Cattolica Medicine Test: Guide 2026

The Cattolica Medicine test for 2026/2027 is a computer-based exam of 65 multiple-choice questions in 65 minutes, with sections on logic, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and ethical-religious culture. The score ranges from 0 to 65 (+1 correct, -0.25 incorrect, 0 omitted), with a minimum threshold of 20 points. For 2026/2027 there are 480 places available for Medicine at the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome. Two rounds (February and April) with the possibility of taking both: the best score counts. To get in you need at least 46-47 points.

Why the Cattolica Test Is Different from Everything Else

The Cattolica test is a selection completely separate from the public system, with a proprietary test that includes an ethical-religious culture section unique in Italy. Two rounds are available (February and April) and the best score counts. Fees are ISEE-adjusted, making it more affordable than other private universities. The programme takes place only in Rome, at Gemelli.

The Medicine test at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is a completely autonomous selection. It does not follow the filter semester of public universities, it is not connected to national rankings, and it has nothing to do with the TOLC. It is a proprietary test of the university — as indicated on the Cattolica Medicine admission page — with a unique structure that includes an ethical-religious culture section, the only Medicine test in Italy that features questions on religious texts and bioethics.

The Medicine programme takes place exclusively in Rome, at the Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli — one of the most important university hospitals in Europe. Milan, along with other cities, is available only as an examination venue.

Three elements make the Cattolica a strategic choice for many candidates. It is separate from the public system, so those who didn't succeed in the filter semester can attempt the Cattolica without giving up anything. Fees are adjusted based on ISEE for the Italian-language course, making it significantly more affordable than other private universities for families with medium-low incomes. And the possibility of taking the test twice, with only the best score counting, reduces the risk.

The flip side: competition is high. The candidates-to-places ratio is approximately 4-5 candidates for every place, and the score of the last admitted student in recent years has fluctuated between 43 and 50 points out of 65.

Structure of the Exam: 65 Questions in 65 Minutes

The test features 65 multiple-choice questions in 65 minutes (exactly 1 minute per question — the fastest Medicine test in Italy). Questions are divided into: logic (15), biology (15), chemistry (15), physics (10), mathematics (5) and ethical-religious culture (5). Biology and chemistry together account for almost half the test.

For 2026/2027, the test confirms the structure of 65 multiple-choice questions with 5 options each, to be completed in 65 minutes. The exam is administered in person, in computer-based mode.

The questions are distributed across three macro-areas:

Logical reasoning — 15 questions. Verbal logic, critical reasoning, numerical logic, problem solving, abstract and spatial reasoning. Cattolica's logic section is known for being more complex than standard ministerial tests: it includes visuo-spatial elements and problem solving that require specific preparation.

Scientific culture — 45 questions. Divided into: 15 Biology, 15 Chemistry, 10 Physics, 5 Mathematics (with logic elements). The programmes are indicated in Annex A of the call for applications. The weight of Biology and Chemistry is high (30 questions out of 65) — together they account for almost half the test.

Ethical-religious culture — 5 questions. The distinctive feature of the Cattolica test. The questions are based on specific texts indicated by the university: the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the New Charter for Health Care Workers, the Instruction Dignitas Personae (bioethics), the Encyclical Caritas in Veritate by Benedict XVI and the Encyclical Laudato Si' by Pope Francis. These are 5 questions out of 65 — few in absolute terms, but potentially decisive: with the right preparation, you can earn 5 "easy" points that many candidates neglect.

In summary, the approximate weight of each subject out of the total 65 questions: Biology ~23%, Chemistry ~23%, Logic ~23%, Physics ~15%, Mathematics ~8%, General/religious culture ~8%. Biology and Chemistry dominate with almost half the test; Logic has the same number of questions but much higher score variance between candidates.

Average time available: exactly 1 minute per question. There is no margin — it's the fastest Medicine test in Italy. By comparison: the old ministerial test gave about 90 seconds per question, and the filter semester gives about 87 seconds. Here you cannot afford to get stuck.

For subject-by-subject strategies: How to Prepare for the Cattolica Test: Logic, Sciences and Religious Culture

Scoring and Historical Thresholds

Scoring assigns +1 for correct answers, -0.25 for incorrect, 0 for omitted (minimum threshold 20/65 to enter the ranking). The -0.25 penalty is heavier than the filter semester (-0.10). Historically, the last admitted student falls between 43 and 50 points; for safe admission on the first call you need 46-47+ points.

The scoring system follows the classic rule: +1 correct, -0.25 incorrect, 0 omitted.

