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Key Facts: TEST ARCHED Exam
50 questions
Questions on official TEST ARCHED
CISIA TEST ARCHED Syllabus
100 minutes
Total examination duration
CISIA Official Regulations
5 sections
Equal 10-question test sections
CISIA Blueprint
+1 / -0.25
Scoring: +1 correct, -0.25 incorrect, 0 blank
CISIA Scoring Rules
LM-4 c.u.
Degree class (5-Year Architecture / Building Engineering)
MUR Ministerial Framework
IT & EN
Available test delivery languages
CISIA / University Admission Calls
TEST ARCHED is Italy's official 50-question, 100-minute computer-based admission test for five-year single-cycle Architecture programs (LM-4 c.u.), coordinated by CISIA for participating universities. The test evaluates reading comprehension, history and art history, logical reasoning, drawing/representation, and physics/mathematics with scoring of +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, and 0 for unanswered.
Sample TEST ARCHED Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the TEST ARCHED exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the following passage adapted from Vitruvius's 'De Architectura' (Book I): 'Architecture is a science arising out of many other sciences, and adorned with much and varied learning; by the help of which a judgment is formed of those works which are the result of other arts. Practice and theory are its parents. Practice (fabrica) is the continuous and regular exercise of employment where hands execute the design formed from materials. Theory (ratiocinatio), on the other hand, is the ability to demonstrate and explain the productions of dexterity on the principles of proportion and skill. Hence architects who have aimed at acquiring manual skill without scholarship have never been able to reach a position of authority; while those who relied solely on theory and scholarship were obviously hunting the shadow, not the substance. But those who have a thorough knowledge of both have much sooner attained their goal with honor and authority. In all matters, but particularly in architecture, there are these two points: that which is signified, and that which gives it significance. Furthermore, all buildings must be built with due reference to durability (firmitas), convenience (utilitas), and beauty (venustas).' According to the passage, what distinguishes architects who attain genuine professional authority from those who fail to achieve it?
2Read the following excerpt from Vitruvius's 'De Architectura' (Book I): 'Practice (fabrica) is the continuous and regular exercise of employment where hands execute the design formed from materials. Theory (ratiocinatio), on the other hand, is the ability to demonstrate and explain the productions of dexterity on the principles of proportion and skill.' In the context of the passage, what is the specific role assigned to 'theory' (ratiocinatio)?
3Read the following passage adapted from Vitruvius's 'De Architectura': 'Hence architects who have aimed at acquiring manual skill without scholarship have never been able to reach a position of authority; while those who relied solely on theory and scholarship were obviously hunting the shadow, not the substance. But those who have a thorough knowledge of both have much sooner attained their goal with honor and authority... All buildings must be built with due reference to durability (firmitas), convenience (utilitas), and beauty (venustas). Durability will be assured when foundations are carried down to solid ground and materials wisely chosen; convenience, when the arrangement of the apartments is faultless and presents no hindrance to use; beauty, when the appearance of the work is pleasing and in good taste, and its members are in harmonious proportion according to symmetrical calculation.' What does the author imply by the metaphor 'hunting the shadow, not the substance'?
4Read the following passage adapted from Vitruvius's 'De Architectura': 'In all matters, but particularly in architecture, there are these two points: that which is signified, and that which gives it significance. That which is signified is the subject of which we may be speaking; and that which gives significance is a demonstration on scientific principles. It follows therefore that he who professes himself an architect must be familiar with both. He must be educated, skilled with the pencil, instructed in geometry, know much history, have followed the philosophers with attention, understand music, have some knowledge of medicine, know the opinions of the jurists, and be acquainted with astronomy and the theory of the heavens.' Based on this excerpt, why does Vitruvius advocate for an architect's extensive education in disciplines beyond manual drawing and masonry?
5Read the following passage adapted from Vitruvius's 'De Architectura': 'All buildings must be built with due reference to durability (firmitas), convenience (utilitas), and beauty (venustas). Durability will be assured when foundations are carried down to solid ground and materials wisely chosen; convenience, when the arrangement of the apartments is faultless and presents no hindrance to use; beauty, when the appearance of the work is pleasing and in good taste, and its members are in harmonious proportion according to symmetrical calculation.' Which Vitruvian criterion is directly satisfied by ensuring unobstructed spatial circulation and functional room layout?
