The Verification of Initial Preparation (VPI) consists of a compulsory test for all students enrolled in the 1st year of a three-year or single-cycle master's degree, in order to be able to ascertain the basic knowledge to successfully attend the chosen degree course.
The VPI is not a constraint for access to or attendance to the course, 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 60 minutes, in the following subject areas:
- Knowledge of the Italian language and comprehension of the text (15 questions).
- General chemistry (15 questions).
- Physics (15 questions).
- Biology (15 questions).
The positive outcome of the test is achieved with 50%+1 of the correct answers for each of the subject areas.
In the event of a negative outcome in one or more subject areas, an Additional Educational Obligation (OFA) is assigned to fill the gaps found in the subject areas with a negative outcome.
Failure to pass the Verification of Initial Preparation will result in the assignment of OFA on each of the subject areas.
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 comprehension of the text": 12-hour online course, with final exam.
- "General Chemistry": 10-hour pre-courses/support courses delivered in classroom/online mode, with final exam.
- "Physics": 10-hour pre-courses/support courses delivered in classroom/online mode, with final exam.
- "Biology": 10-hour pre-courses/support courses delivered in classroom/online mode, with final exam.
The student is required to attend the OFA according to the scheduled calendar (see the Newly Enrolled Students' Kit of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences). Students who have participated in 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 course 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 course of study, 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 course of origin is identical to that envisaged in the course 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.
Demo VPI
Thematic sub-areas:
At. It is now well known that practicing sports is good for your health, but perhaps not everyone knows that it is also very good for the mind and especially for study. A study by Rebecca White, of West Virginia University, reports that practicing physical activity three times a week, not necessarily at a competitive level, improves cognitive abilities and makes young people more receptive and sociable but also more serene and happy, highlighting how important sport is to improve the quality of life. Which of the following statements would most reinforce the concept expressed by the study?
- "Mens sana in corpore sano", a motto used today to highlight the importance of physical activity for the body and mind but not in all age groups
- Sport activity in young people can be a source of distraction from study and therefore affect school performance
- Young people who regularly practice sports perform better on memory tests, showing greater ability to concentrate and visual-spatial coordination
B. The best way to please a person is not to do them a favor, but to convince them to do you a favor, this is called the Ben Franklin effect. Which of the following statements constitutes the implicit logical passage in the passage?
- The Ben Franklin effect assumes that we often receive pleasures from people who like us
- The Ben Franklin effect suggests that if we convince a person to do us a favor, that person, by observing their behavior, will have a favorable attitude toward us
- If someone does you a favor, it means they like you
GRAMMAR
C. Which of the following pronouns is contained in the sentence: Was Piero fascinated by the words spoken a few minutes ago by the one I believe to be the headmaster?
- Qualifying
- Demonstrative
- Indefinite
- Interrogative
Q. Which of the following adjectives is contained in the sentence: Did Marta really waste a very special job opportunity that happens to few in life?
- Qualifying
- Demonstrative
- Indefinite
- Interrogative
LEXICON
E. What is the opposite of the word prodigality?
- Repentance
- Parsimony
- Mendicity
- Exiguity
F. What is the opposite of the word remora?
- Resistance
- Approach
- Immediacy
- Independence
SYNTAX
G. What is the complement of companionship in the sentence: I rented a house for the summer with some friends from college?
- A house
- For the summer
- With some friends
- Of the University
H. What is the complement of limitation in the sentence: Antonio is very experienced in his work, which he carries out with great passion?
- Antonio
- In his work
- Who
- With great passion
The. What reaction is used to obtain an anhydride?
- Metal + Oxygen
- Non-Metal + Oxygen
- Gas + Water
- Base + Acid
J. How do you get a salt?
- Gas + Water
- Non-Metal + Oxygen
- Base + Acid
- Metal + Oxygen
K. The unit of measurement of electrical resistance is called:
- volt
- amp
- watt
- ohm
L. What is the transition from solid to liquid state called?
- Fusion
- Evaporation
- Condensation
- Sublimation
M. The environment with only abiotic factors is said:
- habitat
- ecosystem
- biotope
- ecology
No. Which of the following pairings is correct?
- Habitat - natural environment made up of living organisms and the physical factors that characterize it
- Ecosystem - environment with only abiotic factors
- Biotope - natural environment in which an organism lives
- Ecology - the science that studies the relationships of organisms to each other and to the physical environment in which they live
- Young people who regularly practice sports perform better on memory tests, showing greater ability to concentrate and visual-spatial coordination
- The Ben Franklin effect suggests that if we convince a person to do us a favor, that person, by observing their behavior, will have a favorable attitude toward us
- Demonstrative
- Qualifying
- Parsimony
- Immediacy
- With some friends
- In his work
- Non-Metal + Oxygen
- Base + Acid
- ohm
- Fusion
- biotope
- Ecology - the science that studies the relationships of organisms to each other and to the physical environment in which they live