Vienna Informatics Entrance Test 2026: how it works, and how to practise free
The Informatics entrance test decides admission to Informatics and Business Informatics at TU Wien and the University of Vienna. It is the only filter: score well enough and you are in.
This guide walks through what the test covers, how it is weighted, and where the last weeks of prep pay off most. You can practise all three parts free on VWUPass, no sign-up needed.
Practise all three parts freeWhat is the Informatics entrance test?
It is a written, German-language multiple-choice test, about 2 hours long, with roughly 82 questions. It does not test programming: it is about logical reasoning, one book of computing basics, and reading comprehension.
TU Wien and Uni Wien use the same test but run it separately. The two universities can have different test dates, so check your exact date on the dates page.
- Language: German (one part also has English passages)
- Duration: about 2 hours, paper-based
- Size: roughly 82 multiple-choice questions
- No coding, no fixed pass mark: places are ranked by score
The three parts and their weighting
The test has three parts with very different weights. The cognitive part is by far the biggest and also the most trainable, so practice pays off most there.
- Cognitive part, about 50%: number sequences, syllogisms, word analogies and matrices. Pure pattern and logic tasks, no prior knowledge needed.
- Subject knowledge, about 35%: questions from the book "Abenteuer Informatik" by Jens Gallenbacher.
- Reading comprehension, about 15%: checking statements against texts, in German and English.
How admission works
There is no fixed pass mark. Every place is filled strictly by score: the last available place sets the cutoff. So every point counts, including in the small parts.
Before the test you register once a year, pay the fee, and complete an online self-assessment. The exact deadlines and fee are on the dates page.
How to prepare
Because the cognitive part is half the score and pure practice, it gives the most return per hour. Drill the four task types under time pressure until speed and accuracy are there.
For the subject knowledge from "Abenteuer Informatik", read chapter by chapter with the worked examples, since many questions come from the worked examples, not just definitions. For reading comprehension, a bit of timed practice usually does it.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Informatics entrance test?
It is doable if you prepare. There is no fixed pass mark, and historically most prepared candidates at TU Wien got a place. The biggest hurdle for non-native speakers is German vocabulary in the word analogies.
Are you allowed to practise for the test?
Yes. The task types are known and practice is explicitly worthwhile. On VWUPass you can practise all three parts free and without signing up.
Do you need to know how to code?
No. The test checks logical reasoning, basic knowledge from one book, and reading comprehension. Programming skills are not required.
How many questions are there and how long is the test?
About 82 multiple-choice questions in roughly 2 hours, split across the three parts.