Does the CEnT-S Replace IELTS? No. Here Is What to Book
No. The CEnT-S is in English, but it does not prove your English level. In 2026, the universities below asked for B2 English as well. Some accepted proof other than a certificate. If your call needs a certificate and you have none, book that test early.
What the universities asked for
These are the 2026 calls. A call (bando in Italian) is a university's admission notice.
| University · programme | English proof asked for in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Bologna · Pharmacy, Rimini | B2 proof: a listed certificate, an IB diploma, an English-medium IGCSE or English-medium study. Only applicants with B2 proof could be admitted. |
| Trento · Economics and Management | B2 level |
| Sapienza · Sustainable Building Engineering | B2. One certificate (IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Cambridge B2 First or Trinity ISE II), or other proof such as an IB Diploma or study in English. |
| Sapienza · Bioinformatics | B2 level needed to sit the test. For a certificate, check the call. |
Your university is not in the table, for example Polimi or Padova? Read its call. Look for "English language requirements" or "B2".
Each university has its own list of accepted tests and scores.
Book your English test first
- Read your programme's call. Note the English rule, the CEnT-S rule and the deadline.
- If your call needs a certificate and you have none, book that test first.
- Book the CEnT-S in a window whose score arrives before your deadline. See CEnT-S exam dates.
- Prepare for the CEnT-S on its own terms: six sections, six clocks, and −0.25 for a wrong answer.
The Reading section is not an English certificate
For 2027/28 entry, the CEnT-S starts with a Reading section.[1] It has 10 questions on English texts at B2 level. It is part of an entry test.
The 2026 calls came before this section existed. So check whether the call for 2027/28 entry says anything about it.
The old English TOLCs had a 30-question English section. The CEnT-S does not. If an agency says the CEnT-S covers your English, it is describing the old test.
Reading speed matters in Reasoning too
You still need good English to sit the test. Sapienza's Bioinformatics call says the test needs at least B2 English.[2] If you read slowly, it will show in two sections:
- Reading and comprehension, which is all reading.
- Reasoning on texts and data, which uses texts, tables and charts.
In 2026, every programme in our sections table with a published rule counted Reasoning. For Padova, the rule is in each programme's call.
All-Section Prep will cover all six sections: Reading, Maths, Reasoning, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Get the free guides by email below.
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Checked against CISIA on 5 October 2026, and against each university's 2026 call.
Explore more
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The English TOLCs are gone. What replaced them, what changed, and how to reuse an old TOLC book.
Which CEnT-S Sections Count for Your University?
Which CEnT-S sections each university counted in 2026, and the score it wanted. Reading is new for 2027/28 entry.
CEnT-S 2027: The Complete Guide to the CISIA English Test
What the CEnT-S is, who uses it, the test for 2027/28 entry, scoring, dates and fee, in plain words.
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