TOEFL Preparation in Italy:
Milan, Rome and Complete 2026 Guide

Why Italian students need TOEFL in 2026

There are two main reasons an Italian university student ends up needing TOEFL. The first is applying to a top international university — in the US, UK, or elsewhere in Europe — as an undergraduate or graduate applicant. The second, and often overlooked, is the exchange program requirement that affects students already enrolled at Italy's most prestigious institutions.

Both situations require the same preparation. Both are time-sensitive. And in 2026, both require preparation for a fundamentally updated test format that many older guides and preparation resources have not yet caught up with.

The exchange program requirement — what most students do not know

According to Bocconi University's official exchange program language requirements, all Bocconi students — including native English speakers — must submit a TOEFL or IELTS certificate when applying for exchange destinations that require additional language certification. This applies to partners including the University of Pennsylvania, LSE, Columbia, Georgetown, and many other top-tier universities in the Bocconi partner network.

The certificate must have been issued no more than two years before the exchange program application deadline. It must meet or exceed the minimum score set by the destination university — and those minimums vary. For the most selective destinations, a TOEFL equivalent of band 5.0 on the new 2026 scale is required.

This means a Bocconi student who has always studied in English, who speaks excellent English, who is academically strong — still needs a valid TOEFL certificate if they want to access the most competitive exchange destinations. And the clock on that certificate starts ticking the moment it is issued.

Italian universities and TOEFL: city by city

Milan — Italy's international education capital

Milan is Italy's most internationally connected university city. Milan leads Italy with over 150 English-taught master's programs across Politecnico, Bocconi, UniMi, and Cattolica, and at Politecnico di Milano over 30% of students are international. It is the natural center of gravity for ambitious Italian and international students targeting global careers — and consequently the city where TOEFL preparation demand is highest.

Rome — business, law, and political science

Rome is home to Italy's largest university and a concentration of prestigious private institutions with strong international profiles. While Milan leads in English-taught technical and business programs, Rome is the natural destination for students targeting business, law, political science, and economics at a European level.

Other major Italian cities

Bologna: Home to the world's oldest university, founded in 1088. The University of Bologna offers 30 or more English-taught programs and draws over 6,000 international students annually. TOEFL accepted for English-medium programs at graduate level.

Turin: Politecnico di Torino offers 30 or more master's programs in English, particularly strong in engineering and aerospace. TOEFL required for international students in English-taught programs.

Venice: Ca' Foscari University is strong in business, economics, digital management, and tourism. Internationally oriented with significant English-taught offerings at graduate level.

Florence: Primarily Italian-medium, with limited English-taught offerings at graduate level outside some humanities programs. Students in Florence targeting US or UK universities still need TOEFL for their international applications.

What score do you need?

Your target TOEFL band depends on what you are using the certificate for. Here is a practical breakdown for Italian students in the most common situations.

Band to old scale conversion: ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/scores.html. University-specific requirements verified from official admissions pages — always confirm directly with your target institution.

What changed in TOEFL 2026 — and why it matters for Italian students

The TOEFL iBT was comprehensively redesigned on January 21, 2026. If you are using preparation materials from before that date, or if your language school is still teaching the old format, a significant portion of what you are practicing no longer exists in the current exam.

The test is now approximately 90 minutes — significantly shorter than the previous version. Reading and Listening use a new adaptive format where your performance in the first module determines the difficulty of your second. The Speaking section was completely redesigned — no integrated passages, no preparation time, just spontaneous spoken responses. Writing replaced its long essays with three shorter, more practical tasks.

For Italian students specifically, two things are worth noting. First, the new Writing section includes an email writing task that rewards the kind of professional English communication that students at Bocconi and LUISS develop naturally through their international programs. Second, the new Speaking tasks — particularly Take an Interview — reward natural conversational fluency rather than memorized structures. Italian students who speak good natural English but have been coached on template-based speaking are often surprised by how well they actually perform on the new format.

How to prepare for TOEFL 2026 in Italy

1. 1

   Start with a diagnostic assessment

   Before you plan anything, take a free TOEFL 2026 diagnostic assessment to find out exactly where you stand right now. Our free diagnostic at toefl.prepdrills.com/assessment/start takes 25 to 30 minutes, covers all four sections, and gives you an instant baseline. Most Italian students discover they are closer to their target than they thought — which means a shorter, more focused preparation window.

