Concorso Magistratura exam-day guide
Concorso Magistratura · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocazione and official notice
Reread the convocazione (or the official communication from the organizing authority) the evening before to confirm date, time, venue, and any instructions on entry. The exact procedure is set by the authority administering the session - confirm with the provider, since it can change between sessions.
Valid identity document
Bring the same document type you declared in the application (carta d'identità or passport), valid and not expired. Candidates are normally identified at the entrance; the exact accepted documents must be confirmed with the provider.
Ricevuta of the domanda / registration confirmation
Print the submission receipt or registration confirmation if the notice requires it. Whether it is mandatory at the desk varies - confirm with the provider.
Tessera sanitaria / codice fiscale
Carry your codice fiscale (health card) because it is often requested for identification and for filling in the answer sheet header. Treat this as standard practice but confirm with the provider.
Admission receipt / payment proof
If the notice required a payment (contributo di partecipazione), keep the proof of payment with you. Whether it must be shown at the desk is not uniform - confirm with the provider.
Permitted writing instruments
Bring only the pens the notice allows (commonly black or blue ballpoint pens) plus spares. Do not bring pencil cases with forbidden material; the exact list of allowed items is set by the notice - confirm with the provider.
No electronic devices at the desk
Leave smartphones, smartwatches, earphones, and any other electronic device at home or deposit them where instructed. Possession at the desk can lead to exclusion regardless of use; the precise rule is in the notice - confirm with the provider.
Printed copy of the notice and any annexes
A paper copy of the bando/convocazione lets you check permitted items and timing without a phone. Keep it in a clear folder with your documents.
Water and a light snack
Long written sessions run several hours; bring water and a snack only if the notice permits them at the desk. Whether food and drink are allowed inside the room must be confirmed with the provider.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analog or digital non-connected watch helps you manage time if the room clock is not visible. Whether a watch is allowed at the desk must be confirmed with the provider.
Route and arrival plan
Plan to arrive well before the stated time; late arrival may mean exclusion. Check transport and identify the exact building entrance in advance. The cut-off time is stated in the convocazione - confirm it with the provider.
Physical condition and rest
Sleep, eat a normal breakfast, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material; a multi-hour written exam rewards stable attention more than late-night revision.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new topics. Review your own outline and the codes' structure (e.g., the layout of the codice civile, penale, and the main procedural codes) so you can locate provisions quickly. Rehearse the structure of a reasoned answer: inquadramento, normativa, giurisprudenza, applicazione al caso, conclusione.
Check logistics: venue address, travel time, parking or public transport, and the exact entrance. Prepare the documents folder (ID, ricevuta, codice fiscale, permitted pens) and place it by the door so nothing is forgotten.
Reread the convocazione line by line and write down any doubt (permitted items, timing, deposit of devices) to resolve with the provider before the day.
Do a light review only: key definitions, the structure of your answer, and a couple of past-style themes for timing practice. Do not start new manuals.
Prepare clothes and the document folder, charge nothing electronic that you plan to bring (better to leave devices at home), and confirm the alarm and departure time with margin.
Eat normally, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. If you feel anxious, write a short list of the three things you will do first when the theme is distributed.
Wake with enough margin, eat a normal breakfast, and leave earlier than strictly necessary. Arrive at the venue well before the stated time and follow the instructions for identification and seating.
Before entering, check that you have only permitted items; deposit or leave outside anything prohibited. Keep the document folder accessible for identification.
Read all the proposed themes before choosing. Select the one you can develop with the strongest normative and jurisprudential support, not the one that looks easiest at first glance.
Spend the first minutes building a written outline: issues, norms, case law, conclusion. Then write, reserving time to reread and correct. Manage the clock so you never run out of time for the final check.
Reread for coherence, citations, and legibility; check that every part of the question is answered. Follow the instructions on how to hand in the paper and on what may be taken out of the room.
Rules to check
Identification: bring a valid identity document and be ready to be identified at the entrance and at the desk. The exact accepted documents and the identification procedure are set by the administering authority - confirm with the provider.
Permitted items: bring only what the notice allows. Electronic devices, notes, manuals, and any unauthorized material are generally prohibited at the desk and can lead to exclusion; the precise list and consequences are in the notice - confirm with the provider.
Conduct in the room: follow invigilator instructions, do not communicate with other candidates, and do not exchange material. Breaches are handled under the rules of the administering authority - confirm the specific disciplinary regime with the provider.
Breaks and leaving the room: rules on toilet breaks, leaving the room, and re-entry vary by session. Ask the invigilators at the start rather than assuming; confirm the policy with the provider.
Timing and late arrival: the start time, the duration, and the cut-off for admission to the room are stated in the convocazione. Arriving after the cut-off may mean exclusion - confirm the exact rule with the provider.
Scoring and evaluation: the criteria, the weighting of the parts, and any minimum threshold are set by the notice and the commission. Do not rely on hearsay; read the official text and confirm with the provider.
Anonymity and answer-sheet rules: follow the instructions on how to identify your paper (or keep it anonymous) and on how to fill in the header. Errors here can affect validity, so check the instructions carefully and confirm with the provider if unclear.
Results and appeals: the notice states how results are published and the deadlines and procedures for any appeal or review. Note these deadlines in advance and confirm them with the provider.