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GUIDES TO THE UNIVERSITY

2014-2015 A.Y.
Bachelor of Science Programs (3-y)



3.1.8.
Method of assessing foreign language knowledge

Knowledge is assessed by one of the following methods:

  • international certification from among those recognized by the University, or
  • Bocconi exam.


International certifications

Students can choose to take an exam for only one of the international certifications recognized by the University instead of the Bocconi exam. Students will then apply to have the result converted into a mark out of thirty by the Language Centre Secretary's Office under presentation of the original certification and recorded in their academic career.

The level of the international certification must at least correspond to or be higher than the exit level set for the language in question (see "Exit levels").

For the purpose of registering international certifications in the academic career, certifications are valid for a period of 3 years from the date they were obtained (except for some international tests which are valid for less time, see www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Exams-Certificates).

The list of the international language certifications and tests recognized for the different exams is published on the website at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Exams-Certificates.

In addition to the list of international general language certifications, the University also recognizes special language certifications for MSc programs published on the same website section.

International certifications can be presented even in the first year of studies; this applies to both 1st and 2nd languages. In any case, students will have the credit points and marks expressed out of thirty registered for the year of studies in which the course is placed in the program structure.

Only the credit points referring to the first year language exam are considered in the calculation of the 24 credit points needed to pass to the second year of studies, and only upon submitting the certification by 13 July 2015.

If the certification is submitted in a subsequent moment than the year of studies in which the course is positioned, the student will turn out not to have yet passed the exam until the recording is made.

Only for students initially enrolled up to the 2013-14 academic year, with reference to the first language (2 compulsory exams) if at the time of certification registration the student:

  • has not passed any Bocconi exams: the certification mark which has been converted into a mark out of thirty will be shown as the mark achieved for both the first and second exams;
  • has already passed and registered the first Bocconi exam in the study plan: the certification mark which has been converted into a mark out of thirty will be shown as the mark for the second exam only.


All students must take the exams for international certifications through an official Examination Centre recognized, either in Italy or abroad.

Students are responsible for the costs associated with sitting the exams for international certifications.

The certifications submitted for the admission procedures can also be used as an alternative to the Bocconi exam. These certifications can only be submitted if they satisfy the exit level requirement and are among those recognized by the University (upon presentation of the original certification to the Secretary’s Office of the Language Centre within 3 years from the conferral date, except for some international tests which are valid for less time, see www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Exams - Certificates).

The Language Centre offers a service which is designed to give guidance and information on the exam assessment methods and to provide specific preparation materials and past exam papers which are available at the language laboratories. This service is offered to all students interested in taking the Bocconi exams or in international certifications.


Bocconi exam

Language knowledge is assessed by an exam. This exam is designed to test the student's comprehension and knowledge of both written and spoken language adapted to the appropriate language level of competence required. The exam is structured in a written exam and a compulsory oral integrative one; admission in the oral exam is subject to passing the written exam.

Only for the students initially enrolled up to the 2014-15 academic year, the first language include 2 compulsory exams of the first and second year. The exam of the first-year constitutes in a written exam only and it is a prerequisite of the second-year exam.

Only for the students initially enrolled in the 2014-15 academic year, the first language include one compulsory exam in the first year and a partial exam (optional and on one date) in the first semester (for information on the partial exam see www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Exam - Certificates> Bocconi exams).

For all students, for the second language, there is one final exam (compulsory) in the second semester and also one partial exam (optional and on one date) in the first semester (for information on partial exams check the website at http://www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Exams - Certificates> Bocconi exams).

Exams are prepared in accordance with the same language standards relating to international certifications.

The final grade is given on the basis of the final exam grade and other elements such like the learning progress, on the basis of the academic year of the initial enrollment (see www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter in Exams-Certificates> Bocconi exams.

Specifically:

  • positive results for active class participation and for guided individual study each year;
  • passing of the partial exam (only when scheduled) and passing the written and oral exam in the first two sessions available
  • sitting and passing the written and oral exam for the first time in the same session.


The exam final grade is out of thirty and is included in the calculation of the Grade Point Average (GPA).

The language level achieved when passing an exam (structured in written and oral exam) is specifically indicated on the official exam report and official academic transcript.

Students can achieve higher exit levels than the curricular courses for both 1st and 2nd languages. This is only possible through the registration of one of the international certifications recognized by the University in the student's academic career.

Last change 28/07/2014 15:00