PAU History of Spain (Andalusia) exam-day guide
PAU History of Spain (Andalusia) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document you registered with (DNI, passport, or equivalent). The document must be valid and show a photograph. If you registered under a different document than the one you normally carry, confirm with the provider which document must be presented on the day.
Exam admission card / registration confirmation
Print or download the admission document or proof of registration issued by the university or organising body. Check that your name, the exam venue, and the exam code match. If no admission card is issued for your call, confirm with the provider whether you need to bring any confirmation at all.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers must be legible; bring at least two working pens of the same ink colour plus a spare. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is permitted for diagrams or drafts and whether correction fluid is allowed.
Pencil, eraser and small ruler
Useful for drafts, timelines, maps, or diagrams in history answers. Drafts must normally be crossed out or clearly separated from the final answer; confirm with the provider how drafts should be marked.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Many exam rooms lack a visible clock or place it where you cannot see it. A simple analogue or digital watch without connectivity is normally acceptable. Smartwatches and phones must be off and stored away; confirm with the provider which devices are banned from your desk.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Hydration helps during a long written paper. Labels are usually required to be removed and the bottle must be transparent. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed in the room at all.
Printed summary of the exam structure
A one-page sheet you study before entering: number of questions, choice options, time per section, and scoring weights. Do not bring it to the desk; review it outside the room and leave it in your bag. Confirm with the provider the exact structure and timing of your call.
Know the venue, room and access route in advance
Check the exact building and room assignment, the entrance you should use, and the public transport route. Arrive with margin; access to the building may close once the exam begins. Confirm with the provider the recommended arrival time and whether late entry is allowed.
Leave prohibited devices and notes at home or in your bag
Phones, smartwatches, earphones, notes, and study material must not be at your desk. Even switched-off devices can be treated as a violation if they are within reach. Confirm with the provider where bags and devices must be deposited.
Plan your answer timing before you start writing
Decide in the first five minutes how many minutes each question or section gets, including a short reserve for reviewing. Stick to the plan even if one question feels incomplete; partial answers on all required questions usually score better than one perfect answer and two blanks.
Confirm scoring rules and question choice with the provider
The weighting of each section, whether optional questions are chosen from blocks, and whether penalties apply for wrong answers or for exceeding the space limit. These details vary by call and year; confirm with the provider rather than relying on memory.
Plan the day
Re-read the official programme for your call: exam date, start time, venue, duration, structure, and permitted materials. Write the key facts on one sheet. Confirm any uncertain point (ID document, admission card, device rules, arrival time) with the provider now, not on the morning.
Do a timed full rehearsal under exam conditions: no notes, no phone, fixed duration, handwritten answers. Then mark it against the criteria and identify the two weakest areas. Spend the remaining days on those, not on re-reading everything.
Consolidate rather than expand. Review your own outline sheets: key periods, dates, terms, and the structure of a good essay answer (introduction, argument, evidence, conclusion). Practise writing short plans for likely question themes in five minutes each.
Prepare the physical kit: ID, admission document, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, watch, water. Put everything in one bag the night before. Check the transport route and the expected travel time, and set two alarms.
Light review only, then stop early. Confirm the venue and room one last time. Eat normally, avoid late-night cramming, and sleep. Fatigue costs more marks than one missed fact.
Eat a proper breakfast, dress in layers, and leave earlier than the route requires. Arrive at the venue with enough margin to find the room, store your bag, and settle. Keep the summary sheet for reading outside the room only.
Read the instructions and the whole paper before writing. Check the number of questions, the choice rules, and the time. Write your name and details as required, then allocate minutes per question and note the times on your paper.
Answer the required questions first and keep to your time plan. Write legibly, use paragraphs and clear structure, and include specific evidence (dates, terms, names, processes). If a question blocks you, leave space and move on; return at the end.
Stop adding new content. Check that every required question has an answer, that question numbers are clear, that no answer is left in draft form, and that your details are filled in. Use remaining time to complete an unfinished answer rather than to rewrite a finished one.
Rules to check
Bring the valid identity document you registered with; you may be refused entry without it. If your document has changed or is expiring, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Phones, smartwatches, earphones, and any notes or study material must be switched off and stored away from your desk. Keeping a device within reach can be treated as misconduct even if it is off; confirm with the provider where devices must be left.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on start, stop, and collection of papers. Writing after the order to stop, or continuing during a pause, is normally treated as a violation of the rules.
Breaks are usually not permitted during the exam, or only with supervision. Confirm with the provider whether you may leave the room and how, and plan hydration and toilet visits around that.
Scoring follows the official criteria for the call: weightings per section, rules on choosing optional questions, and any penalties for wrong answers or excess length. These vary, so confirm with the provider and read the paper's instructions carefully.
Answers must be your own work. Talking, passing material, or copying from another candidate is misconduct and may lead to annulment of the exam; the same applies to bringing unauthorised material to the desk.
Use only the materials the provider permits (normally pens and basic drawing instruments). Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid, pencil for final answers, or any other aid is allowed in your call.