What is the ARCHED test?
TEST ARCHED is used by Politecnico di Milano and some other Italian universities for admission to architecture programmes. This page covers the Polimi procedure for Architectural Design and the five-year Building Engineering–Architecture programme; it is not one universal result that can automatically be transferred between universities.
The five ARCHED sections
Each section contained 10 questions, each with five options and one correct answer, and had a separate 20-minute limit. The five sections therefore totalled 50 questions and 100 minutes.
- Reading comprehension: understanding Italian-language scientific, narrative, and current-affairs texts
- Prior knowledge and history: history, art and architecture, institutions, economics, citizenship, and current affairs
- Logical reasoning: verbal, symbolic, and abstract problems based on stated premises
- Drawing and representation: plans, elevations, axonometric views, graphs, drawings, and visual correspondence
- Mathematics and physics: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability, trigonometry, mechanics, thermodynamics, and electricity
How the ARCHED score was calculated
In 2026/27, a correct answer earned 1 point, an incorrect answer lost 0.25 points, and a blank earned 0, for a maximum of 50. There is no fixed score that guarantees admission: Polimi forms rankings using the test result, programme preferences, available places, and the candidate category.
Registration, fee, and in-person format
For 2026/27, registration ran from 17 June to 16 July and cost €35. The fee was non-refundable, and payment alone did not complete registration. Polimi assigned candidates to a physical test room, so both the English test on 23 July and the Italian test on 24 July were in person. Treat these dates and the fee as historical until the next call is published.
English and Italian test routes
Candidates for an English-taught programme took English ARCHED, while candidates for an Italian-taught programme took Italian ARCHED. To compete in both routes, Polimi required both tests. Candidates taking Italian ARCHED also completed the 30-question, 15-minute TENG assessment. Fewer than 24 correct TENG answers led to an English OFA, but TENG did not change the architecture ranking score. Programme language-certificate rules remained separate.
Common questions
Questions students ask before they start
How many questions are in the ARCHED test?
The 2026/27 structure published by Politecnico di Milano contains 50 questions: 10 questions in each of five sections.
How long is the ARCHED test?
The five sections are each limited to 20 minutes, for a total of 100 minutes.
How is the ARCHED score calculated?
In 2026/27, ARCHED awarded +1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for an incorrect answer, and 0 for a blank. The maximum score was 50.
What is the ARCHED passing score?
There is no universal score that guarantees admission. Your place depends on the ranking, programme preferences, available seats, and candidate category.
Was ARCHED online or in person in 2026?
At Politecnico di Milano, both 2026 tests were held in person in assigned test rooms: English ARCHED on 23 July and Italian ARCHED on 24 July.
How much did ARCHED registration cost?
The Polimi fee for 2026/27 was €35 and was non-refundable. Payment alone did not complete the registration procedure.
Can I use my ARCHED result at another university?
Do not assume so. The result normally belongs to the admission procedure of the university through which you registered and took the test. Check the receiving university’s current call.
Are 2027 ARCHED dates available?
Not yet on the sources checked on 26 July 2026. Use the 2026/27 structure only as background and wait for the official university call before making travel or registration plans for the next intake.
Primary sources
Check the official call for your intake
Exam dates, delivery format, registration windows, seat quotas, and ranking rules can change. These official university pages are the source of record.
- Politecnico di MilanoOfficial ARCHED structure, subject descriptions, timing, scoring, and TENG information.
- Polimi architecture admissionsOfficial programme scope, 2026 test dates, language routes, and ranking guidance.
- Polimi ARCHED registrationOfficial 2026 registration window, €35 fee, and completion instructions.