The concorso docenti oral exam and simulated lesson

The oral exam in the Concorso Docenti includes a simulated lesson and a verification of English language competence at CEFR level B2, and it is marked out of one hundred with a pass threshold of 70 out of 100, the same scale used for the written test that precedes it. Its maximum duration is 45 minutes for secondary school candidates and 30 minutes for infanzia and primaria candidates, according to the exam pattern published for the current competition cycle.

Who gets to sit the oral exam?

Only candidates who already scored at least 70 out of 100 on the written computer-based test. The written test itself covers pedagogical, psycho-pedagogical and methodological-didactic competences, English at CEFR B2, and digital competences relating to the use of technology in teaching, and clearing its own threshold is a strict precondition; the oral exam is not an independent chance to make up for a failed written score. What that written stage covers in more depth is described in teaching qualification requirements for concorso docenti.

What actually happens during the simulated lesson?

Candidates deliver a lezione simulata, a short teaching demonstration on a topic or scenario relevant to the class of competition they applied for, in front of the examining commission. This is the centrepiece of the oral stage because it lets the commission assess something a written test cannot: how a candidate actually structures and delivers a lesson, manages time within a fixed window, and communicates subject matter to a classroom. Preparation for this part benefits from rehearsal under realistic time limits, since the 45-minute or 30-minute ceiling, depending on the school grade, is a hard constraint the commission enforces.

How is the English language check handled inside the oral exam?

The oral exam verifies English competence at CEFR level B2 alongside the simulated lesson, rather than as a separate standalone test, which means candidates should expect the language check to be woven into the broader interaction with the commission rather than delivered as an isolated written or listening exercise. B2 is a solidly intermediate-to-upper level, well above the A2 level required in some other national concorsi, so candidates coming from a different competition’s language requirement should not assume the same preparation transfers directly.

Does the oral score combine with the written score for the final ranking?

Both scores matter, but each carries its own independent pass or fail threshold first: a candidate must clear 70 out of 100 on the written test to be admitted to the oral, and then clear 70 out of 100 on the oral itself to be admitted to the regional graduatoria di merito. Only candidates who pass both stages have their qualifications (titoli) evaluated and enter the final ranking. For how a graduatoria works more generally, including what happens to candidates who pass but do not initially receive a post, see what a graduatoria is and how scorrimento works.

What should candidates focus on in the final weeks before the oral?

Practising the lezione simulata under timed conditions on a range of topics within your class of competition, rather than only reviewing subject content, tends to matter more at this stage, since the written test has already confirmed subject knowledge to a large degree. Reviewing your English at B2 level in a spoken, interactive context, rather than through written exercises alone, also better matches how the check is actually delivered.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pass the written test to access the oral exam? Yes. A minimum of 70 out of 100 on the written test is a strict precondition for being admitted to the oral stage.

How long does the simulated lesson last? The oral exam’s overall time limit is up to 45 minutes for secondary school candidates and up to 30 minutes for infanzia and primaria candidates, which includes the simulated lesson and the language check.

What CEFR level of English is required in the oral exam? B2, verified alongside the simulated lesson as part of the same oral stage.

Is there a separate written English test, or is it all in the oral exam? The written computer-based test also includes some questions on English and digital competences, but the deeper English competence check happens during the oral exam itself.

Does a strong written score make the oral exam easier to pass? No. Each stage has its own independent 70 out of 100 threshold, and a strong written score does not lower the bar you need to clear on the oral.