Andalusia PAU Performing Arts II
Andalusia PAU Performing Arts II (Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad – Artes Escénicas II)
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
Artes Escénicas II is the second-year performing arts subject in the Andalusian upper-secondary curriculum and one of the subjects examinable in the regional university entrance procedure (PEvAU/PAU) for students entering arts and humanities degrees. It suits candidates who have studied the subject at school and need the exam mark either to raise their entrance score or as a required subject for their chosen degree. The exam is written and open-response: candidates typically choose between alternative questions and then develop essay-style answers, commentary on dramatic texts or theatrical works, and questions on genre, staging, performance and movement. Because answers are discursive, examiners reward precise vocabulary, structured argument and concrete examples from plays, productions and practitioners rather than memorised lists. Preparation should combine close reading of the set dramatic texts with note-taking on staging, scenography and acting theory, plus timed practice writing full answers by hand. Reading a question carefully and planning before writing matters as much as content. The current exam structure, timetable, registration deadlines and scoring rules are published by the official Andalusian and Spanish education authorities; always check their sites for the year you are sitting, since the model has been adjusted during the rollout of the current education law.
What you'll study
About Andalusia PAU Performing Arts II preparation
What is the exam format like?
It is a written, open-response exam. You normally find several questions or blocks and choose between alternatives, then write developed answers: theory, text or production commentary, and questions on staging, genre or performance. Expect to write at length by hand, so practise producing structured essays under time pressure.
How difficult is it?
Difficulty depends heavily on how well you know the set texts and terminology. Candidates who have read the plays closely and can name staging elements, genres and practitioners write confidently. Those who rely on vague impressions struggle, because marks come from precise, well-organised argument with examples, not from general opinions.
Can I retake the exam?
Retakes and improvement sittings exist within the regional entrance procedure, but the conditions, dates and any limits change from year to year. Confirm the current rules on the official Andalusian university entrance website before planning, and register within the published deadlines.
How much time do I get, and what is the pass mark?
The official body publishes the duration, structure and scoring criteria for each year's sitting, so check its site rather than relying on older information. In practice, plan your time in proportion to the marks each question carries and leave a few minutes to review what you have written.
In what order should I study?
Start with the set dramatic texts: read each play twice and build a one-page sheet on plot, characters, structure and themes. Then layer on genre and historical context, then staging, scenography, acting and movement. Finish with timed practice answers, because writing speed and essay structure are often what separate grades.
What do candidates most often get wrong?
Common failures: answering the question that was not asked, writing plot summary instead of analysis, using technical terms loosely, and ignoring staging or performance dimensions when the question invites them. Not planning before writing, and running out of time on the final question, are also frequent.
Do I need to have taken the subject at school?
The exam is designed around the second-year subject curriculum, so candidates who studied it have a clear advantage in familiarity with the set texts and terminology. If you are preparing independently, work from the official curriculum for the subject and the texts it lists.
How should I use past papers?
Use them to practise structure, not to memorise answers. Write full responses by hand, then compare against the published assessment criteria and mark yourself on argument, terminology and use of examples. Repeat with different alternatives until planning and writing feel automatic.