6Read the following passage adapted from Le Corbusier's 'Towards a New Architecture' (1923): 'The engineer, inspired by the law of Economy and governed by mathematical calculation, puts us in accord with universal law. He achieves harmony. The architect, by his arrangement of forms, realizes an order which is a pure creation of his spirit; by forms and shapes he solemnly affects our senses to an acute degree, they arouse in us profound emotions. Our eyes are constructed to see forms in light; light and shade reveal these forms: cubes, cones, spheres, cylinders or pyramids are the great primary forms which light reveals to advantage; the image of these is distinct and tangible within us without ambiguity. It is for that reason that these are beautiful forms, the most beautiful forms. Modern life demands, and is waiting for, a new kind of plan, both for the house and for the city. A great epoch has begun. There exists a new spirit. Industry, overwhelming us like a flood which rolls on toward its destined end, has furnished us with new tools adapted to this new epoch. The house is a machine for living in.' What is the primary thesis advanced by Le Corbusier in this excerpt?
7Read the following passage adapted from Le Corbusier's 'Towards a New Architecture': 'Our eyes are constructed to see forms in light; light and shade reveal these forms: cubes, cones, spheres, cylinders or pyramids are the great primary forms which light reveals to advantage; the image of these is distinct and tangible within us without ambiguity. It is for that reason that these are beautiful forms, the most beautiful forms. Roman architecture was great because it was conceived in simple masses: the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Thermae of Caracalla. Today, the architects of decorative styles paste pilasters, friezes, and scrolls onto facades, suffocating the volume under a cosmetic mask.' Why does Le Corbusier praise Roman architecture in the passage?
8Read the following passage regarding Le Corbusier's 'Five Points of a New Architecture' (1926): 'Reinforced concrete introduces a structural revolution: the point-load skeleton. By replacing thick, continuous load-bearing masonry walls with slender reinforced concrete columns (pilotis), the ground floor is liberated from dampness and darkness, allowing the garden and vehicle circulation to flow underneath the dwelling. Furthermore, the structural separation between columns and exterior enclosures eliminates the structural role of the external wall. As a result, the facade becomes a free curtain (façade libre) that can be configured purely for light and ventilation. Windows no longer need to be vertical slits punched into load-bearing stone to preserve masonry arches; they can extend uninterrupted along the entire horizontal breadth of the facade (fenêtre en longueur), flooding the interior with uniform illumination.' What structural change enables the introduction of the 'horizontal ribbon window' (fenêtre en longueur)?
9Read the following excerpt from Le Corbusier's architectural theory: 'A house is a machine for living in. Baths, sun, hot-water, cold-water, warmth at will, food conservation, hygiene, beauty in the proportion of lines. An armchair is a machine for sitting in and so on. Wash-basins are machines for washing... If we eliminate from our hearts and minds all dead concepts in regard to the houses and look at the question from a critical and objective point of view, we shall arrive at the 'House-Tool', the mass-production house, healthy (and morally so too) and beautiful in the same way that the working tools and instruments that accompany our existence are beautiful.' What does the author imply by describing the house as a 'machine for living in' and a 'House-Tool'?
10Read the following passage: 'The modern engineer designs ocean liners, airplanes, and bridges by adhering strictly to the laws of physical forces, aerodynamics, and structural equilibrium. When form is dictated by purpose and performance, a striking economy of line emerges naturally. In contrast, academic 19th-century architecture remained mired in eclectic pastiche, cloaking modern railway stations and department stores under Gothic gargoyles or Renaissance rustication. By ignoring the transformative potential of steel, reinforced concrete, and industrial glass, academic classicism created a widening gulf between construction technology and visual expression.' What is the author's primary criticism of 19th-century academic architecture?
