Državna Matura English exam-day guide
Državna Matura English · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification (valid ID card or passport)
Bring the same document type you registered with. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether an expired document is refused, since rules differ by session.
Exam admission slip / candidate confirmation
If your school or the exam centre issued a written confirmation of your registration (candidate number, room, session times), print it and keep it with your ID. Confirm with the provider whether it is required at the door or only recommended.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written papers are answered in ink. Bring spares; a leaking or empty pen mid-essay costs time you cannot recover.
HB pencil, eraser and sharpener
Needed for answer sheets that require pencil marking or for rough planning. Check the provider's list of permitted items for the exact specification.
Analogue or simple wristwatch
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. Smartwatches and any watch with connectivity are normally banned, so bring a plain one.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Staying hydrated helps concentration over a long session. Many centres only allow transparent, unlabelled bottles; confirm with the provider.
Printed exam timetable with room numbers and start times
Sessions may be split across rooms and levels. Write down the reporting time, which is usually earlier than the start time, for each paper.
Transport plan and backup route
Arrive with a buffer of at least 30 minutes. Check local transport disruptions the evening before and identify one alternative route.
No phone, smartwatch, earbuds or notes in the exam room
Leave devices at home or hand them in as instructed. Possession of a switched-off phone can still be treated as misconduct; confirm with the provider how devices are collected.
Confirm permitted aids for each paper
Dictionaries, formula sheets and calculators are allowed only where the paper's specification says so, and rules vary by level and paper. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Check the exact reporting time and late-entry rule
Centres differ on how long after the start a candidate may still enter and whether extra time is granted. Confirm with the provider before exam day.
Rest, food and medication plan
Eat a normal breakfast, bring any prescribed medication you may need, and tell the invigilator in advance if you have a documented access arrangement.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your own summary sheets and error log, and do one timed section per skill (reading, listening, writing, language use) under real conditions. Check the official timetable once more for room, reporting time and paper order, and confirm which aids are permitted for each paper with the provider. Prepare your ID, admission slip and stationery in one bag and leave it by the door. Shift bedtime earlier so that the morning of the exam is not a shock.
Do light revision only: skim writing templates, linking phrases and common grammar traps, and glance at your listening notes. Do not start a new practice test late in the day. Lay out clothes, ID, admission slip, pens, pencil, eraser, watch and water bottle. Charge nothing you are not allowed to bring; instead plan to leave your phone at home or hand it in. Check the weather and the transport route, set two alarms, and go to bed at a normal hour.
Eat a proper breakfast and avoid excessive caffeine. Arrive at the centre at least 30 minutes before the reporting time so there is slack for queues and ID checks. Go to the toilet before entering the room. Once seated, put only permitted items on the desk, listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions, and fill in your candidate details exactly as they appear on your ID before the signal to start.
Read the instructions for each task before writing. Budget time per section and keep to it; if a task is taking too long, mark your best answer, move on and return only if time allows. For writing, spend a few minutes planning, keep to the required word count and leave time to check grammar, spelling and punctuation. For listening, read the questions during the pauses and write answers as you hear them. For multiple-choice items, eliminate wrong options and never leave a blank if there is no penalty for guessing. If you need the toilet, raise your hand and wait to be escorted; the clock normally keeps running. Before the end, check that every answer is transferred to the correct place on the answer sheet.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo identification and present it when asked. Candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry, so confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a replacement is possible on the day.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times. Do not start writing before the signal and stop immediately when told; continuing to write after time is called can lead to your paper being cancelled.
Phones, smartwatches, earbuds and any other electronic devices must not be in your possession in the exam room. Even switched off, a device can be treated as misconduct, so confirm with the provider how devices are collected.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, do not look at another candidate's paper, and do not bring notes, dictionaries or aids unless the paper's specification permits them.
Breaks are normally limited and supervised; you may leave the room only with permission and under escort, and the time is not usually added back. Confirm with the provider whether any scheduled break exists between papers.
Scoring is based only on what is written on your answer sheet. Answers in the wrong place, illegible handwriting or answers written outside the designated areas may not be marked, so check the layout before you begin.
If you believe there was a disturbance, a faulty recording or another problem affecting fairness, report it to the invigilator immediately and ask how to record it; complaints raised only after the exam are harder to act on.
Access arrangements such as extra time or a separate room must be agreed in advance. If you have an approved arrangement, confirm with the provider how and when to remind the centre so it is in place on the day.