Aragón PAU Business and Business Model Design exam-day guide
Aragón PAU Business and Business Model Design · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport (original, valid)
Spanish PAU (EvAU) sittings normally require photo ID, and the document must be the original, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. Check the exact document list published by the Universidad de Zaragoza / Gobierno de Aragón for your call before the exam; if the instructions are not explicit, confirm with the provider.
Printed exam registration / matrícula receipt and proof of the subjects you are sitting
Bring the receipt or card issued when you registered for the specific subjects. Some centres also publish lists of candidates and classrooms; check your assigned room the day before. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital one is accepted.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Answers are handwritten on official answer sheets. Bring spare pens and a pencil for any rough work; do not rely on a single pen failing.
Pencil, eraser and a small ruler
Useful for underlining, sketching a quick table, or drawing a simple diagram of the business model if it helps structure an answer. Keep rough work clearly separated from the final answer.
Basic non-programmable calculator
Business and Business Model Design questions can involve simple break-even, margin, or percentage calculations. Confirm with the provider which calculator models are allowed in your call, since rules vary by subject and year.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock and phones must be switched off. A plain watch lets you manage the time budget for the case study.
Clear water bottle with the label removed
Long sittings are tiring; a plain bottle is usually accepted, but check the centre's rules on what may be on the desk.
Confirm the exact date, start time and building
Aragón PAU calls usually run in early June (ordinary) and early July (extraordinary), but dates change each year. Verify your personal calendar, room and entrance from the official call; confirm with the provider.
Know the paper structure and marks before you sit down
Re-read the official structure for this subject in your call: number of questions or options, whether there is a choice, and how marks are distributed. This determines how long you spend on each part.
Prepare a one-page revision sheet of the core models
Canvas, lean canvas, value proposition, SWOT, PESTEL, Porter's five forces, and the business model components. Have the blocks and the order you would write them memorised so you do not waste time recalling structure.
Rehearse two or three timed past-paper answers
Write full answers under time pressure, then mark them against the official criteria. This is the single best preparation for pacing. Use the papers published for your autonomous community, not third-party reconstructions.
Leave your phone switched off and stored away
A phone on the desk, even off, can be treated as misconduct. Store it as the centre instructs before the paper starts.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Consolidate: re-read your one-page model sheet, then do one full timed paper under exam conditions. Mark it honestly against the official criteria and list the two or three weaknesses that cost the most marks, for example not defining terms, not linking the model to the case, or running out of time on the last question.
Check the logistics: the exact building and room, travel time, and whether you need to arrive early for ID checks. Print your registration receipt and put your ID in your bag the same day, not the morning of the exam.
Do a second timed paper, focusing on the weaknesses you identified. Practise the opening of each answer: a one-sentence definition of the concept, then application to the case, then a judgement. This structure earns marks quickly and keeps you from writing vague generalities.
Light revision only: model sheet, key definitions, and the structure of the paper. Do not attempt a new full paper. Prepare your bag with ID, registration receipt, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, calculator and watch, and check the calculator is the type your call allows.
Confirm the start time and arrival instructions from the official call. Set two alarms. Eat normally and sleep; a tired candidate loses more marks through careless reading than through missing knowledge.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive at the centre with margin for ID checks, and keep your phone off and stored. Do not join last-minute group panic about topics; skim only your model sheet.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note the number of questions, whether there is a choice, and the marks per question. Decide which optional questions you will answer and allocate minutes in proportion to marks, leaving 5-10 minutes at the end for checking.
Answer in the order that maximises marks, not necessarily paper order; start with the question you know best to settle nerves. For each answer: define the concept precisely, apply it to the specific business in the case with concrete details, then give a short reasoned judgement. Underline key terms and use short paragraphs or bullet points so the marker can find your points.
Check that every required question is answered and numbered as on the paper, that no answer is left blank, and that units and percentages are correct in any calculation. If time is short, write brief bullet points for a remaining question rather than leaving it empty.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID. The document must be valid and match your registration; photocopies and digital copies are normally not accepted. If your document list is unclear, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Write only on the official answer sheets and follow the numbering and labelling instructions. Answers written outside the designated space, or in a way that cannot be matched to a question, may not be marked.
Electronic devices, including phones and smart watches, must be switched off and stored as instructed. A device on your person or desk during the exam can be treated as a serious irregularity regardless of whether you used it.
Calculators are only permitted if the call for this subject allows them, and only approved models. Confirm with the provider which models are permitted; do not assume the rules are the same as for other subjects.
Once the exam has started, leaving the room is generally restricted and may only be allowed with permission and escort. Ask the invigilator before the paper begins if you anticipate needing to leave, and confirm the centre's rules with the provider.
Scoring follows the official marking criteria for the subject, so show your reasoning and define terms explicitly; unexplained answers, even if correct, may lose marks. Read the published criteria for your call so you know what the marker rewards.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with your materials, raise it with the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded; do not wait until after the exam.
Any irregularity can lead to annulment of the subject or the whole sitting. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask the invigilator before doing it rather than afterwards.