Andalusia PAU History of Art exam-day guide
Andalusia PAU History of Art · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your DNI or passport
Spanish national ID card (DNI) or passport is the standard identity document for PAU access in Andalusia. Keep it in your bag the night before. If you have any doubt about which document is accepted for your specific centre or call, confirm with the provider (your school or the Universidad de Sevilla/Universidad de Málaga PAU coordination, depending on your assigned venue).
Bring your exam seat/session documentation
The PAU enrolment receipt, seat assignment or centre instructions you received during matrícula should be printed and carried with you. Exact required printouts vary by centre and year, so confirm with the provider which documents they expect you to show at the door.
Bring several blue or black ballpoint pens
Write with blue or black ink. Bring at least three working pens plus a spare, because you will write for a long time and cheap pens fail. Pencil is normally acceptable only for rough work or diagrams, not for final answers.
Bring pencils, eraser and a sharpener
Useful for planning outlines, sketching architecture plans or annotating images before committing to ink. Some centres restrict pencil use in the final answer, so check the instructions printed on the exam paper itself.
Bring a transparent pencil case or clear bag
Many venues require transparent cases so invigilators can see contents quickly. If you do not have one, a clear plastic bag works. Confirm with the provider whether transparent cases are mandatory at your venue.
Bring a wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones must be switched off. A plain analogue or digital wristwatch lets you keep to your timing plan for the theory and image-comment sections.
Leave phones and smart devices switched off and out of reach
Any phone, smartwatch or device that sounds or is seen during the exam can lead to expulsion from the whole session. Switch off, remove from your person, and store where the invigilators instruct.
Bring water and a light snack for the break
The PAU day is long and the History of Art paper may sit alongside other subjects. Water in a clear bottle and a quick snack help between sessions. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed inside the exam room.
Know your exact venue, room and start time
Check the seat assignment published by your centre and do a route rehearsal if the venue is unfamiliar. Arrive with margin: late entry rules are strict and vary, so confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled.
Review your personal image list and timing plan the night before
Andalusian History of Art papers typically ask you to develop a topic and comment on images from the syllabus. Re-read your own one-line identification notes for each image and rehearse your section timings; do not try to learn new content at this stage.
Prepare your answer structure template
Have a memorised skeleton for both the theory question (context, characteristics, works, conclusion) and the image comment (identification, formal analysis, iconography/function, style and context). This saves minutes under pressure.
Check weather and dress in layers
Andalusian exam venues in June or September can be hot or heavily air-conditioned. Layered clothing and comfortable shoes keep you focused through a long morning.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Consolidate: re-read your summaries of the compulsory authors and movements, and your own identification cards for the image list. Practise one full timed paper under exam conditions, then mark it yourself against the structure you were taught, not against a commercial answer key. Spend the rest of the day patching only the two or three weakest areas you identified.
Do a second timed rehearsal, this time focusing on the section you find hardest (usually the image comment or the architectural analysis). Practise writing a complete comment in the allotted minutes, including a short identification line, formal description, and contextual placement. Check your handwriting speed: you need to fill the expected length legibly.
Light review only: skim your summaries and image list once, then stop. Prepare your bag with ID, documentation, pens, pencils, eraser, watch, water and snack. Confirm venue, room and start time from your seat assignment. Set two alarms, plan your transport and go to bed at a normal hour; sleep is worth more than one more reread.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the venue with generous margin. Keep your phone off and stored. Before entering, glance at your one-page structure template only, not at dense notes. Locate the room, check the seating, and settle with your materials laid out.
Read the whole paper before writing. Identify which theory option and which image options you will answer, and confirm the choice rules and point values printed on the paper. Write a short timing plan in the margin: for example, minutes for planning, theory, each image comment, and a final review.
Spend a few minutes on a skeleton outline, then write continuously. Open with a definition and historical context, develop characteristics with named works and authors, and close with significance. Use specific vocabulary (materials, techniques, formal elements) and avoid long generic introductions that earn no marks.
Identify the work, author and period in one or two precise lines, then analyse form (composition, space, light, colour, materials), then iconography or function, then stylistic and historical context. If you are unsure of the exact title, describe what you see confidently and place it in the right movement rather than inventing facts.
Check that you have answered the required number of questions and that every answer is clearly labelled. Make sure your name and details are filled in as instructed. Correct obvious slips, but do not rewrite whole paragraphs; legibility and completeness matter more than last-minute edits.
Rules to check
Carry valid photo ID (DNI or passport) and present it whenever an invigilator asks. If your document is lost or expired, contact your centre immediately; do not assume you will be admitted, so confirm with the provider.
Follow the invigilators' instructions at all times, including where to leave bags, when you may turn the paper over, and when you may leave the room. Their instructions override anything you were told informally.
Switch off and stow all electronic devices before entering. A phone or smartwatch that rings, vibrates or is visible during the exam can lead to annulment of your results; the exact sanction is set by the university coordination, so confirm with the provider if in doubt.
Write your answers in the language of the exam and in the format the paper requires. In Andalusia the History of Art paper is delivered in Spanish (with the language options your centre offers), and answers must be legible; unclear handwriting can cost marks.
Do not bring unauthorised material: no notes, printed summaries, textbooks, or annotated image sheets inside the exam room. Only the materials the paper permits (typically pens, pencils, eraser) are allowed.
Breaks and leaving the room are controlled by the invigilators; you normally cannot leave and return freely during a session. Ask before the exam starts how toilet breaks are handled, and confirm with the provider if you have a medical need requiring accommodation.
Scoring follows the official weighting printed on the paper: the theory topic and the image comment carry set point values, and partial credit depends on meeting the required elements. Read the rubric on the paper and allocate your time and length accordingly.
Academic integrity rules apply: copying, communicating with other candidates, or using hidden devices leads to disciplinary action and possible loss of the whole PAU session. Keep your eyes on your own paper and your materials visible.