Assessment is carried out by:
- international certification from among those recognized by the University, or
- taking an exam in Bocconi
International certifications
As an alternative to the Bocconi exam students may only choose to take one of the international certifications exams indicated by the University. The registration of the achieved result in the academic career, after being converted into a number grade out of a possible thirty is made by the Secretary’s Office of the Language Centre under presentation of the original certification.
The level of the certifications presented must be for each language equal to or higher than the exit levels (in accordance with the criteria indicated in "Exit levels").
International certification is registered in the student's academic career and it is valid for 3 years (except for some international tests which are valid for less time, see www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Exams-Certificates.
The list of international certifications recognized for the different exams is published at http://www.unibocconi.eu/ /languagecentre , in Exams-Certificates .
For both the first and second foreign languages, international certifications may be presented starting with the first year of studies. In any case, the related credit points and marks are attributed to the year of studies of the course
With respect to the first foreign language it should be noted that in order to be registered in the student's academic career, an international foreign language certification the following cases are possible:
- the certification presented is of level B2 general it can replace only the exams of the 1st and second year. Specifically:
- if the certification is presented during the first year of studies: 1 credit point will be registered in the student's academic career for the first year of studies and 2 credit points will be registered for the second year of studies; in this case only the first year credit point is calculated to pass from the first to the second year of studies and only if the certification is presented by 15 July 2013;
- if the certification is presented during the second year of studies or later, the student will be lacking the credit points necessary for the exams of each year until these are registered.
- the certification presented is of level general C1 or C2 or legal language B2, C1 or C2, it can replace only the exams of the first, second and fourth year. Specifically:
- if the certification is presented during the first year of studies: 1 credit point will be registered in the student's academic career for the first year of studies and 2 credit points will be registered for the second year of studies and 2 credits registered for the fourth year of studies; in this case only the first year credit is calculated to pass from the first to the second year of studies and only if the certification is presented by 15 July 2013;
- if the certification is presented during the second years of studies or later, the student will be lacking the credit points necessary for the exams of each year until these are registered.
With respect to the first foreign language exam is is also specified that , in all cases, when registering the certification in his career:
- student has not taken the Bocconi exam: the grade of the certification, converted into a grade expressed out of thirty, will be given:
- as the result of both the first and second exam if the certification is of level B2 general language
-as the result of the first, second and third exam if the certification is of level C1 or C2 general language or legal B2, C1 or C2.
- student has already taken the first Bocconi exam and has it registered in his/her academic career: the grade expressed out of thirty will be given as the result of the second exam only, with the possibility of the third exam on the basis of the level and linguistic area of the certification (as explained above).
International foreign language certifications can be received by sitting an exam with an official examination centre, both in Italy and abroad.
Students are responsible for any costs related to exams certification.
For students who are interested in the Bocconi exam or certification exams, the Language Centre provides information and guidance on exam assessment methods. Specific materials for exam preparation and past exam papers are also available at the language laboratory.
Bocconi exam
The assessment is carried out by taking an exam which tests comprehension skills and knowledge of written and spoken language depending on the level of competence to be achieved.
The exam is structured in a written exam and an oral integrative compulsory exam. Admittance in the oral exam depends on passing the written exam.
Only for the first language, the first-year exam includes a written exam only and it is a prerequisite of the second-year exam and the second-year exam is a prerequisite of the fourth-year exam.
Students can apply for having the fourth year (first language) curricular exam exempted i.e. having the grade achieved in the second year CLMG or former Bocconi undergraduate degree in Giurisprudenza [Law]exam recorded in the student academic career (exam grade or grade of the recognised international certification expressed out of thirties according to the appropriate tables defined by the Language Centre) only for the following exam (English first language first year of studies) exit levels: B2 legal, C1 general, C1 legal, C2 general, C2 legal.
If students who meet the above necessary requirements apply for the exemption must hand in the request form to the Academic Affairs Division Desk from 1 August to 30 September 2012 and from 08 to 22 January 2013.
The second foreign language includes a partial exam (optional) to be taken in the I semester and a final exam to be taken in the II semester of the fifth year of studies(for information on partial exam check the website at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecentre in Exam Certificates>Course contents and Exam requirements.
Exams follow the same language standards as those set for international certifications. Assessment of foreign language knowledge depends on the final exam result as well as other means of evaluation to check progress made during the course of studies:
- for the first foreign language
- positive results each year for active classroom participation and guided independent study;
- for the second foreign language
- positive results each year for active classroom participation and guided independent study;
- passing partial exam.
The grade achieved is included in the calculation of the Grade Point Average (GPA).
The level of competence achieved is recorded on the official exam report and on the official academic transcript.
Exit levels which are higher than those foreseen for curricular exams of first and second languages are only possible through the registration in the student's academic career of any international certifications recognized by the University.