About the TEST ARCHED Exam
The TEST ARCHED is the computerized national admission test coordinated by CISIA (Consorzio Interuniversitario Sistemi Integrati per l'Accesso) for entry into five-year single-cycle master's degree programs in Architecture and Building Engineering-Architecture (Corso di Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico in Architettura e Ingegneria Edile-Architettura, classe LM-4 c.u.) across Italian universities. The official test comprises 50 five-option multiple-choice questions delivered in a single 100-minute session, divided into five equal sections of 10 questions each: Reading Comprehension (comprensione del testo), Acquired Knowledge and History including Art History (storia e cultura generale), Logical Reasoning (ragionamento logico), Drawing and Representation (disegno e rappresentazione), and Physics and Mathematics (fisica e matematica). While CISIA manages the testing infrastructure and syllabus, individual university admission notices (bandi) establish local merit rankings, quotas, and application fees. This question bank provides independent practice items authored by OpenExamPrep based on the official CISIA syllabus. The four-option questions are a study adaptation, not an official test simulation or endorsed materials.
Exam sponsor: CISIA — Consorzio Interuniversitario Sistemi Integrati per l'Accesso. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
50 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes: 10 reading comprehension, 10 history and art history, 10 logical reasoning, 10 drawing and representation, and 10 physics and mathematics. Scoring: +1.0 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, 0 for unanswered.
Time Limit
100 minutes
Passing Score
Scored +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, 0 for blank. Merit ranking and minimum admission threshold set locally by each university.
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Reading Comprehension
Comprehension of complex prose passages assessing text structure, deductive synthesis, main thesis, rhetorical purpose, and contextual architectural and general vocabulary (10 questions)
History and Art History
Chronological knowledge of historical eras, architectural movements from antiquity to the 21st century, monumental typologies, key architects, treatises, and general culture (10 questions)
Logical Reasoning
Deductive reasoning, categorical syllogisms, conditionality, spatial-analytical problem solving, sequence recognition, and critical argument analysis (10 questions)
Drawing and Representation
Descriptive geometry, Monge's orthogonal projections, cavalier and military axonometry, linear perspective, metric scales, geometric solids, cross-sections, and shadow theory (10 questions)
Physics and Mathematics
Plane and solid Euclidean geometry, trigonometry, algebra, coordinate geometry, structural statics (reactions, moments, centroids), mechanics of materials, and thermodynamics (10 questions)
Preparing for the TEST ARCHED Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Scored +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, 0 for blank. Merit ranking and minimum admission threshold set locally by each university.
- Assessment: 50 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes: 10 reading comprehension, 10 history and art history, 10 logical reasoning, 10 drawing and representation, and 10 physics and mathematics. Scoring: +1.0 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, 0 for unanswered.
- Time limit: 100 minutes
- Exam / certification fees: Set by the participating university's admission call Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
TEST ARCHED: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TEST ARCHED and who administers it?
TEST ARCHED is the standardized computerized admission test coordinated by CISIA (Consorzio Interuniversitario Sistemi Integrati per l'Accesso) on behalf of Italian universities for admission to single-cycle five-year degree programs in Architecture and Building Engineering-Architecture (classe LM-4 c.u.). While CISIA provides the standardized test platform and question syllabus, individual universities issue local calls (bandi) setting admission deadlines, quotas, and rankings.
How is TEST ARCHED structured and timed?
The official TEST ARCHED consists of 50 multiple-choice questions with five options, to be completed in a single 100-minute session. It contains 10 questions in Reading Comprehension, 10 in Acquired Knowledge and History (including Art History), 10 in Logical Reasoning, 10 in Drawing and Representation, and 10 in Physics and Mathematics.
How is TEST ARCHED scored and what is the penalty for incorrect answers?
Under the CISIA framework, scoring awards +1.0 point for each correct answer, 0 points for each question left unanswered, and a penalty of -0.25 points for each incorrect answer, giving a maximum possible raw score of 50 points. Each university specifies its own minimum threshold and ranking formula in its annual admission call.
In what languages is TEST ARCHED administered?
TEST ARCHED is administered in Italian for Italian-taught degree courses and in English for English-taught architecture programs (such as the Architectural Design programs at Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, and Sapienza Università di Roma). Both language tracks share the identical content syllabus and structure.
Are these practice questions an official TEST ARCHED test?
No. These questions are an independent study adaptation created by OpenExamPrep based on the published CISIA syllabus. They utilize a four-option multiple-choice format designed for targeted learning and practice, and are not affiliated with, licensed by, or endorsed by CISIA, MUR, or any university.