PAU Physics (Andalusia) exam-day guide
PAU Physics (Andalusia) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document (DNI, passport or equivalent)
Bring the original photo ID you registered with. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is ever permitted; do not assume a student card will do.
Exam admission/signature sheet or registration confirmation
If your centre issues a personalised admission slip or lists you on a signature sheet, print or download it. Confirm with the provider whether you must bring it or whether it is held at the venue.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers and diagrams are normally done in ink. Bring spares; a pencil is not a substitute for inked answers unless the paper explicitly says so.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Useful for rough work, graphs and sketches before inking final answers. Keep rough work clearly separated if the paper asks for it.
Ruler and protractor
Geometry, vector diagrams, ray diagrams and graph axes often need straight edges and measured angles. A 30 cm ruler and a clear protractor cover most cases.
Approved scientific calculator
Check the model against the rules published for your exam session. Programmable or graphing calculators may be restricted; confirm with the provider which models are allowed and whether memory must be cleared.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A plain analogue or digital watch is safer than relying on a phone, which will normally be collected or switched off.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many venues require transparent containers so invigilators can check equipment quickly. Confirm with the provider if you are unsure.
Water in a clear, label-free bottle
Staying hydrated helps in a long written paper. Labels usually need removing and the bottle must be transparent. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at your venue.
Know your seat, room and arrival time
Check the centre's published timetable and seating arrangements the day before. Arrive with margin for ID checks and seating; confirm with the provider how early you should be there.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or switched off and stored
Any device that can connect, store or transmit is usually banned from your desk. Confirm with the provider the exact storage rule so you are not caught out.
Review the paper's instructions and mark allocation before writing
Read the cover page: number of questions, choice rules, time, and whether calculators or tables are provided. This is a habit to rehearse in the final days, not a last-minute discovery.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Re-read your own summary sheets for mechanics, fields, waves, optics and modern physics, and work through one full past-style paper under timed conditions. Mark it honestly against the official solutions and list the two or three error types that cost you most marks: unit slips, sign errors, missing justifications, or running out of time on the last question.
Target those error types with short, focused practice. For each weak topic, do three or four part-questions and write the full reasoning, not just the final number. In physics, method marks are often awarded for stating the principle, substituting values with units, and giving the result with correct significant figures, so practise writing solutions as if an examiner must follow them without guessing.
Do a light review only: formula sheet, common constants, graph shapes, and the wording of standard definitions. Pack your bag using the checklist above, lay out ID and stationery, and check travel arrangements and the venue's opening time. Sleep at your normal time. Avoid a late-night cram of new material; it rarely helps and often harms concentration.
Confirm the exact start time, room and any last instructions from your centre, including calculator rules and what to do if you are delayed. Set two alarms. Prepare clothes and food so the morning requires no decisions. Stop studying at a reasonable hour.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive early. Keep the pre-exam review short: glance at formulas and units, not at new problems. Once seated, fill in identification details carefully, check the number of pages and questions, and read the instructions before the clock starts if permitted.
Read the whole paper or at least the section you must answer, note the mark value of each question, and allocate time roughly in proportion. Start with a question you can do confidently to settle nerves, but do not spend too long on it.
Show your working line by line, state the principle or law you are using, substitute with units, and box or underline the final answer with its unit and sensible significant figures. Draw diagrams with a ruler and label axes and quantities. If a part blocks you, leave space, move on, and return. Watch the clock at the halfway point and again with fifteen minutes left, and keep a few minutes to check units, signs and that every required part has an answer.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification matching your registration. Acceptable documents and any exceptions must be confirmed with the provider before exam day; do not rely on a photocopy or an expired document.
Phones, smartwatches and any device that can connect, store or transmit must be switched off and stored as the venue directs, not kept on your person or desk. Confirm with the provider where such items must be left.
Calculators must be of a type permitted for the session. Confirm with the provider which models are allowed, whether graphing or programmable models are excluded, and whether memory must be cleared before entry.
Follow invigilator instructions on seating, starting and stopping, and raising a hand if you need assistance. Communication between candidates during the exam is prohibited, and any suspected irregularity may be reported under the provider's rules.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; usually you will be accompanied or supervised. Confirm with the provider the rules on toilet breaks and whether extra time is granted.
Marks are awarded for method as well as final answers, so write reasoning, state formulas, and include units. An answer with no working may receive little credit even if numerically correct.
Answer the required number of questions and respect any choice rules. Extra answers beyond the permitted choice are normally not marked, so check the instructions before starting.
If illness or another emergency affects you before or during the exam, tell the centre staff immediately and ask about the provider's procedure for special circumstances. Do not assume anything; confirm with the provider what evidence is required and by when.