DITALS I exam-day guide
DITALS I · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the original identity document (passport or national ID) named on your registration. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is allowed; do not assume a driving licence is sufficient.
Registration confirmation / admission letter
Print or download the confirmation email showing your candidate number, session time and venue. Some centres ask to see it at reception; keep a digital copy as backup.
Black or blue pens (at least two)
Written answers are usually handwritten. Bring reliable pens and a spare; check with the provider whether pencil is permitted for any section or whether correction fluid is allowed.
Pencil and eraser
Useful if any multiple-choice answer sheet is machine-read. Confirm with the provider whether answers must be in pen or pencil before you start.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch without connectivity helps you pace the sections; smartwatches are normally prohibited.
Water in a clear bottle
Stay hydrated for a long written paper. Check the venue rules: some centres require labels removed and bottles kept on the floor.
Snack for the break
If the session includes a break, bring something quick and quiet. Confirm with the provider whether food is allowed outside the exam room.
Venue directions and travel plan
Reconfirm the address and room number the day before. Plan to arrive well before the start time; late arrival rules vary and should be confirmed with the provider.
Knowledge of the paper structure
Review the number of sections, tasks and suggested timing from the official syllabus. Do not rely on memory alone; write a short timing plan the night before.
Review of key frameworks, not new material
Skim your own summaries of language-teaching methodology, lesson planning, assessment and Italian language awareness. Avoid learning new topics in the final 24 hours.
Provider's current conduct rules
Read the latest candidate regulations on the provider's website or in your admission email. Rules on phones, bags and leaving the room differ by centre; confirm with the provider.
needs_review: exact permitted materials
Dictionaries, glossaries or reference sheets may or may not be allowed depending on the session. Confirm with the provider in advance; do not bring unauthorised materials into the room.
Plan the day
Confirm the venue, start time and what to bring by checking your admission email and the provider's candidate page. Print the confirmation and ID copies if required. Build a one-page timing plan for each section based on the official paper structure.
Do one full timed practice run under exam conditions, then mark it against the official criteria or your own checklist. Spend the remaining time on weak areas only: for example, if the lesson-planning task is slow, rehearse a skeleton plan; if metalinguistic analysis is weak, review terminology.
Stop new study. Review your own summaries of methodology, syllabus requirements and assessment criteria. Prepare your bag: ID, confirmation, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water, snack. Check travel times and set two alarms.
Confirm any uncertain logistics with the provider if you have not already: permitted materials, break arrangements, late-arrival policy, and whether bags can be stored securely. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the venue with margin. Keep your phone switched off and stored as instructed. Use the waiting time to read your timing plan, not to cram new content.
Read the instructions for each section carefully and note the marks and suggested time. Answer the questions you know first, then return to harder ones. For extended writing, spend a few minutes planning before you write, and reserve time to check spelling, grammar and task completion.
Watch the clock at the halfway point of each section. If you run out of time, write brief outline points rather than leaving a task blank, provided the rules allow it. At the end, check that your candidate details are correct and that you have attempted every required task.
Note any questions you found unclear and check the provider's published results timeline. Keep your candidate number safe for accessing results.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID named on your registration and keep it on your desk if instructed. Acceptable documents and the policy on expired ID must be confirmed with the provider.
Follow all instructions from invigilators. Do not start writing before you are told and stop immediately when time is called; continuing to write after the signal may be treated as misconduct.
Switch off and store phones, smartwatches and any other electronic devices as directed. Unauthorised devices in the exam room can lead to disqualification; confirm the venue's storage arrangements in advance.
Do not bring unauthorised notes, books or dictionaries into the room. If you are unsure whether an item is permitted, ask the provider before exam day.
If you need to leave the room for personal reasons, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator. Break and toilet arrangements vary by centre and should be confirmed with the provider.
Write legibly and clearly number your answers. Illegible or ambiguously numbered responses may not be marked; check whether extra answer sheets are available and how they must be labelled.
Scoring is based on the published assessment criteria for each section. Read the mark allocation and task requirements carefully; do not assume that length alone earns marks.
If you believe there is a problem with the paper or your conditions, report it to the invigilator immediately and follow the provider's complaints procedure afterwards. Do not discuss the content of the paper with other candidates.