Verification of Initial Preparation (VPI) and Additional Educational Obligations (OFA)
The Verification of Initial Preparation (VPI) consists of a compulsory test for all students enrolled in the 1st year of a undergraduate programme or integrated five-year/six-year degree programme, in order to be able to ascertain the basic knowledge to successfully attend the chosen degree programme.
The VPI is not a constraint for access to or attendance to the programme, but it is an opportunity for students to measure their knowledge and skills at the beginning of their university career.
The date on which the test is taken is automatically assigned following enrolment. You can view and modify it, only if strictly necessary, through your personal iCatt page.
The test is held remotely online and the technical details are communicated to the student following enrolment.
For this degree programme, the test consists of a series of online multiple-choice questions, lasting a total of 40 minutes, in the following subject area:
- Knowledge of the Italian language, general knowledge and comprehension of the text (30 questions).
The positive outcome of the test is achieved with 50%+1 of the correct answers.
In the event of a negative result or absence from the test, an Additional Educational Obligation (OFA) is assigned to fill the deficiencies found.
Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to view the dedicated section by clicking here.
For this degree programme, the Faculty has determined the following Additional Educational Obligations:
- "Knowledge of the Italian language and reading comprehension": 12-hour online course, with final exam.
Students are required to attend the OFA according to the scheduled calendar (consult the Freshman Kit of their Faculty). Students who have attended at least 70% of the scheduled hours are admitted to the final examination of the OFA course. Passing the final exam entails the fulfilment of the OFA and the possibility of continuing in the university programme without further Additional Educational Obligations. During the first year, there are up to 3 attempts to pass the final examination, without the need to attend the OFA course again.
In case of failure to pass the OFA final exam, the Group Tutor in charge will contact the student in order to support him/her in the process of accompanying him/her to the above test.
At the end of the early summer session and/or the summer session of the exams, the lecturer in charge of the study programme, having evaluated the results of the VPI and the final examinations of the aforementioned course, and taking into account the exams of the 1st year passed by the student, may consider the OFA to have been fulfilled.
Otherwise, the student is required to renew his/her enrolment in the first year of the programme as a repeating student.
Students from other universities are exempt from taking the VPI only in the event of admission to years subsequent to the 1st year.
Students transferring internally between Università Cattolica programmes are exempt from taking the VPI only in the following cases:
- in the case of admission to years subsequent to the 1st year;
- in the event that the VPI carried out in the programme of origin is identical to that envisaged in the programme of destination in terms of specificity and number of the thematic areas and the duration of the same. In this case, students retain the result of the VPI in the programme of destination and any OFAs assigned in the previous course of study remain to be filled, if they have not yet been taken.