Introduction

Are you in the process of applying for a bachelor’s degree program at an Italian university? If so, you’ve likely encountered two key entry requirement tests: the English TOLC-E and SAT exams. But how do you decide which offers you the best shot at acceptance?

The simple answer is you do not have a better chance of being admitted just because you would take the TOLC instead of the SAT or vice versa. But there are various external factors that will make one better than the other.

In this article, we’ll closely examine the pros and cons of both entrance exams. By the end, you’ll have the insights you need to confidently choose the exam that aligns best with your goals.

Acceptance in Italian Universities

If you are unsure which university you are applying to, then it is crucial to know which of the two exams is more widely accepted for admittance. The following table shows the availability of SAT and TOLC-E as a requirement for admission.

It is evident that taking the English TOLC-E exam will give you more options when applying for a university in Italy. However, taking the SAT makes you eligible to apply to universities in the U.S. and more than 80 countries across the globe.

Difficulty Level

Scope of test

There’s a lot of overlap in the math section of the SAT and EN-TOLC-E tests. However, the scope of the SAT is slightly larger as it involves extra topics like trigonometry, probability, statistics, and plots.

Time duration

This is also evident in the time allocation for the math section, where the TOLC-E has 30 minutes duration and the SAT math sections span for 70 minutes (Digital SAT) or 80 minutes (SAT).

Question formats

Approximately 30% of Math questions in the SAT are set in context. These in-context (“word”) questions can be challenging, especially if you are a non-native English speaker. The EN-TOLC-E entirely consists of MCQ questions that are short and straightforward to understand.

Overall Difficulty

You’ll be allowed to use your calculator on the entire math section of the digital SAT and there’s a calculator built right into the digital testing application. On the contrary, the TOLC-E exam prohibits the use of a calculator. This will play a critical role among students who aren’t confident with their mental calculations and simplifications.

Another aspect that adds to the difficulty level of the TOLC-E is the negative marking policy. You will lose marks for an incorrect answer! This policy is not there in the SAT exam.

The fact that TOLC-E math section has a smaller scope and fewer context-based questions eventually balances out the other factors mentioned above. Hence, the overall difficulty of both tests is quite even or the SAT is slightly easier than the TOLC-E.

Test Availability

Each year, students across nearly 200 countries take the SAT. Therefore it is likely that there is a test center in your country as well. This is an advantage if you are planning to take the SAT. The TOLC-E does not have many test centers outside Italy from which you can take the paper-based exam.

Both SAT and TOLC-E can be taken from home if you can meet the regulations and hardware and software requirements of each exam board. The SAT offers the Digital SAT exam mode, whereas TOLC-E has the TOLC@HOME facility to take the SAT and TOLC-E digitally.

Both exams are available around the year. The SAT registrations are usually available once in the following months:

• March
• May
• June
• August
• October
• November
• December

The TOLC-E test is available to book on a daily basis. Therefore you can retake the test more frequently (there is a once-per-month rule for retakes) than the SAT. For TOLC-E dates and availability you can refer to the official page.

Cost Comparison

SAT Fees

The SAT registration fee is $\text{$60 plus a $43}$ regional fee (for International students).

TOLC-E Fees

The TOLC-E fee is set at €30 (~ $32). Unlike the SAT, the Cisia fee is independent of your geographic location. There is also a lot of flexibility for modifications of bookings and absences. Following are some terms of the tolc-e registration:

• A TOLC booking can’t be deleted but the date, center, and type can be modified by the candidates. Changes are allowed only if the previously chosen date is still available.
• Even if you are absent for a scheduled exam date, the fees you pay can be used to book a new date, even at a new test center. (only applicable for one absence)
• The fee already paid can be used only within the same calendar year.

Preparation Resources

As mentioned earlier the SAT is a widely regarded examination across the world, hence access to free and paid, world-class practice resources is substantially higher than that of the TOLC-E exam. This is one of the major drawbacks for TOLC-E candidates.

One of our objectives at Cloud LearnX is to close the gap for resources in TOLC-E and to provide one-to-one training sessions for en-TOLC-E candidates around the world at an affordable rate.

Comparison summary

In summary, the decision between taking the SAT or TOLC-E for university admission is not a one-size-fits-all scenario. Your choice should align with your academic goals, geographic preferences, and comfort with various test formats.

While the SAT offers broader international acceptance and more extensive resources, the TOLC-E caters specifically to Italian universities and may be more accessible for certain candidates. Ultimately, your success depends not only on the test you choose but also on your dedication to preparation and achieving the best possible score.

Keep in mind that Cloud LearnX is here to bridge the resource gap for TOLC-E candidates with personalized, affordable training sessions to help you reach your university admission goals.