Format and requirements
Exam structure
82 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, split into three weighted parts.
Part C · Cognitive tasks
38 questions · no subject knowledge needed
Pure pattern and logic tasks. The biggest and most trainable part of the test.
Part A · Subject knowledge
25 questions · 7 chapters of "Abenteuer Informatik"
Application based: questions come from the book's worked examples, not just definitions. Read and work through it. Wrong ticks count against right ones, but no question scores below zero.
Part B · Reading comprehension
~19 questions · ~9 in German + ~10 in English
A few passages, each with several richtig / falsch / nicht beurteilbar questions.
What makes it tricky
A few mechanics catch unprepared candidates off guard.
Matrices have no answer choices
Unlike most matrix tests, you describe the missing figure attribute by attribute (shape, pattern, position, rotation). MedAT-style practice does not prepare you for this.
Analogies are the hardest part
Five options, two of them almost identical. Success comes down to precise German vocabulary, which hits non-native speakers hardest.
Number sequences look easy
Only basic arithmetic, but each digit of the answer is marked separately on the sheet (repeated digits only once). Practice the marking, not just the math.
Logic hinges on "zumindest"
In the syllogism part the word "zumindest" (at least) carries a strict logical meaning. The format closely mirrors the official practice sheet.
How admission works
The Aufnahmetest is the only filter for admission. Here is how the day and the ranking actually work.
Register
Register once a year and pay the €50 fee. Registration stays valid for the following winter and summer semester.
Take the test
A 2-hour, paper-based multiple-choice test at Messe Wien, held entirely in German. No coding.
Get ranked
There is no fixed pass mark. Places are filled strictly by score: the last available place sets the cutoff. Exact numbers differ by university, see below.
Less scary than it looks
At TU Wien, roughly 200 to 300 registered applicants do not show up every year. In 2020 about 90% of applicants got a place, and in 2022 essentially everyone who attended was admitted. Show up prepared and your real chances are strong. (Historical TU Wien data, not a guarantee.)
Exam-day tip: work Part C, then Part A, then Part B. Part C is half the score, so tackle it fresh; Part B is only 15% but eats the most time.
Two universities, one exam
The Aufnahmetest format is identical everywhere. Study places, the cutoff and the registration link depend on which university you apply to. In 2026 the two informatics tests took place at the same time, so check the dates for your year before you register.
TU Wien
Informatik · Wirtschaftsinformatik
Universität Wien
Informatik · Wirtschaftsinformatik
Dates & registration 2026
Registration runs once a year. Plan time for the online Self-Assessment before the deadline.
The online Self-Assessment must be completed by 4 May 2026. Registration is valid for the following winter and summer semester. The Self-Assessment is not graded: its result does not enter the procedure.