Aufnahmetest Informatik

Students rate it about 6 out of 10 on average. The cognitive part (Part C, 50% of the score) is consistently named the hardest, especially the word analogies. The exam's reputation is more intimidating than the reality: it is multiple choice, paper based, and contains no programming.

At TU Wien, there is no fixed passing score: the 670 places are filled strictly by rank, so the cutoff is set by the 670th best result. Every year roughly 200 to 300 registered applicants do not show up, which raises the odds for those who attend. In 2020 about 90% of applicants got a place, and in 2022 essentially everyone who sat the exam was admitted. A prepared candidate who shows up has strong chances. (Historical TU Wien data, not a guarantee.)

No. The Aufnahmetest contains no coding and no programming. Part A tests concepts from the book Abenteuer Informatik, Part B is reading comprehension, and Part C is pure pattern and logic tasks.

The exam is held entirely in German (Part B also includes English passages). German at B2 level is strongly recommended to sit the exam, and a C1 certificate is required to enrol after passing.

For Part A, work through the seven required chapters of Abenteuer Informatik and practice the worked examples, not just the definitions. Part C is 50% of the score and the most trainable through drilling: number sequences, syllogisms, word analogies and matrices.

It is the textbook the Part A questions are based on, written by Jens Gallenbacher. The seven required chapters cover sorting, data compression, networking and the OSI model, hashing, cryptography, error-correcting codes and computability. The concepts are taught with paper models and analogies, so no computer is needed, and the Viennese universities publish an official excerpt.

The Viennese universities do not publish past papers. The only official materials are a book excerpt and an info sheet with sample questions. Students also reconstruct exams from memory (Gedächtnisprotokolle) on the VoWi wiki. Our trainer turns this into structured practice.

You do not have to solve the parts in the printed order. A sensible order is Part C, then Part A, then Part B. Part C is 50% of the score and the most demanding, so tackle it while you are fresh. Part A gives fast, reliable points. Part B is only worth 15% but is time consuming, so leave it for last and do not over invest in it. Skip hard questions and return to them later.

Two hours for all 82 questions. A common split is roughly 25 minutes for Part A, 65 for Part C and 30 for Part B. Time is tight for some, and transferring the matrix answers onto the sheet also eats time, so plan for it.

The 2026 Aufnahmetest is on 13 July 2026 at Messe Wien. Registration runs from 1 April to 4 May 2026, the fee is 50 euros, and registration is once per year (valid for the following winter and summer semester).