Concurso Docente exam-day guide
Concurso Docente · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID (original)
Bring the same document you used in your registration. A copy or a photo on your phone is normally not accepted. Confirm with the provider which documents are valid for this exam and whether a second ID is required.
Admission card / confirmation of registration
Print or download the proof of registration showing your name, the exam venue, date and time. If your registration system issues a specific admission document with a QR or folio number, bring it. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Black or blue ballpoint pens, plus a spare
Most answer sheets must be filled in by hand and legible. Bring at least two pens of the same color and test them before leaving home. Confirm with the provider whether only a specific ink color is permitted.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Needed if the answer sheet uses optical marking or if you are allowed to draft. Some providers prohibit pencils in certain sections, so check the instructions on the admission card.
Analog watch (no smart features)
Many rooms have no visible clock and phones must be off. A simple analog or basic digital watch helps you pace the sections. Smartwatches are almost always banned; leave them at home.
Clear water bottle with the label removed
Hydration matters in long sittings. Many venues require transparent bottles without labels. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed in the room.
Printed venue directions and travel plan
Know the exact campus or building, the gate used by candidates and the room assignment. Do a route check the day before and add a buffer for security checks and finding the room.
Small snack for before or after the test
Eating during the exam is usually not allowed, but a snack for before entry or after the session helps if the sitting is long. Keep it in a bag that stays outside the room if required.
Leave prohibited items at home or in a bag
Phones, smartwatches, earphones, notes, books and bags are normally collected or must be left outside. Confirm with the provider what happens to personal belongings and whether storage is available.
Review the official instructions for your specific call
Each teaching competition call sets its own rules on calculators, dictionaries, section timing and answer-sheet format. Read the current official notice and mark anything unclear to confirm with the provider.
Sleep and meal routine in the final days
Shift your sleep schedule so you are alert at the exam start time. Avoid new caffeine doses on the morning of the test; keep the routine you practiced.
Backup plan for transport and contact number
Save the venue contact and a local taxi or transit alternative in case of delay. Arriving late may mean exclusion, so treat the arrival time as non-negotiable.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Review your own summary sheets, error log and the official exam instructions. Confirm the venue, room, start time and reporting time, and check the transport route. Prepare the document folder with ID and admission card and put it by the door. Simulate one full timed sitting under exam conditions to check your pacing.
Do a light review only: key definitions, formulas and the structure of the written or practical task. Pack the bag with pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water and documents. Charge nothing you cannot bring, and leave the phone charger at home. Set two alarms, eat a normal dinner, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not study past the evening.
Eat a normal breakfast you are used to. Re-check the document folder and pens. Leave earlier than the route check suggested, allowing for security queues and room finding. Keep the phone off or leave it with a companion once you enter the venue. Use the waiting time for a calm skim of your summary sheet, not for new material.
Read the instructions and the scoring breakdown before writing. Budget time per section and keep a margin for transferring answers. Answer the items you know first, mark doubtful ones and return to them. Write legibly and respect the answer-sheet format. If a practical or oral component follows, note the order and timing announced by the panel. Stop writing immediately when time is called.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID used at registration. Candidates without valid ID are normally not admitted; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a second form of ID is required.
Arrive by the reporting time stated in the official notice, not the nominal start time. Late arrival may lead to exclusion; confirm with the provider the exact cutoff and whether any grace period applies.
Phones, smartwatches, earphones and any connected device must be switched off and stored as instructed. Possession during the test can be treated as misconduct; confirm with the provider where belongings are kept.
Only bring materials explicitly allowed for your call, such as pens, pencil and eraser. Calculators, dictionaries, notes and printed material are usually prohibited unless the notice says otherwise; confirm with the provider before relying on any aid.
Follow the announced rules on breaks, water and leaving the room. In most sittings you may not leave during the test except with an invigilator; confirm with the provider if you have a medical need.
Write only in the designated areas and in the required ink or pencil. Answers outside the marked fields or on draft paper are normally not scored; confirm with the provider how draft work is handled.
Scoring is set by the official call and may combine written, practical and merit components with minimum thresholds per part. Read the published weighting for your call and confirm with the provider any rule about failing a single component.
Follow invigilator instructions and behave honestly. Talking, passing material or looking at another candidate's sheet can lead to annulment of the exam; confirm with the provider the procedure for reporting a problem during the test.