• +1 point for each correct answer
• -0.25 points for each incorrect answer
• 0 points for each omitted answer
• Maximum score: 65 points
• Minimum threshold to enter the ranking: 20 points

The -0.25 penalty is significantly heavier than that of the filter semester (-0.10). Here, every mistake costs a quarter of a point. The practical rule for 5-option questions: answer only if you can exclude at least 2 options. The expected value of a random answer among 5 options is (+1 x 0.20) + (-0.25 x 0.80) = 0 — guessing randomly is statistically neutral. You need at least the exclusion of one option to make answering worthwhile.

Historical Thresholds

The score of the last admitted student varies from year to year based on exam difficulty and number of candidates:

• 43-44 points: risk zone, you depend entirely on wait-list movements
• 46-47 points: safe zone for the first call
• 50+ points: admission highly likely regardless of the round
• Some recent sources indicate the last admitted at around 50 points for the most recent selection

For the MedTec programme (technology-oriented Medicine), the required scores are generally lower because the candidate pool is smaller.

Tie-breaking Criteria

In case of identical scores in the ranking, the order is determined by scores in individual areas, applied in the order of priority defined by the call for applications. This is a detail that can make a difference for those at the cut-off.

Dates, Registration and Costs 2026

For 2026/2027 the rounds are: 27-28 February and 17-18 April. Those who register by 17 February can participate in both rounds. The test costs 250 euros (payment via PayPal within 60 minutes of booking). Venues: Rome, Milan, Naples, Bari, Reggio Calabria, Palermo, Catania, Cagliari. The exam is in person, computer-based.

2026/2027 Test Dates:

Those who register by 17 February can participate in both rounds. Those who register from 2 to 31 March only have access to the second round in April. Registering in the first window is strongly recommended. The Cattolica admission regulations and information are updated yearly on the official university website.

Examination venues: Rome, Milan, Naples, Bari, Reggio Calabria, Palermo, Catania, Cagliari. The test is in person and computer-based: it does not take place remotely.

Cost: 250 euros, non-refundable, payable via PayPal within 60 minutes of booking the session. Watch the time limit: if you don't complete payment within one hour, you lose the reservation. For those considering a preparation path with a tutor, the Up to Ten tutoring costs are transparent and without contractual obligations.

Included simulator: with registration you gain access to an online simulator with over 3,000 quizzes drawn from previous years' exams. It is the most direct practice material available.

Results viewing: from 4 March for the first round, from 23 April for the second round. Each candidate can see their score and the breakdown by area.

Final rankings: published from 4 May 2026.

Available Places and Rankings

For 2026/2027 there are 480 places for Medicine and Surgery, 40 for Dentistry and 90 for MedTec (technology-oriented Medicine), all in Rome. The ranking is internal to the university, completely separate from the public system. Pre-enrolment costs 2,000 euros (4,000 for MedTec) and discourages withdrawals — wait-list movements are limited (typically 1-2).

2026/2027 Places (Italian-language course, Rome):

For the English-language course (Medicine and Surgery), places are separate: 40 EU + 70 non-EU in Rome, 50 EU + 10 non-EU in Bolzano. The English test has different dates (Rome and Bolzano have separate sessions).

The Cattolica ranking is internal — completely separate from the public system. Rankings are published after both rounds, and the best score between the two attempts counts. There are no "endless" wait-list movements as in public universities. The Cattolica typically makes 1-2 rounds, because the costly pre-enrolment (2,000 euros for Medicine/Dentistry, 4,000 euros for MedTec) discourages withdrawals.

Medicine/MedTec choice: those who register for the Medicine/MedTec competition automatically compete for both programmes. At the assignment stage, they choose which to enrol in. It is not possible to compete simultaneously for Dentistry and Medicine/MedTec.

Important: if you get into the Cattolica and withdraw, you lose the place and the 2,000 euros from pre-enrolment. If you want to attempt both the Cattolica and the public universities (filter semester), plan the timing carefully.

Two-Round Strategy

The optimal strategy is to register by 17 February to access both rounds: first round in February as a serious attempt, second round in April to improve. The ranking automatically considers the best score between the two attempts. The psychological advantage of having a second attempt reduces pressure on the first.

The possibility of taking the test twice is an enormous advantage — if you use it strategically.

Scenario 1: register for both rounds (recommended). First round in February as "first serious chance", second round in April as improvement. The best score between the two is automatically selected for the ranking.

Scenario 2: second round only. Acceptable if you're not ready by February, but you lose the possibility of two attempts. Those who register after 17 February only access the April round.

Note: the first round is not a "practice test". The ranking is unified and considers the best score regardless of the round. Treat it as a serious attempt.

The psychological aspect: knowing you have a second attempt can paradoxically help you in the first — less pressure, more clarity. But only if you've studied seriously for both.

How to Prepare

Preparation requires 6-8 weeks with solid scientific foundations, 12-16 weeks with uneven foundations. The three priorities are: speed (1 minute per question requires timed simulations), logic (15 high-variance questions) and biology+chemistry (30 questions out of 65, almost half the test). The official simulator with 3,000+ quizzes is included in registration.

