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So, in Madrid,  the dates for the Competitive exam (Oposiciones a Profesores de Secundaria, including English teachers, of course) are now official, according to what the  Education & Sports Department “Consejería de Educación y Deporte” at Santa Hortensia no. 30 has been handing out (not officially published, as far as I know):

1. Saturday, June 18th: Parts A & B from the fist Part of the Exam (Language Part, lasting 3 hours and including listening, text analysis and translations  + Essay writing on one out of 4 topics randomly chosen from the 1993 list of 69 topics and lasting 2 hours).
2. Monday 20th – Thursday 23rd: Panels correct the 5-hour exams.  On 7th June, the Bachillerato students are having their English exam. I do know that some members of the panels are involved in the correction of those exams, plus their own students’ exams, assessment meetings, the signing of reports…and on top of that, some of them hold administrative responsibilities in the schools. Yet, the Administration in the Education Authorities’ Department has chosen to grant them four days to correct the exam! It really stinks!
3. Friday 24th: Provisional results are published.
4.  If you are not on the provisional list, but you think you have done a good job, you can put forward a claim. To do that you have Saturday 25th & Monday 27th: Now, this is crazy, guys, but that’s what we get: 2 days including Saturday and Monday to put forward any claim contesting the results! Poor candidates…and poor members of the panels! …The Administration certainly seems to be in for you! …or that is what I infer from reading the information provided. If I am wrong, or misreading things, I’ll be glad to retract my comments.
5. The  Syllabus Design needs to be handed in by those in the provisional list on Saturday 25th and/or Monday 26th.  Not clear on the exact date, so please, watch out.
6. Tuesday, June 28th: Final marks for the 1st part are published.
7. Wednesday, June 29th: Those who presented their claim and it was accepted hand in their syllabus design and the second part starts with the oral presentation by the successful candidates of their rationale and unit. Five sessions have been assigned to this, so the presentations end on Tuesday, 5th July.
8. Wednesday, 6th July: 2 days to put forward claims against the marks.
9. Friday, 8th July: Final marks for 2nd part of the Competitive Exam and the whole contest.
10. Monday, 11th July:  The successful candidates hand in all the documentation at the “Dirección de Area Territorial”.
11. Have a rest: Congratulations if you have got the place, and relax and don’t feel defeated if you haven’t. If you like teaching, you will eventually succeed!