Andalusia PAU Business and Business Model Design exam-day guide
Andalusia PAU Business and Business Model Design · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your DNI or passport
Spanish national ID (DNI) or valid passport is the standard identification for PAU exams. Confirm with your school or the Universidad de Andalucía exam coordination which document they accept and whether a photocopy is valid. This item is needs_review: the exact accepted documents are set by the administering body each year.
Bring your exam registration or matrícula proof
Carry the enrolment/registration document or receipt showing you are registered for the Business and Business Model Design paper (Empresa y Diseño de Modelos de Negocio). Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether the centre checks registration electronically.
Bring several blue or black pens and a pencil plus eraser
Write the exam in blue or black ink. A pencil and eraser help with rough work and any diagrams. Confirm with the provider whether answers must be in ink and whether correction fluid is allowed.
Bring a basic scientific calculator
The Business and Business Model Design paper includes quantitative tasks (break-even, ratios, profitability, financial calculations). Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted for your exam session, since programmable or graphing calculators are often restricted.
Bring a ruler and graph paper if permitted
A ruler helps with tables and diagrams. Confirm with the provider whether graph paper or extra sheets are allowed or provided by the centre.
Wear a watch or use only an allowed clock
Mobile phones are usually not permitted in the exam room, so a simple wristwatch helps you manage time. Confirm with the provider whether watches are allowed and whether smartwatches are banned.
Leave your mobile phone and smart devices at home or in the designated area
Phones, smartwatches and other connected devices are typically prohibited in the exam room. Confirm with the provider the exact policy on devices and storage.
Know the start time, room and centre address
Check the official timetable and your assigned room in advance. Arrive early enough to find the room and complete any check-in. Confirm the exact call time with your centre, as it can differ from the published start time.
Read the official exam instructions for this subject
Review the structure and instructions published for the Business and Business Model Design paper: number of questions, whether there are options, and any required format. Confirm with the provider or your teacher that you have the current version.
Prepare a one-page formula and concept sheet for revision
Keep a personal summary of key formulas (break-even point, profitability ratios, financial ratios, payback, NPV basics) and key concepts (business model, value proposition, canvas blocks). Use it only for revision, not in the exam room.
Check whether food, drink or medication are allowed
Rules on water bottles, snacks and medication vary. Confirm with the provider in advance, especially if you need medication during the exam.
Plan your transport and a backup
Plan the route and an alternative in case of delays. Aim to arrive with margin before the call time. Confirm the centre's policy on late arrival with the provider.
Plan the day
Consolidate rather than cram. Re-read your one-page formula sheet and practise two or three full past-style papers under timed conditions, including at least one quantitative exercise on break-even and one on ratios. Review the business model canvas and the difference between a business idea and a validated business model. Check the official timetable, room and centre address, and confirm any uncertain rules (calculator model, ID documents, devices) with your teacher or the provider.
Practise writing structured answers: definition, explanation, application to a case, and a short conclusion. Train yourself to allocate time by marks and to leave space for diagrams or tables. Identify your weakest two topics and do focused exercises on them. Prepare your materials (pens, pencil, calculator, ID, registration proof) in one place.
Do a light review only: formula sheet, key definitions and a couple of short case questions. Do not start new topics. Pack your bag: ID, registration proof, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, permitted calculator, watch. Confirm transport and set two alarms. Get a full night's sleep and avoid late-night cramming, which harms performance more than it helps.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive at the centre with margin before the call time. Leave devices at home or in the designated area. Do a final five-minute skim of your formula sheet outside the room, then put it away. Check you have your ID and registration proof before entering. Stay calm and focus on the first question rather than on the whole paper.
Read the instructions and the whole paper before writing. Note the number of questions, any options, and the marks for each. Check for any errors or missing pages and raise your hand if something is wrong. Plan your time: divide the total minutes by the marks and set checkpoints.
Answer the questions you are most confident about first if the paper allows it, but keep the order clear and number your answers. For quantitative questions, show the formula, the substitution and the result with units; method marks are usually available even if the final number is wrong. For theory and case questions, define the concept, explain it, apply it to the case and conclude. Use tables and diagrams where they clarify. Watch the clock at each checkpoint and leave time for questions you skipped.
Check that every question is answered and numbered, that units and percentages are correct, and that you have not left a calculation half-finished. Re-read any question you found ambiguous. Do not make large last-minute changes unless you are sure. Hand in all sheets as instructed by the invigilator.
Rules to check
Bring valid identification (DNI or passport) and your registration proof. The exact accepted documents are set by the administering body; confirm with the provider before exam day.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Do not communicate with other candidates, do not look at others' papers, and do not pass materials during the exam.
Mobile phones, smartwatches and other connected devices are generally not allowed in the exam room. Confirm with the provider the exact device policy and where to leave devices.
Only permitted calculators and materials may be used. Confirm with the provider which calculator models and aids are allowed for this subject before the exam.
Arrive before the call time. Late arrival and the possibility of entering after the exam has started are governed by the centre's rules; confirm with the provider.
Breaks and leaving the room during the exam are usually restricted and may require an escort. Confirm with the provider the rules on toilet breaks and leaving early.
Academic integrity rules apply: any attempt to use unauthorised material or to copy may lead to disqualification. Confirm with the provider the consequences and the appeals process.
Scoring and marking criteria are set by the administering body. Confirm with the provider how marks are allocated across questions and whether there are minimum requirements for this subject.