitted, and the provider sets the cut-off; confirm it in advance rather than assuming a grace period.
Follow all instructions about phones, smartwatches, and other devices. Keep them off and stored as directed. Unauthorized devices during the test can lead to removal or cancellation.
Use only permitted items. Confirm with the provider whether calculators, scratch paper, dictionaries, or notes are allowed, and do not bring anything whose status you have not verified.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or share test content. Such conduct is treated as misconduct.
Breaks, if any, are governed by the provider's rules. Confirm whether you may leave the room, whether the clock stops, and whether you may access notes or devices during the break.
Scoring rules, including whether wrong answers are penalized and how sections are weighted, are set by the provider. Confirm the current policy before deciding whether to guess on unanswered questions.
Results and score reporting timelines are set by the provider. Confirm the release date and how to access your score rather than relying on secondhand reports.