The Cattolica test requires specific preparation. You can't only use material for the filter semester or old ministerial tests: the logic is different, the time is tighter, and there's the ethical-religious section.

The Three Priorities

1. Speed. 1 minute per question is very little. Speed is trained only through repeated timed practice. Do complete simulations (65 questions, 65 minutes) at least once a week in the last 4 weeks of preparation. The goal is not "finishing" — it's finishing with a good accuracy/speed ratio.

2. Logic. The 15 logic questions on the Cattolica test are often considered harder than ministerial ones. They include visuo-spatial reasoning and problem solving that require specific practice. Logic is also the area where improvement is fastest with training — investing here has a high return.

3. Biology + Chemistry. With 30 questions out of 65, these two subjects account for almost half the test. The programme is aligned with good-level high school textbooks, but Cattolica questions tend to be more precise and less purely memorisation-based than old ministerial tests.

Specific Materials

The official Cattolica simulator (3,000+ quizzes, included with registration) is the primary reference. For theoretical preparation, EdiTEST manuals specific to the Cattolica include official exams from 2015 onwards — essential for understanding the style of questions. For ethical-religious culture, the texts indicated by the university are the exclusive foundation: no other materials are needed for this section.

How Much Time Is Needed

With solid scientific foundations (liceo scientifico with good grades): 6-8 weeks of targeted preparation. With uneven foundations: 12-16 weeks. In both cases, the key is timed practice — not the amount of theory studied.

For detailed subject-by-subject strategies: How to Prepare for the Cattolica Test: Logic, Sciences and Religious Culture

Our Biology, Chemistry and Physics tutors know the structure of the Cattolica test and prepare individualised pathways focused on the areas where improvement is fastest. Every session is tracked in the Up to Connect platform.

Chemistry Tutoring · Physics Tutoring · Biology Tutoring

Cattolica vs Filter Semester: Which Path to Choose?

The two paths are not mutually exclusive: you can attempt both the filter semester for public universities (exams in November-December) and the Cattolica test (February-April). The scientific subjects overlap (biology, chemistry, physics), making preparation synergistic. Cattolica additionally requires logic and religious culture, but these are added without replacing anything.

For the 2026/2027 academic year, those wanting to enter Medicine have two parallel paths: the public universities' filter semester and the Cattolica test. They are not mutually exclusive — you can attempt both.

The most complete strategy: register for the filter semester for September 2026 and simultaneously prepare for the Cattolica test in February-April 2026. The scientific subjects overlap (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), so the preparation is synergistic. The Cattolica additionally requires logic and religious culture, but these are added without replacing anything.

FAQ

How many questions does the 2026 Cattolica test have? The test consists of 65 multiple-choice questions with 5 options, to be completed in 65 minutes. The questions are distributed as: 15 logic, 15 biology, 15 chemistry, 10 physics, 5 mathematics and 5 ethical-religious culture.

What is the minimum score to get into Cattolica Medicine? The minimum threshold to enter the ranking is 20/65. But for actual admission, much higher scores are needed: historically, the last admitted student falls between 43 and 50 points. For safe admission on the first call, aiming for 46-47 points or above is advisable.

Can I take the Cattolica test and also the filter semester? Yes. The Cattolica is completely separate from the public system. You can register for the filter semester at public universities and simultaneously take the Cattolica test. The scientific subjects overlap, so preparation is synergistic.

Is Milan a venue for the Cattolica Medicine programme? No. Milan is available only as an examination venue. The Medicine programme takes place exclusively in Rome, at the Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli.

How does the ethical-religious culture section work? These are 5 questions based on specific texts indicated by the university: the Compendium of the Catechism, the New Charter for Health Care Workers, Dignitas Personae, Caritas in Veritate and Laudato Si'. In-depth theological knowledge is not needed — just study these specific texts. With targeted preparation, these 5 questions can become "safe" points.

How much does the test and registration cost? The test costs 250 euros, non-refundable. In case of admission, pre-enrolment requires 2,000 euros for Medicine/Dentistry and 4,000 euros for MedTec. Annual tuition for the Italian-language programme is adjusted based on ISEE.

Can I take the test twice? Yes. If you register by 17 February 2026, you can participate in both the February round (27-28) and the April round (17-18). The best score between the two attempts is automatically considered.

What is the difference between Medicine and MedTec at the Cattolica? MedTec (technology-oriented Medicine) is a degree programme that integrates medical training with technological and engineering skills. It has 90 places (vs 480 for classic Medicine) and a pre-enrolment of 4,000 euros (vs 2,000 euros). The test is the same; those who register for the Medicine/MedTec competition compete for both.