Is a Calculator Allowed in the Bocconi Test? Official Rules for 2026

Short answer: No. Calculators are not allowed in the Bocconi admission test. The exam is designed to be solved with mental math, pen-and-paper estimation, and pattern recognition.

What you can and cannot bring

• Not allowed: calculators of any kind (scientific, graphing, watch-based), phones, smartwatches, notes, formula sheets.
• Provided by Bocconi: scratch paper, pen, and your test interface on a computer.
• Allowed: a valid photo ID and water in a clear bottle.

Why no calculator?

The math section tests reasoning, estimation, and number sense — not raw computation. Bocconi designs the numbers so a well-prepared student can solve them in under a minute with mental arithmetic.

Mental-math techniques that actually work

• Round and adjust: 47 × 21 ≈ 50 × 20 = 1,000, then correct.
• Estimate first: if answer choices are spread out, your estimate eliminates 2–3 options instantly.
• Use percentages as fractions: 25% = ÷4, 12.5% = ÷8, 75% = ×3÷4.
• Spot the trick: Bocconi math questions usually hide a shortcut — long arithmetic is a signal you missed it.

How to train without a calculator

Every practice session should be calculator-free. Doing math by hand for 6–8 weeks rebuilds the mental-math reflexes most students lose in high school. Prepadmit's exams mirror the real test environment exactly: no calculator, real timing, real interface.

Bottom line

You cannot bring a calculator into the Bocconi Test. The good news: you do not need one — but you do need 6–8 weeks of calculator-free practice to be comfortable on exam day.