Andalusia PAU Portuguese exam-day guide
Andalusia PAU Portuguese · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport (original, valid)
Bring the original photo ID you used at registration. Photocopies and expired documents are normally not accepted; if your document is expired or being renewed, confirm with the coordinating university beforehand whether a provisional authorization is valid.
Exam venue and session assignment
Check your personal assignment on the university's PAU portal: building, room, and the timetable for the Portuguese paper. Venues change year to year, so do not rely on a previous year's information.
Printed or downloaded proof of registration
Some centers ask to see the matrícula or assignment receipt at the door. Keep a copy on your phone as backup, but carry paper if possible.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (two or more)
Bring spare pens and a pencil plus eraser for rough work. Answers written in pencil may not be accepted for correction; confirm with the invigilator before writing.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. Smartwatches and phones are normally prohibited at the desk, so a plain analogue or digital watch is the safe option.
Clear water bottle with label removed
Rules on drinks vary by venue; keep it simple and transparent, and follow the invigilator's instruction if it must be stored away.
No phone, smartwatch, or notes at the desk
Leave devices switched off inside your bag, not in your pocket. Possession of a device during the exam is typically treated as a serious irregularity even if you did not use it.
Review the official exam structure and timing
Re-read the current-year instructions for the Portuguese paper: number of texts, question types, and whether there is a choice of options. The structure is published by the coordinating university, so verify it there rather than relying on older material.
Confirm language-specific conditions
Ask your center whether dictionaries, grammar reference sheets, or any other material are permitted for the Portuguese paper. This varies and must be confirmed with the provider, not assumed.
Plan the journey and arrival time
Aim to arrive at least 30–45 minutes before the call time to allow for ID checks and seating. Confirm the exact call time with your center.
Check accessibility or special arrangements
If you have an approved adaptation (extra time, separate room, larger print), confirm in writing with the center a few days before that it is on record and that you know where to report.
Prepare a one-page language reminder sheet for yourself
A personal summary of connectors, verb-tense endings, and text-comment structure to review in the final hours. Do not bring it into the exam room.
Plan the day
Re-read the official instructions for the Portuguese paper and the general PAU rules published by the coordinating university. Note the exact duration, the number of questions, and any choice between options. Write a short timed plan for each section (reading, comprehension, production) and stick to it in practice.
Do two full timed practice papers under exam conditions, using only the materials you will actually have in the room. Mark them against the published criteria if available, and list your three most frequent errors (for example, verb agreement, register, or missing connectors) so you can target them.
Confirm logistics: venue, room, call time, and transport. Check the ID you will bring is valid and is the same document used at registration. If anything is unclear, contact the center now rather than on the day.
Do light revision only: review your personal reminder sheet, connectors, tense endings, and a model structure for the written production. Do not start new topics. Prepare your bag with ID, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water, and registration proof.
Rehearse the timing once more without writing a full paper: how many minutes for reading, how many for each question, and how long you will reserve for checking. Decide now what you will do if a text seems unfamiliar or a question is ambiguous.
Sleep at your normal time, set two alarms, and check travel arrangements again. Avoid last-minute cramming of vocabulary lists late at night; it rarely helps and costs concentration.
Eat a normal breakfast, take your ID and bag, and leave with a margin of at least 30–45 minutes. Do not bring notes to the door; review only while travelling, then put everything away.
At the venue, locate your room and the notice board with seating. Switch off your phone and put it in your bag before entering. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions on materials, timing, and how to fill in the answer sheet.
First five minutes: read the whole paper, note the marks per question, and allocate time proportionally. Start with the reading comprehension, where the text supports you, then move to the language-use items, and leave the written production for the block you have planned.
For comprehension questions, answer in your own words where asked and quote only when the question requires it. Keep answers concise and check that each one addresses the actual question, not a related one.
For the written production, spend two or three minutes planning (register, structure, connectors, key vocabulary), then write. Leave five to eight minutes at the end to check agreement, tense consistency, spelling, and that you have answered every required part.
If you run out of time, write the remaining answers in note form rather than leaving blanks, unless the instructions penalise this. Before handing in, check your name and identifying details on the answer sheet and that all pages are submitted.
Rules to check
Bring the original, valid identity document used at registration. Photocopies, digital copies, and expired documents are generally not accepted; if your situation is unusual, confirm with the coordinating university before the exam day.
Arrive before the call time. Candidates arriving after the start may be admitted or refused depending on the center's rules; this is not uniform, so confirm the policy with your center in advance.
Devices must be switched off and stored out of reach. Having a phone, smartwatch, or unauthorised notes at your desk is normally treated as an irregularity that can lead to annulment of the paper, even without evidence of use.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on materials. Whether dictionaries, grammar sheets, or calculators are allowed for the Portuguese paper must be confirmed with the provider; do not bring them unless you have written confirmation.
Write legibly in the format required. Answers in pencil, in the wrong section, or outside the designated space may not be corrected; ask the invigilator if you are unsure where an answer should go.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not take question papers or answer sheets out of the room unless the invigilator explicitly permits it.
If you need to leave the room (toilet, illness), raise your hand and wait to be accompanied as the center requires. Time lost is not normally made up, so plan ahead.
Scoring follows the official criteria published for the Portuguese paper. Marks are awarded per question and for the quality of written production; check the published weighting before the exam so you can prioritise during the test.