TU Wien Informatik Reihungstest: Exam Parts and How to Prepare

The Informatik Aufnahmetest, often called the Reihungstest (ranking test, since places are filled strictly by rank), is the only admission filter for the Informatik and Wirtschaftsinformatik bachelor's programs at TU Wien and the University of Vienna. There is no fixed pass mark: places go strictly by score, and the last available place sets the cutoff. Here is the exam structure, the traps that catch people off guard, and how to prepare.

Structure: 82 questions in 2 hours

The test is written, entirely in German, paper-based, held at Messe Wien, and requires no coding. It has 82 multiple-choice questions split across three weighted parts.

• Part C, cognitive tasks, 50% of the score, 38 questions: number sequences (10), syllogisms (5), word analogies (15), matrices (8). No subject knowledge required; it is the biggest and most trainable part.
• Part A, subject knowledge, 35%, 25 questions from seven chapters of the book Abenteuer Informatik: sorting, compression, networks, hashing, cryptography, error correction, computability. Questions are built on the book's worked examples, not just its definitions.
• Part B, reading comprehension, 15%, around 19 questions (roughly 9 in German and 10 in English): a handful of passages, each with several richtig / falsch / nicht beurteilbar (true / false / cannot be judged) questions.

Where candidates lose the most points

• Matrices have no answer options: you describe the missing figure attribute by attribute (shape, pattern, position, rotation), unlike the multiple-choice matrix tests you may already know.
• Word analogies are widely considered the hardest part: two of the five options are nearly identical, and success comes down to precise German vocabulary.
• Number sequences look easy, but on the answer sheet each digit of your answer is marked separately (a repeated digit only once), so practice the marking itself, not just the arithmetic.
• In the syllogism part, the word "zumindest" (at least) carries a strict logical meaning, and the format closely mirrors the official practice sheet.

Registration and rules

Registration runs once a year, costs a €50 fee, and stays valid for the following winter and summer semester. On exam day, work Part C first: it is half the score, so tackle it with a fresh head, while Part B is only 15% of the score but eats the most time.

How real your chances are

Historical TU Wien data shows that 200 to 300 registered applicants simply do not show up every year. In 2020 about 90% of those who attended got a place, and in 2022 essentially everyone who showed up was admitted. This is historical TU Wien data, not a guarantee, but it shows that showing up prepared puts the odds solidly in your favor.

How to prepare

VWUPass's Reihungstest trainer covers all three parts plus a full timed mock exam. Two subject-knowledge chapters are free, full access costs €49 one-time for 12 months.