Why Choose an Online Cursinho?
Preparing for a concurso público (Brazilian civil service exam) is one of the most competitive endeavors in Brazil. Online prep courses (cursinhos) have revolutionized how candidates study, offering video lessons, PDF materials, question banks, and mock exams -- all from home.
But with so many options -- Estratégia Concursos, Gran Cursos, Descomplica, AlfaCon, Direção Concursos, Aprova Total -- how do you choose the right one? This guide compares the top platforms to help you make an informed decision.
Quick Comparison Table
| Platform | Best For | Key Strength | Teaching Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estratégia Concursos | All areas (broadest catalog) | Huge question bank, PDFs | Methodical, PDF-heavy |
| Gran Cursos | Fiscal, juridical, police | Live classes, community | Interactive, live-focused |
| Descomplica | ENEM + introductory concursos | Modern UI, accessible language | Dynamic, youth-oriented |
| AlfaCon | Police/military careers | Specialized police content | Intense, focused |
| Direção Concursos | Fiscal, tribunals, federal | Star professors, didactics | Clear, exam-oriented |
| Aprova Total | Entry-level concursos | Affordable, organized | Structured, step-by-step |
1. Estratégia Concursos
Estratégia Concursos is the largest online prep platform in Brazil, covering virtually every concurso at all levels (municipal, state, federal). Known for its massive question bank with tens of thousands of commented questions grouped by exam board (CESPE/CEBRASPE, FCC, FGV, CESGRANRIO, VUNESP).
- Content: Video classes + detailed PDF materials for every subject
- Question bank: One of the largest, with filters by board, subject, and difficulty
- Editions: Courses targeted to specific editais (exam announcements)
- Best for: Candidates who want comprehensive, structured material for any concurso
2. Gran Cursos Online
Gran Cursos Online is known for its live classes and a large community of concurseiros. Strong in fiscal, juridical, and police areas. Their platform offers an "unlimited access" model covering multiple concursos.
- Content: Live and recorded classes, interactive Q&A
- Community: Active student forums and study groups
- Gran Questões: Their own question bank platform
- Best for: Candidates who prefer live interaction and community support
3. Descomplica
Originally a vestibular/ENEM platform, Descomplica expanded into concursos. Known for its modern, accessible teaching style with short videos and clear language. Good for beginners entering the concurso world.
- Content: Short, focused video lessons with modern production
- Interface: Clean, modern app and web platform
- Approach: Simplifies complex topics for beginners
- Best for: First-time concurso candidates and those transitioning from ENEM/vestibular prep
4. AlfaCon
AlfaCon is specialized in police and military careers: Polícia Federal, PRF, Polícia Civil, PM, Bombeiros. Their professors are often former police officers with exam experience.
- Content: Focused on security/police concursos with TAF (fitness test) guidance
- Professors: Many with real-world law enforcement background
- Community: Strong among police career candidates
- Best for: Candidates targeting police, military, and security careers
5. Direção Concursos
Direção Concursos has grown rapidly thanks to highly rated professors who left other platforms. Known for exceptional teaching quality and clear, exam-oriented explanations.
- Content: Video classes with renowned professors, organized by edital
- Teaching quality: Professors are the main differentiator
- Study plan: Structured paths for each concurso
- Best for: Candidates who value teaching quality above all, especially for fiscal and juridical areas
6. Aprova Total
Aprova Total focuses on making concurso prep accessible and organized, especially for entry-level (nível médio) and intermediary concursos. Known for affordable pricing and structured study paths.
- Content: Organized by career track with clear progression
- Pricing: Generally more affordable than premium platforms
- Structure: Step-by-step approach that prevents overwhelm
- Best for: Beginning concurseiros and those on a budget
The Missing Piece: Retention
Here's what no cursinho tells you: watching video lessons is passive learning. Research shows we forget up to 70% of new information within 24 hours (the "forgetting curve" by Ebbinghaus). You can watch every lesson, read every PDF, and still fail the exam because you didn't retain the content.
The solution is active recall + spaced repetition:
- Active recall: Testing yourself forces your brain to retrieve information, strengthening memory pathways
- Spaced repetition: Reviewing at scientifically optimal intervals prevents forgetting
- Flashcards: The most efficient format for active recall -- concise questions that test specific concepts
This is where Mayinab comes in. Use your cursinho to learn the content, then create flashcards in Mayinab to retain it. The SM-2 algorithm schedules reviews at the perfect intervals, so you never forget what you studied.
How to Combine Cursinho + Mayinab
- Watch the video lesson on your cursinho platform
- Create flashcards in Mayinab for the key concepts
- Solve questions from the cursinho's question bank
- Add wrong answers as new flashcards -- focus on what you don't know
- Review daily -- Mayinab's SM-2 tells you exactly what to review and when
- Repeat -- each lesson adds new cards, while SM-2 keeps old cards fresh
Organization in Mayinab
Create a structure that mirrors your cursinho:
- Subject: "Direito Constitucional" → Topics: "Direitos Fundamentais", "Organização do Estado", "Controle de Constitucionalidade"...
- Subject: "Português" → Topics: "Interpretação", "Concordância", "Regência", "Crase"...
- Subject: "Raciocínio Lógico" → Topics: "Proposições", "Negação", "Equivalências"...
- Subject: "Informática" → Topics: "Segurança", "Redes", "Office"...
Which Cursinho Should I Choose?
- Broadest catalog: Estratégia Concursos -- covers everything
- Live classes & community: Gran Cursos Online
- Police/military: AlfaCon -- the specialist
- Best professors: Direção Concursos
- Budget-friendly: Aprova Total
- Coming from ENEM: Descomplica -- smooth transition
Regardless of which cursinho you choose, the retention problem remains the same. Complement any platform with flashcards and spaced repetition to actually remember what you study.
🍵 The Winning Formula
The best study strategy isn't choosing between cursinho OR flashcards -- it's using both together. Your cursinho teaches content through video lessons, PDFs, and question banks. Mayinab ensures you retain that content using SM-2 spaced repetition. Watch a lesson, create flashcards, solve questions, and review daily. That's how top-scoring candidates study -- they don't just learn, they remember.