ARCHED and TIL-A are similar tests inside different admissions systems
Both 2026/27 tests covered reading comprehension, prior knowledge and history, logical reasoning, drawing and representation, and mathematics and physics. ARCHED is tied to the ARCHED admission route used by universities including Politecnico di Milano. TIL-A is Politecnico di Torino’s architecture test.
Which test do you need?
Start with the official Call for Applications for every programme on your shortlist. Do not register for a test because its syllabus looks familiar. The university call identifies the accepted test, candidate category, deadline, available seats, language, delivery method, and ranking procedure.
- Applying to the Politecnico di Milano architecture route covered here: follow its ARCHED instructions
- Applying to Politecnico di Torino Architecture: follow its TIL-A instructions
- Applying elsewhere: verify the exact test named by that university
- Applying to both: treat Polimi and Polito as two separate applications
Applying to both Polimi and Polito
The subject lists overlap, but the applications do not. Register with each university, follow its candidate-category rules, and track its deadlines and rankings independently.
- Create separate Polimi and Polito application accounts
- Confirm your candidate category with each university
- Register for the correct test language and available session
- Track document, ranking, and enrolment deadlines separately
- Recheck both official calls before booking travel
ARCHED vs TIL-A comparison for 2026/27
| Feature | ARCHED (Polimi page) | TIL-A (Polito) |
|---|---|---|
| University route | Politecnico di Milano architecture admission | Politecnico di Torino Architecture |
| Questions | 50 | 50 |
| Time | 100 minutes | 100 minutes |
| Sections | 5 sections, 10 questions each | 5 sections, 10 questions each |
| Subjects | Reading; prior knowledge/history; logic; drawing/representation; maths/physics | Reading; prior knowledge/history; logic; drawing/representation; maths/physics |
| 2026 delivery | Check the Polimi call and technical instructions | Exclusively in person |
| Scoring | Check the current official call | +1 correct, −0.25 incorrect, 0 blank |
| Dates | Check the annual Polimi call | 21 and 22 July 2026 for the 2026/27 intake |
Common questions
Questions students ask before they start
Do Polimi and Polito require separate registrations?
Yes. Even when the subject areas overlap, Polimi and Polito use separate application platforms, deadlines, test instructions, rankings, and enrolment procedures.
Which test is harder, ARCHED or TIL-A?
There is no reliable universal answer. Difficulty depends on the question set, your subject profile, the scoring procedure, and the admission ranking for your candidate category.
Do both tests have 50 questions in 100 minutes?
They did in the official 2026/27 information checked on 26 July 2026. Future calls can change, so verify the format for your own intake.
Can I apply to both Polimi and Polito?
You can pursue both admission routes if you meet each programme’s eligibility, registration, documentation, and deadline requirements. Treat them as separate applications.
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.