The Politecnico di Milano is one of Italy’s most prestigious institutions, particularly known for its excellence in engineering and architecture. For prospective students, gaining admission to its highly competitive programs requires passing the ARCHED (Architecture Admission Test).
Overview of ARCHED 2024
In 2024, the ARCHED test was conducted remotely for both the Bachelor’s program in Architectural Design (known as “Laurea” in Italian) and the single-cycle Master of Science program (Laurea Magistrale) in Building Engineering-Architecture.
- ARCHED in English was held on July 24, 2024.
- ARCHED in Italian took place on July 26, 2024.
Test Format and Structure
The ARCHED test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, each with only one correct answer. Applicants have 100 minutes to complete the exam, which is designed to assess a wide range of skills and knowledge, including:
- Reading comprehension
- Logical reasoning
- Art history
- Drawing and representation
- Physics
- Mathematics
Given the broad scope of the test, time management is crucial. Practicing under timed conditions is highly recommended to improve your ability to navigate the exam efficiently.
Admission Scores and Rankings
In 2024, the admission process involved three rounds of rankings:
- First ranking: Published on August 5, 2024
- Second ranking: Published on August 26, 2024
- Final ranking: Published on September 2, 2024
Cutoff Scores: English vs. Italian ARCHED
Determining the exact cutoff scores for ARCHED can be challenging, as this information is not always readily available. However, one notable trend is that the cutoff for the English-language test is typically higher than that of the Italian-language test. This discrepancy is largely due to the higher number of spots available for Italian and EU nationals.
For example, in 2024, the Milano Politecnico Leonardo Campus offered:
- 795 spots for Italian and EU nationals (745 in the Italian track, and 50 in the English track).
- 55 spots for non-EU students (5 in the Italian track, and 50 in the English track).
As a result, the minimum score to gain admission in 2024 was approximately 33 points for the English track, compared to 26 points for the Italian test.
If you’re aiming to secure a spot at one of Italy’s top architecture and engineering schools, now is the time to start preparing for ARCHED. Good luck!

