Berlin Abitur Portuguese LK exam-day guide
Berlin Abitur Portuguese LK · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Personal photo ID plus your invitation/admission letter from the school
Bring the official letter naming the exam, room and time together with a valid photo ID. If you are unsure which documents the supervising school requires, confirm with the provider (your course teacher or the school running the exam) before exam day.
Confirm the exact start time, room and reporting time with your school
Reporting times and room assignments are set locally and can differ from the published exam window. Check the notice from your school or the Prüfungsausschuss; if anything is unclear, confirm with the provider.
Monolingual or bilingual dictionary (German–Portuguese / Portuguese–German)
The use of a dictionary in the written Abitur exam is regulated and can differ between courses and schools. Ask your teacher in advance whether a dictionary is allowed, which type, and whether it must be provided by the school. If you cannot get a clear answer, confirm with the provider.
Black or blue ballpoint pens plus spare
Write legibly in ink. Pencil is normally not accepted for graded work. Bring at least two working pens.
Highlighters and a ruler for marking text passages
Useful for annotation tasks in the reading comprehension and analysis sections. Keep marks on the exam paper, not on the answer sheets, unless told otherwise.
Wristwatch (no smartwatch)
Phones and smart devices are usually collected or switched off. A simple analogue or digital watch helps you manage time without relying on the room clock.
Clear water bottle without label
Drinks are usually permitted, but labels and smart bottles may be restricted. Bring a plain bottle to avoid problems.
Snack for after the exam or an approved break
Written Abitur exams are long. Whether you may eat during the exam depends on the room supervision; ask beforehand or confirm with the provider.
Know the structure and task types of the Portuguese LK exam
Typically a written paper with comprehension/analysis of a literary or non-literary text, a language or mediation task, and a writing/composition part. Exact task combinations and choice options vary by year and school; confirm the current format with the provider.
Review your own error list and key structures
Focus on recurring grammar and style issues from your own essays (verb tenses, subjunctive, connectors, register) rather than learning new content the night before.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Aim to arrive well before the reporting time. Late arrival rules are set locally; if you are delayed, contact the school immediately. Exact consequences: confirm with the provider.
Leave phone and smart devices at home or plan where to hand them in
Devices are normally handed in or switched off at the start. Using them during the exam is treated as cheating. If you need a device for medical reasons, clarify in advance with the school.
Plan the day
Confirm the exam schedule, room and reporting time, and re-read the school's information sheet on permitted aids. Clarify open points (dictionary, breaks, ID) with your teacher now, not on exam day. Sketch a realistic time plan for the exam sections based on the task types you expect.
Do one timed practice run under exam conditions: read a text, annotate it, and write a short analysis or composition in Portuguese within a set time. Then mark your own text against a checklist (task coverage, structure, grammar, vocabulary range, register). Do not start new topics.
Light review only: your error list, useful connectors and phrases for argumentation and text analysis, and a few typical structures (subjunctive, passive, reported speech). Prepare your bag and documents. Eat normally, avoid late-night cramming, and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive with time to spare, and hand in or switch off your phone as instructed. Once seated, read the whole paper before writing: check the task options, point values and recommended times, and choose your tasks deliberately.
Fill in your name and candidate details correctly. Read all instructions and the grading-relevant task verbs (analise, compare, comente, resuma). Plan your answers briefly in note form so each response addresses every sub-task.
Work section by section and keep to your time plan, leaving time to check. Write in Portuguese, in full sentences, with clear paragraphs and a visible structure. Answer in your own words; quote briefly and accurately when the task requires textual evidence.
Check that every task and sub-task is answered, that your handwriting is legible, and that page and task numbers match. Correct obvious grammar and spelling slips. Do not rewrite whole passages at this stage.
Hand in all materials as instructed and do not discuss task content with others until you have left the exam area, in line with the school's rules.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID and your admission/invitation documents; without them you may be refused entry. Exact ID requirements: confirm with the provider.
Follow the school's rules on permitted aids. Dictionaries, annotated texts and notes are only allowed if explicitly permitted for this exam; when in doubt, ask before the exam, not during it.
Phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices must be handed in or switched off as instructed. Using or merely having an unauthorized device accessible during the exam can be treated as an attempt to cheat.
Breaks and leaving the room are regulated by the supervision. Usually you may only leave with permission and are accompanied; plan drinks and toilet visits accordingly and confirm the room rules with the provider.
Cheating, including copying, unauthorized aids or communication with others, can lead to the exam being graded as failed or excluded. Report problems (noise, unclear task, missing pages) to the supervision immediately.
If you are ill or unable to sit the exam, notify the school immediately and follow the official procedure; rules on illness, withdrawal and rescheduling are set by the authority. Confirm the exact steps with the provider.
Scoring follows the official assessment criteria for the Portuguese LK: content and task coverage, structure and coherence, language accuracy and range, and - where required - analysis and argumentation quality. Weighting and point scales are set by the exam authority; confirm details with the provider.
Write in the language required by each task (normally Portuguese; mediation tasks may require German). Answers in the wrong language or off-topic responses may receive no credit.