UFRGS Vestibular exam-day guide
UFRGS Vestibular · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID
Bring the original, valid photo identification document (for example RG, CNH, or passport). Do not rely on a photocopy or a digital copy. Confirm with the provider which specific documents are accepted for the UFRGS Vestibular, since acceptance rules can change between editions.
Printed registration card / confirmation
Print your registration confirmation or candidate card from the official portal. Some editions require it and some allow digital access, so confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Black or blue ballpoint pen (transparent body)
Bring at least two reliable pens for filling the answer sheet. Many Brazilian exams require a transparent-body pen; confirm with the provider whether that specific requirement applies.
Pencil and eraser
Useful for scratch work and for marking answers before transferring them to the answer sheet. Confirm with the provider whether pencils are permitted in the exam room.
Know your exact test location and arrival time
Check your assigned building and room in advance and plan to arrive well before the gates close. Confirm with the provider the exact closing time for entry, since late arrivals are typically excluded.
Water and a light snack
The exam is long, so hydration and a quick energy source help. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed inside the room and whether bottles must be transparent.
Leave valuables at home
Phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices usually must be turned off and stored as instructed. Carrying fewer valuables reduces the risk of loss and of rule violations.
Review the official candidate handbook
Read the current edition's manual for conduct rules, prohibited items, and scoring details. Policies change, so always confirm with the provider rather than relying on older information.
Check the essay (redação) requirements
If the exam includes a writing section, review the required genre, minimum and maximum line counts, and what counts as a disqualifying error. Confirm the exact criteria with the provider.
Plan transport and a backup route
Traffic and public transport delays are common on exam days. Identify an alternative route and leave a wide margin of time.
Sleep and nutrition routine
Keep a normal sleep schedule in the final days and eat a familiar breakfast. Avoid trying new foods or heavy caffeine on the morning of the test.
Read every question instruction carefully
Before answering, check whether questions are multiple choice or require written justification, and confirm whether wrong answers are penalized. Confirm scoring rules with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop trying to learn new content and focus on consolidating what you already know. Review summaries, formula sheets, and your own error log. Do one timed practice run under realistic conditions to calibrate pacing, then correct it carefully. Prepare your documents and materials early so the last day is calm. Confirm the test location, arrival time, and the list of permitted and prohibited items with the provider.
Pack your bag: ID, registration confirmation, pens, pencil, eraser, water, and snack. Lay out clothes and check the weather forecast. Do a light review of high-yield summaries only, no new topics and no full mock exam. Set an alarm and a backup alarm, and plan the exact route and departure time. Eat a normal dinner and go to bed at your usual hour rather than much earlier, which can backfire.
Eat a familiar breakfast and avoid heavy or unusual food. Leave home with a generous time buffer, aiming to arrive well before the gate closes. Recheck that your ID and registration confirmation are in your bag before leaving. Once at the site, locate your room, use the restroom, and stay away from last-minute group discussions that can raise anxiety.
Read the whole paper or at least the section structure first, then allocate time per section, reserving a block for the essay if there is one. Answer easier questions first to secure points, and mark hard ones to return to. Fill the answer sheet carefully and check alignment as you go. Watch the clock but avoid checking it every minute. If time runs short, transfer all answers to the sheet before the end, since answers left only on the question paper are usually not scored.
Rules to check
Bring the original official photo ID required by the current edition; entry is generally refused without valid identification, so confirm the accepted documents with the provider.
Arrive before the gate closing time. Candidates who arrive after the cutoff are typically not admitted, and the cutoff time should be confirmed with the provider.
Electronic devices such as phones and smartwatches must be turned off and stored exactly as instructed. Keeping a device accessible during the test is usually treated as a serious violation.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not look at others' papers. Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times.
Leaving the room is usually restricted in the early part of the exam and near the end. Confirm with the provider the specific rules on restroom breaks and early departure.
Transfer answers to the official answer sheet exactly as instructed. Answers marked incorrectly, ambiguously, or only on the question paper may not be counted.
For the essay, respect the required genre, line limits, and legibility standards. Confirm with the provider the exact criteria that can reduce or zero the essay score.
Scoring rules, including whether wrong answers are penalized and how ties are broken, are set by the provider each edition. Confirm the current rules with the provider rather than assuming.