Studying at Politecnico di Milano: A Complete Guide to Exam Season

If you're studying at Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi), you know that exam season here operates differently from other Italian universities—and definitely differently from universities abroad.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about planning your study time effectively at one of Italy's top technical universities.

Understanding the PoliMi Exam System

The Three Session Structure

Unlike universities with continuous examination, PoliMi concentrates exams into three main sessions:

1. Winter Session (January-February): Exams for first-semester courses
2. Summer Session (June-July): Exams for second-semester courses
3. Fall Session (September): Make-up exams for both semesters

Each course typically offers 2-3 exam dates per session.

What This Means for Study Planning

• Concentrated pressure: All your exams happen in a 4-6 week window
• Strategic choices: You need to prioritize which exams to take when
• Limited retake options: Missing an exam date reduces your opportunities

The CFU Reality Check

Standard CFU-to-Study-Time Ratio

The official recommendation is:

• 1 CFU = 25 hours of total work (lectures + study)
• Typical course: 10 CFU = 250 hours total

But here's the reality for most students:

• High-difficulty courses (e.g., Analisi Matematica, Fisica Tecnica): 15-20 hours of study per CFU
• Medium-difficulty courses (e.g., programming courses with practice): 10-15 hours per CFU
• Theory-heavy courses (e.g., some management or humanities courses): 8-12 hours per CFU

How to Calculate Your Actual Study Needs

For each exam, estimate:

1. Total CFU of the course
2. Your understanding level (good attendance vs. catching up)
3. Exam format (written vs. oral vs. project)
4. Your background (is this your strong subject?)

Example: Analisi Matematica 1 (10 CFU), weak background, written exam

• Realistic study time: 150-180 hours
• Over 4 weeks: 35-45 hours per week
• Per day: 5-6 hours of focused study

Strategic Exam Planning

The First vs. Second Date Dilemma

Each course usually offers at least two exam dates in the main session.

Take the first date if:

• You've kept up with the material
• You want to free up time for harder exams
• A bad result won't demoralize you (you can retake)

Take the second date if:

• You need the extra 2-3 weeks of study time
• You have multiple exams clustered on the first date
• This is your hardest course and needs priority

Managing Multiple Exams

Most PoliMi students take 4-6 exams per session. Here's how to sequence them:

The Front-Load Strategy

Take your hardest exam first (on the second date if needed):

1. You have the most mental energy
2. You can dedicate more time before other exams start
3. Success builds momentum for other exams

The Build-Up Strategy

Take easier exams first:

1. Build confidence with early wins
2. Clear them off your plate
3. Dedicate final weeks to the beast exam

Which strategy is best? Depends on your psychology. If you tend to procrastinate on hard things, front-load. If you get demotivated by initial failure, build up.

Subject-Specific Study Strategies

Mathematics & Physics

Courses: Analisi Matematica, Geometria e Algebra Lineare, Fisica

Study approach:

• Theory: 30% of time (understand the concepts)
• Practice: 70% of time (solve problems)
• Key resource: Past exam papers (old "appelli")

Timeline:

• Weeks 1-2: Review theory, start easy problems
• Weeks 3-4: Practice problems at exam difficulty
• Week 5: Past exam papers under timed conditions
• Final week: Review mistakes, weak topics

Programming & Computer Science

Courses: Fondamenti di Informatica, Algoritmi e Principi dell'Informatica

Study approach:

• Code every day (even 30 minutes)
• Understand patterns, not just memorize solutions
• Practice on your own IDE before exam environment

Common mistakes:

• Only reading code (you must write it)
• Not practicing under time pressure
• Ignoring edge cases

Engineering Courses

Courses: Meccanica, Elettrotecnica, Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali

Study approach:

• Understand the physics behind formulas
• Create formula sheets (even if not allowed, the process helps)
• Practice mixed problems (exams rarely test one concept in isolation)

The Part-Time Work Factor

Many PoliMi students work part-time, especially in Milano's expensive rental market.

Realistic Work-Study Balance

Light exam session (2-3 easy exams):

• Can maintain 15-20 hours/week of work
• Start studying 3-4 weeks before exams

Heavy exam session (4+ exams, including hard ones):

• Reduce to 8-10 hours/week maximum
• Start studying 5-6 weeks before exams
• Take unpaid leave the final week if possible

Jobs Compatible with Exam Season

Better options:

• Tutoring (flexible hours, can study during downtime)
• Weekend restaurant work (clears weekdays for study)
• Online freelancing (full control of schedule)

Harder options:

• Retail (rigid shifts, busy weekends)
• Delivery (long hours, physical exhaustion)
• Call center (mentally draining, hard to study after)

Resources Every PoliMi Student Should Use

Official Resources

1. Webeep: Course materials, announcements, practice exams
2. Servizi Online: Exam registration, grade tracking
3. BeeP: Some professors still use the old platform

Student Resources

1. Student associations: Often organize study groups and share notes
2. Appunti-sharing groups: Telegram/WhatsApp groups for each course
3. Past exam database: Crucial for understanding exam format and difficulty

Don't Forget

• Professor office hours: Use them! Especially 2 weeks before exam
• Study rooms: Book early, they fill up during exam season
• University counseling: Free support if exam stress becomes overwhelming

The September Session Strategy

If you have exams remaining in September:

The Dilemma

• Pro: Extra time to study
• Con: No summer break, starts new year behind

Minimize September Exams

• Don't automatically defer to September because "more time"
• Each September exam makes your next session harder
• Better to retake in January than postpone to September

If You Must Use September

• Plan it like a mini-session (2-3 weeks focused study)
• Don't try to work full-time AND study
• Have everything else ready for the new semester

Mental Health During Exam Season

PoliMi exam sessions are intense. Protect your mental health:

Warning Signs

• Panic attacks or severe anxiety
• Inability to sleep before exams
• Thoughts of dropping out over one exam
• Complete loss of motivation

What to Do

• Talk to the university counseling service (it's free and confidential)
• Consider strategic withdrawal from one exam rather than failing all
• Connect with other students (you're not alone in struggling)

Remember: PoliMi has a high difficulty level by design. Struggling doesn't mean you don't belong here.

Creating Your Personal Study Plan

The Week-by-Week Template

6 Weeks Before:

• Map all exam dates
• Calculate study hours needed per course
• Reduce work commitments

5-4 Weeks Before:

• Focus on hardest course (50% of daily study time)
• Keep up with others (25% each for 2 other courses)

3-2 Weeks Before:

• Hardest course moves to practice mode
• Ramp up second-hardest course
• Start practice exams

Final Week:

• Practice exams only
• Review common mistakes
• Sleep well, eat well

Exam Week:

• Light review morning of exam
• No all-nighters (they don't work)
• After each exam, one evening off before next prep

Final Thoughts

Studying at PoliMi is challenging, but it's also preparation for real-world engineering and technical work. The exam system teaches you:

• Time management under pressure
• Prioritization of complex tasks
• Resilience after setbacks
• Strategic thinking about resource allocation

These skills matter more than any single exam result.

Plan early, study smart, and remember that thousands of students before you have succeeded at this exact same challenge.

Buona fortuna!

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