Healthcare professions: TheSimulationDay is here

On Friday, September 11, 2026, *theSimulationDay* returns—a free national mock exam for the admission test to Health Professions degree programs. Students connecting via *thefaculty* app can take a test on their smartphones that mirrors the structure of the official exam, receive their scores immediately, and view their rankings at both the national and university levels. The University of Sassari is among the institutions promoting and supporting this initiative, making it available to students across northwestern Sardinia.

The timing is no coincidence: the official admission exam is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16. The mock exam thus takes place five days before the actual test—precisely when candidates most need to gauge their standing and determine where to focus their final hours of study. The format replicates a real exam, featuring questions on reading comprehension and logical reasoning, as well as biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, all to be completed within a set time limit. Upon completion, participants receive a subject-by-subject performance profile and a targeted review of the mistakes they made.

The initiative stems from the "TOP" POT—a ministerial Guidance and Tutoring Plan dedicated to the Health Professions—in which the University of Sassari collaborates with around twenty other Italian universities, including Milan, Sapienza, Pavia, Parma, Trieste, Ferrara, Brescia, Catania, Tor Vergata, L’Aquila, Molise, and Calabria. Professor Ciriaco Carru serves as the project coordinator for Uniss, with participation formalized by the Department of Biomedical Sciences, led by Professor Franca Deriu.

"Passing the test isn't a matter of luck, and it isn't right for preparation to depend on one's financial means. Success comes from understanding the exam's structure and identifying one's weaknesses early enough to address them. Just before the final push, this free mock exam shows every student—using concrete data—exactly where to focus their remaining energy. Underlying this is a broader goal: to train the nurses, physiotherapists, laboratory technicians, and healthcare professionals that Sardinia needs right now, right here in our own region," comments Professor Carru.

How to participate

There is no deadline. Simply download the "thefaculty" app for free from the App Store or Google Play and go to the "Health Professions Test Preparation" section. Start the mock exam on Friday, September 11; you have 24 hours to complete it and make the leaderboard.

Upon completion, you receive an immediate score, a comparison with candidates from across Italy, and a personalized review of your mistakes.

Participation is free and open to all students, regardless of the university where they will take the actual exam.