Iran Konkur exam-day guide
Iran Konkur · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admission card (kart-e vorud)
The Konkur admission card is issued through the official registration portal (Sanjesh) and normally must be printed and carried on exam day. Print two copies, keep one in your bag and one on your person. Confirm with the provider whether a digital copy is accepted; do not rely on a phone screenshot.
Original national ID card or birth certificate
Bring the original photo ID document that matches the identity data on your registration (typically the national smart ID card or birth certificate, depending on what the provider requires). A photocopy is generally not accepted. Confirm the exact accepted document with the provider before the exam.
Two or three black ballpoint pens
Answer sheets are machine-read, so use only the pen type the provider specifies (usually black ballpoint). Test each pen at home; discard any that smears or skips. Pencil is normally not allowed for marking answers.
Transparent plastic bag for personal items
Many centers require personal items to be held in a clear bag so invigilators can inspect them quickly. Pack ID, admission card, pens, and water in it; leave bags, notes, and electronics outside the hall.
Watch without smart features
A simple analog or non-connected digital watch helps you pace sections because wall clocks may be out of view. Smart watches and any device with communication or storage are prohibited. Confirm with the provider whether wristwatches are permitted at your center.
Water and a light snack for after the exam
Drink water before entering and keep a snack in your bag for after the session. Food and drink are usually not allowed at the desk; confirm with the provider if you have a medical need for accommodation.
Printed exam-day logistics sheet
Write down the exact center address, gate, reporting time, and a backup travel route on one page. Do a dry run to the center a few days before if you can, so you know the entrance and travel time.
Sleep and meal plan for the last two nights
Shift your sleep schedule so you are awake and alert at the exam start time. Plan a familiar, easily digestible breakfast and avoid trying new foods or heavy caffeine on exam morning.
Subject-group reminder card
Konkur candidates sit different subject combinations depending on their group (for example mathematics and physics, experimental sciences, humanities, or languages). Write your group's subject order and per-subject timing on a card to review, but leave it outside the hall. Verify the exact structure and timing with the provider.
Negative-marking strategy note
Konkur scoring typically applies a penalty for wrong answers, so decide in advance your rule for guessing (for example, answer only when you can eliminate enough options). Confirm the current scoring formula and penalty with the provider, since it has changed across years.
Review of official instructions and any updates
Re-read the instructions published with your admission card and check the official portal for late changes to time, center, or prohibited items. Do not rely on rumors from social media or classmates.
Emergency contact and transport backup
Save a family contact and a local taxi or ride-hailing number in case of transport failure. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time, since late entry is often refused.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own error log, formula sheets, and high-frequency vocabulary or definitions. Take at most one full timed mock under exam conditions, then spend more time analyzing mistakes than scoring them. Confirm your admission card is printed and your ID is valid and undamaged. Do a dry run to the center, note travel time and the correct gate, and set out clothes and the transparent bag. Shift sleep toward the exam start time and avoid all-nighters.
Do light review only in the morning: skim summaries, the subject-order card, and your guessing strategy. Pack the bag completely: admission card, original ID, pens, watch, water, snack, logistics sheet. Charge nothing you cannot bring, and leave the phone at home or with a companion. Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy caffeine after midday, and go to bed at your target time. Set two alarms plus a backup wake-up call. Re-check the official portal one last time for any change in center or timing.
Wake with enough margin to eat a familiar breakfast and travel without rushing. Re-check the bag against the checklist before leaving. Arrive at the center well before the reporting time, expect security screening, and keep only permitted items. Use the washroom before entering the hall. Once seated, fill in identification fields exactly as instructed and listen for any correction announced by invigilators.
Read the whole paper structure first and note per-subject timing. Answer the subjects you are strongest in first if the rules allow moving between sections, and mark difficult items to return to. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints rather than constantly. Apply your pre-decided guessing rule instead of changing it under stress. Keep the answer sheet clean and mark only one option per item, erasing nothing unless the rules permit correction. In the final minutes, verify that every answered item aligns with the correct row and that identification fields are complete.
Rules to check
Carry the printed admission card and the original identity document accepted by the provider; entry is normally refused without them. Confirm the exact accepted ID with the provider.
Electronic devices, smart watches, notes, and books are prohibited in the hall. Leave them at home or with a companion; possession can lead to disqualification.
Follow invigilator instructions on seating, timing, and answer-sheet completion. Do not talk, exchange materials, or look at another candidate's sheet.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the timed session; use the washroom before entering. If you have a medical need, request accommodation from the provider in advance.
Mark answers only with the permitted pen and only one option per item. Follow the provider's rules on correcting a marked answer.
Scoring typically includes a penalty for incorrect answers, so apply your guessing strategy consistently. Confirm the current formula and penalty with the provider.
Arrive before the reporting time; late candidates are often not admitted once the session has started. Confirm the cutoff with the provider.
Any irregularity, from bringing a phone to impersonation, can void your result. If something goes wrong, report it to the invigilator immediately and keep a record.