DIM Magistratura exam-day guide
DIM Magistratura · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the identity document the competition notice requires (typically a passport or national ID card). Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is permitted, since rules vary by the administering authority.
Admission letter or convocation
Print or download the official convocation showing your candidate number, date, time, and venue. Some administrations require it at the door; confirm with the provider whether a digital copy is accepted.
Registration or candidate number
Note your candidate number and any registration code on paper as a backup, in case the convocation is misplaced or the digital copy fails.
Confirmation of venue and start time
Re-check the exact building, room, and reporting time the day before. Reporting times often precede the written start by 30 to 60 minutes for identity checks; confirm with the provider.
Permitted writing instruments
Bring several pens of the type the notice specifies (often black or blue ink). Confirm with the provider whether pencil, correction fluid, or highlighters are allowed, as these are frequently restricted.
Any permitted code or statute compilation
Some competitions allow annotated codes or official compilations under stated conditions. Confirm with the provider which editions and annotations are admitted before relying on this.
Clear water bottle and light snack
Long written sessions can last several hours. Bring a transparent bottle and a quiet snack, but verify with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at the desk.
Watch without smart features
A simple analogue or basic digital watch helps manage time if the room clock is not visible. Smartwatches and connected devices are almost always prohibited; confirm with the provider.
Leave prohibited electronics at home
Phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and other connected devices are normally banned from the desk. Confirm with the provider the storage arrangements, if any, before bringing them.
Plan the journey and arrive early
Map the route, check transport disruptions, and aim to arrive well before the reporting time. Late arrival may bar entry; confirm with the provider the exact cutoff.
Read the competition notice in full
The notice sets out permitted materials, conduct rules, and scoring. Confirm with the provider any point that is ambiguous rather than assuming a practice from another competition.
Prepare for the specific written format
Confirm with the provider whether the session requires an essay, a practical drafting exercise, or answers to set questions, and whether a choice of topics is offered, since the format shapes how you allocate time.
Plan the day
Shift from broad study to consolidation. Review your own outline notes on the core areas the notice lists, re-read the permitted code provisions you plan to cite, and practise one timed exercise under exam conditions to calibrate pace. Confirm the venue, reporting time, and permitted materials with the provider. Prepare the document folder and writing instruments in advance so the last day is calm.
Stop new study. Pack the ID, convocation, candidate number, pens, permitted compilations, water, and snack in one bag. Re-check the route and transport timetable, set two alarms, and confirm the reporting time once more. Eat normally, avoid late caffeine, and sleep at your usual hour; a rested mind outperforms a night of extra reading.
Eat a proper breakfast, take the packed bag, and leave with a buffer for delays. On arrival, locate the room and the toilets before the doors open. Keep the ID and convocation accessible for checks, switch off and stow any device as instructed, and settle at the desk with pens laid out before the start.
Read all instructions and the full paper before writing. Note the time allowed, the number of questions or the choice offered, and any word or page limits. Allocate minutes to each part, leaving a margin for review, and jot a short plan so the structure is fixed before you begin.
Write to the plan, watch the clock at fixed checkpoints, and keep answers structured with clear headings and reasoning. If a question stalls, move on and return with remaining time. Reserve the final minutes to check names, numbering, page limits, and that every required part has been attempted.
Hand in materials exactly as instructed, keep the convocation and any receipt, and note down what you found difficult while it is fresh. If there is an oral stage, confirm with the provider its date, format, and permitted materials before starting preparation.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document the notice requires and present it on request. If you are unsure which documents are accepted or whether a copy suffices, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Follow the instructions of invigilators at all times, including seating, room entry and exit, and the moment writing may begin or must stop. Disputes are normally raised afterwards, not at the desk.
Keep prohibited devices switched off and stored as directed. Do not keep phones, smartwatches, or earbuds at the desk; confirm with the provider the policy on storage and on any permitted device.
Use only the materials the notice allows. If you are unsure whether a code, annotation, or note is permitted, confirm with the provider in advance rather than risk a conduct finding.
Breaks are usually limited and supervised during long written sessions. Confirm with the provider whether leaving the room is allowed, whether it is escorted, and whether the clock stops.
Scoring and selection rules are set by the competition notice, not by the invigilators. Read how marks are allocated and whether minimum thresholds apply; confirm with the provider any point that is unclear.
Write only in the permitted ink and within the stated page or word limits, and identify your work only by candidate number if anonymity is required. Confirm with the provider the anonymity rules.
Any irregularity, illness, or lost time should be reported to the invigilators immediately and recorded, since later claims are harder to support. Ask the provider how such reports are documented.