Državna Matura Italian exam-day guide
Državna Matura Italian · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID (personal ID card or passport)
Bring the original document, not a copy. The name must match the registration. If you are unsure which document types the school accepts for your session, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Exam admission confirmation / candidate number
Print or save the confirmation issued through the school or the national exam portal. Some schools post candidate lists and room assignments on the notice board, so check where your name appears. Exact format requirements vary by session; confirm with the provider.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers must be legible and in ink. Bring spares; pencil is normally only for marking the answer sheet if the instructions say so.
Graphite pencil and eraser
Useful for rough work and for any machine-read answer sheet. If you use a pencil on the answer sheet, follow the invigilator's instructions on how to fill the fields.
Analogue wristwatch
Many exam rooms do not have a visible clock. Smartwatches and phones are generally not allowed on the desk, so a simple watch is the safe option.
Clear water bottle, no label
Hydration helps during a long paper. Keep it on the floor or where the invigilator indicates so it cannot damage your answer sheet.
Small snack for after the paper
Eating during the exam may be restricted. Plan to eat outside the room during any break or after the session.
Transport plan and arrival time
Aim to be at the school well before the scheduled start, because seating and identity checks take time. Check local transport disruptions the day before.
Written confirmation of permitted aids for the Italian paper
Whether a monolingual dictionary, a bilingual dictionary, or no dictionary at all is allowed depends on the exam level and the current regulations. Do not assume; confirm with the provider and bring only what is explicitly permitted.
Phone switched off and stored as instructed
Even a phone that rings or vibrates during the exam can be treated as a conduct issue. Switch it off before entering the building and hand it in if the school requires it.
Review the official task types and timing for your level
Know in advance how many tasks there are, whether there is a listening section, and how the time is divided. This reduces surprises on the day.
Plan the day
Confirm the exact start time, room, and address with the school or the official exam notice. Re-read the current rules on permitted aids and on what may be brought to the desk, and set aside only those items.
Do one full timed simulation of the Italian paper under exam conditions: no phone, no notes, same task order as the real paper. Mark it against the criteria you have been given and list the two or three error types that cost the most points.
Prepare your writing toolkit: a short list of connectors and discourse markers (ad esempio, tuttavia, pertanto, in conclusione), a few set phrases for formal letters and emails, and a mental outline structure for the lettera, the riassunto, and the saggio or tema. Practise using them in one timed piece rather than memorising lists passively.
Review grammar points that commonly cost marks in production: agreement of past participles with essere verbs, use of the congiuntivo after expressions of opinion and doubt, sequence of tenses, and pronoun placement. Do short targeted exercises, not a whole grammar book.
Do one listening session at exam speed if your paper includes listening. Read the questions before playing the audio, note keywords, and practise not stopping the recording. Check whether audio is played once or twice for your session.
Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water, and snack. Lay out clothes and check your route and departure time. Charge nothing you cannot bring into the room; leave the phone plan to the school's instructions.
Do a light review only: your own error list, your connector sheet, and the structure of each writing task. Do not start new topics or do a full mock this late. Sleep at your normal time; a rested brain is worth more than an extra hour of vocabulary.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive early. Leave the phone off and stored. Check that you have your ID and pens before you leave. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material; skim only your own summary sheet.
Read all instructions and check the number of tasks and the points for each. Fill in your personal details exactly as instructed. Scan the whole paper before writing so you can allocate time.
Set a rough budget per section and keep a few minutes at the end for checking. Do not let one difficult reading task or one writing piece consume the time meant for the rest of the paper.
Spend a few minutes planning before writing: audience, register, structure, and the key phrases you will use. Write legibly, respect the required word count, and leave time to check agreement, tenses, spelling, and punctuation.
Check that every task is answered and that no answer is left in the wrong place on the answer sheet. Make sure your name and candidate details are filled in correctly before you hand in.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID required for your session and keep it on the desk if the invigilator asks. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on phones, smartwatches, and bags. Electronic devices are generally not permitted at the desk, and a device that rings or is used can lead to your paper being annulled. The exact consequences are set by the exam regulations; confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam and do not look at another candidate's paper. Any suspicion of copying or of using unauthorised aids is handled under the official exam rules.
Only use aids that are explicitly permitted for your level and session, such as a dictionary if allowed. If you are not certain whether a dictionary is allowed, confirm with the provider and do not bring it unless it is confirmed.
Breaks and permission to leave the room are at the invigilator's discretion. Expect to be accompanied if you leave, and expect that leaving may not extend your writing time. Confirm the school's practice in advance.
Write your answers in the required place and format. Answers written outside the designated areas or in an unreadable form may not be marked, so follow the instructions on the paper and answer sheet.
Scoring follows the official marking criteria for the exam, including task achievement, organisation, range and accuracy, and, where applicable, listening or reading comprehension. Do not expect partial credit for blank or off-topic answers; confirm the weighting for your level with the provider.
If you believe there was a disturbance or a problem with the paper, tell the invigilator immediately and follow the official complaint procedure. Do not discuss the content of the paper with others afterwards if the regulations prohibit it.