Method for evaluating the mechanical properties of sand molds which comprises: extracting at least one sample from a portion of an uncured sand mold made of a predetermined composition comprising a molding compound including a binding system to obtain an extracted real test piece; curing the extracted real test piece (1 a) for a predetermined curing time to obtain a cured real test piece (1 b); conditioning the cured real test piece to predetermined dimensions (d) including a predetermined height and a predetermined diameter to obtain a conditioned real test piece (1 c); subjecting the conditioned real test piece (1 c) to a mechanical breaking strength test under predetermined pressure and temperature conditions (C P,T) to obtain real mechanical strength values (V Real); comparing the real mechanical strength values (V Real) with reference mechanical strength values (V Ref) corresponding to at least one conditioned reference test piece also having substantially said predetermined dimensions (d), thus evaluating the mechanical properties of the conditioned real test piece, wherein said reference mechanical strength values (V Ref) are obtained as follows: compacting, applying predetermined compacting conditions (C Comp), a reference composition comprising substantially the same molding compound and substantially the same binding system as the uncured sand mold to obtain a compacted reference test piece; curing the compacted reference test piece for a reference curing time to obtain a cured reference test piece; conditioning the cured reference test piece to said predetermined dimensions (d) to obtain a conditioned reference test piece; and subjecting the conditioned reference test piece to a mechanical breaking strength test under said predetermined pressure and temperature conditions (C P,T) to obtain the reference mechanical strength values (V Refl). extracting at least one sample from a portion of an uncured sand mold made of a predetermined composition comprising a molding compound including a binding system to obtain an extracted real test piece; curing the extracted real test piece (1 a) for a predetermined curing time to obtain a cured real test piece (1 b); conditioning the cured real test piece to predetermined dimensions (d) including a predetermined height and a predetermined diameter to obtain a conditioned real test piece (1 c); subjecting the conditioned real test piece (1 c) to a mechanical breaking strength test under predetermined pressure and temperature conditions (C P,T) to obtain real mechanical strength values (V Real); comparing the real mechanical strength values (V Real) with reference mechanical strength values (V Ref) corresponding to at least one conditioned reference test piece also having substantially said predetermined dimensions (d), thus evaluating the mechanical properties of the conditioned real test piece, wherein said reference mechanical strength values (V Ref) are obtained as follows: compacting, applying predetermined compacting conditions (C Comp), a reference composition comprising substantially the same molding compound and substantially the same binding system as the uncured sand mold to obtain a compacted reference test piece; curing the compacted reference test piece for a reference curing time to obtain a cured reference test piece; conditioning the cured reference test piece to said predetermined dimensions (d) to obtain a conditioned reference test piece; and subjecting the conditioned reference test piece to a mechanical breaking strength test under said predetermined pressure and temperature conditions (C P,T) to obtain the reference mechanical strength values (V Refl). compacting, applying predetermined compacting conditions (C Comp), a reference composition comprising substantially the same molding compound and substantially the same binding system as the uncured sand mold to obtain a compacted reference test piece; curing the compacted reference test piece for a reference curing time to obtain a cured reference test piece; conditioning the cured reference test piece to said predetermined dimensions (d) to obtain a conditioned reference test piece; and subjecting the conditioned reference test piece to a mechanical breaking strength test under said predetermined pressure and temperature conditions (C P,T) to obtain the reference mechanical strength values (V Refl).