Andalusia PAU English exam-day guide
Andalusia PAU English · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport (original, valid)
Bring the same identity document you used at enrolment. A photocopy or a photo on your phone is normally not accepted. If your document is expired, lost, or being renewed, confirm with your school or the Universidad de Sevilla (the coordinating university for the Andalusian PAU) what alternative proof they accept before exam day.
Exam registration/credentials document
Some centres circulate a 'resguardo de matrícula' or list of subjects showing which exams you are registered for. Check whether your centre requires you to bring it; if you are unsure, confirm with your school or the coordinating university.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Write in ink, not pencil, unless a subject's instructions say otherwise. Bring spares. Confirm with your centre whether correction fluid is permitted; if not stated, avoid it and cross out neatly instead.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Useful for rough work and for any multiple-choice answer sheet, but check the specific instructions on each paper: some exams require all final answers in ink.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many exam venues require materials to be visible. Keep only what you need inside; leave the rest in your bag at the back of the room.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones must be switched off and stored away. A simple analogue or digital watch with no connectivity is the safe option.
Printed exam timetable for your centre
Sessions, room allocations and call times vary by centre and by subject. Print or save the official timetable for your assigned venue and check the room list on arrival. Confirm venue details with your school if anything is unclear.
Water in a transparent bottle, no label
Usually permitted, but rules differ by venue. Confirm with your centre whether drinks and small snacks are allowed in the exam room.
No phone, smartwatch, or earbuds at your desk
Switch devices off completely and leave them in your bag in the designated area. A device found on your person during an exam can lead to invalidation of your results; treat this as a strict rule.
Know your call time and arrive early
Arrive well before the published start, allowing time for ID checks and seating. If you arrive late, entry and extra time are not guaranteed; confirm the late-arrival policy with your centre in advance.
Plan transport and a backup
Check routes, strikes and parking the day before. Have a backup plan (a second bus line, a lift, or money for a taxi) so a delay does not cost you the session.
Confirm access arrangements if you have them
If you have an approved adaptation (extra time, separate room, larger print), confirm in writing with your centre before the exam that it is recorded and will be applied. Do not assume it carries over automatically.
Plan the day
Print or download your official timetable and confirm room, date and start time for every subject you are registered for. Check the identity document you will use is valid and matches your registration. Re-read the instructions for each paper type (for example, whether there is a choice of questions or a compulsory reading and composition section) so nothing surprises you on the day.
Do light, targeted revision: review your own summaries, model answers and marked corrections rather than starting new material. Practise timing on one full paper per subject if you have not already. Stop heavy study by the evening before each exam.
Check practicalities: transport times, whether you need to bring food, and the weather. Confirm any access arrangements with your centre. Pack your bag with pens, pencil, eraser, watch, ID and timetable, and leave it by the door.
Do a short review of key structures and vocabulary or formulas, then stop. Set two alarms, charge nothing you will rely on your phone for, and go to bed at a normal time. Avoid last-minute cramming that leaves you tired; sleep is worth more than one more topic.
Eat a proper breakfast and take water. Re-check the bag: ID, pens, pencil, watch, timetable. Leave earlier than you think you need to. Switch your phone off before entering the building and put it away in your bag, not your pocket.
Find the room list, confirm your seat, and have your ID ready for checking. Use the waiting time for calm breathing, not for discussing answers or quizzing classmates. Follow the invigilator's instructions exactly.
Read the whole paper first and note the marks and suggested time for each section. Answer the questions you are sure of first, then return to harder ones. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints rather than constantly. Leave a few minutes to check spelling, verb agreement, and that you have answered the required number of questions and filled in any answer sheet correctly.
Do not spend the break re-analysing the paper you just sat. Focus on the next subject. If you have several exams on different days, reset your revision plan to the next one only.
Rules to check
Bring valid original photo ID and keep it on your desk if asked. If your document is missing, expired or being renewed, speak to your centre or the coordinating university before exam day to confirm what alternative is accepted; do not assume a photocopy will do.
Phones, smartwatches and any connected device must be switched off and left in your bag in the designated area, not on your person. Possession of a device during an exam is treated as serious misconduct and can lead to your results being annulled. Confirm the exact wording of your centre's rules with them.
Write your answers in the language and format the paper requires, and follow the instruction on the number of questions to answer. Answers written in the wrong language or beyond the required number may not be marked. If a paper has a word limit, respect it.
Breaks between papers are usually not allowed inside the exam room once a session has started, and leaving early is often restricted. Ask the invigilator before the exam begins what the procedure is if you need to leave the room; confirm the policy with your centre rather than guessing.
Scoring is based on the official mark scheme for each subject, with the final grade combining your school assessment with the exam results according to the current Andalusian rules. The exact weighting and the minimum entry requirements for your chosen degree are set each year; check the official university admission information rather than relying on older figures.
Any irregularity, including talking, looking at another candidate's paper, or using unauthorised material, is reported and can lead to disqualification from the whole sitting. Follow the invigilator's instructions without argument and raise your hand if you have a problem.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with your seating or timing, tell the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded; complaints raised only after the exam are harder to pursue. Confirm the appeals or review procedure with your centre.