2. 2

   Book your test date before you start preparing

   TOEFL test center slots in Milan and Rome fill up quickly, particularly in spring and autumn when most exchange program application deadlines cluster. Book your date before you begin preparation — this creates a deadline that keeps your study schedule honest, and gives you the option to reschedule if your preparation reveals you need more time. Register at ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/register.html.

3. 3

   Focus your preparation on the 2026 format specifically

   Use only preparation materials updated for January 2026. The new Speaking tasks (Listen and Repeat and Take an Interview) have no equivalent in older materials. The new Writing tasks (Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Academic Discussion) replaced formats that no longer exist. Our TOEFL 2026 app at toefl.prepdrills.com is fully updated for the current format including all new task types and AI-powered feedback on Speaking and Writing.

4. 4

   Prioritize Speaking — it is where Italian students most benefit from practice

   The Take an Interview task requires four spontaneous spoken responses of 45 seconds each with no preparation time. Most Italian students, even those with strong academic English, find this task more demanding than expected — not because their English is weak, but because speaking spontaneously in a structured way under timing pressure is a skill that requires specific practice. Daily recording and listening back to your own responses is the single most effective exercise. Ideally, work with a teacher for at least a few sessions to get honest external feedback on what the AI engine actually hears.

5. 5

   Take at least two official ETS practice tests before your real exam

   ETS offers free official practice tests at ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/prepare.html that use the real adaptive algorithm and produce actual section scores. These are your most accurate benchmark. Take one early in your preparation to confirm your baseline, and one in the final week before your real test. Between those two sessions, use the PrepDrills app for daily drilling and targeted practice.

Taking the TOEFL in Milan and Rome

The TOEFL iBT is available at multiple authorized ETS test centers across Italy. Milan and Rome have the highest concentration of test dates and available slots given the student populations in both cities. Test centers in Bologna, Turin, Florence, Naples, and other cities also offer regular dates throughout the year.

If you prefer a more flexible arrangement, the TOEFL Home Edition allows you to take the exact same test from any quiet, private location in Italy with a stable internet connection. According to ETS, the Home Edition is identical to the test center version and is accepted by virtually all universities that accept TOEFL. Bocconi's official requirements confirm that TOEFL Home Edition is accepted for exchange program language requirements.

To check test center availability and book your date, go to ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/register.html and create an ETS account. The TOEFL costs approximately 255 USD in Italy, regardless of whether you take the test center or Home Edition version. Scores are delivered within approximately 72 hours of your test date.

Why a TOEFL coach makes all the difference

We have spent over 15 years preparing students for high-stakes exams. The honest truth we have learned is this: students who work with a great teacher reach their target band faster, more reliably, and with significantly less wasted effort than those who prepare alone. The app builds the habit. The teacher builds the score.

This matters especially for Bocconi and LUISS students targeting the most competitive exchange destinations. Band 5.0 for Penn, Columbia, or LSE is not a score you want to leave to chance. A certified TOEFL teacher who knows the 2026 format can identify the exact patterns in your Speaking and Writing that are costing you points — things no app and no self-assessment will ever catch. For Italian students specifically, this often means working on spoken rhythm and natural delivery in the Take an Interview task, avoiding the over-formal register that academic training can create, and building the confidence to fill a full 45 seconds with organized, spontaneous content.

The same applies for students applying directly to US or UK graduate programs. A TOEFL score is one of the few elements of an application you can fully control. A teacher who knows what Harvard, Bocconi's partner schools, and top European business schools are looking for will help you target your preparation precisely rather than preparing broadly and hoping for the best.

Our TOEFL 2026 practice app at toefl.prepdrills.com is the most efficient daily drilling tool available for the 2026 format — AI feedback on Speaking and Writing, all new task types, free to start. Use it every day between teacher sessions. But do not use it instead of a teacher if you are targeting band 5.0 or above or working with a tight deadline.

Epic Exam Prep offers one-to-one TOEFL preparation with certified teachers who specialize in the 2026 format and work with students in Milan, Rome, and across Italy and Europe. Monthly group courses are also available for students who want structured classes alongside their independent practice. If you are a Bocconi student with an exchange application deadline coming up, reach out early — preparation windows fill up fast.