Aragón PAU Foreign Language II - German exam-day guide
Aragón PAU Foreign Language II - German · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport (original, valid)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. If your ID has expired or is being renewed, confirm with the coordinating body of the prueba de acceso whether an authorised temporary document is accepted before exam day, since this is decided by the administering institution, not by the exam author.
Exam call / seat assignment confirmation
Check the official Aragón PAU calendar and your assigned centre, classroom and call time on the official university or Departamento de Educación channels. Arrive at the time stated in your call, not at the scheduled start of the paper.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Write the German papers in ink. Bring spares; pencil is normally only for multiple-choice answer sheets where a specific marking instruction applies, so confirm with the invigilator which instrument is required for each part.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Useful for rough work and for any answer sheet that requires pencil marking. Keep rough work clearly separated from the final answer.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms may not have a visible clock. Smartwatches and any device with connectivity are normally prohibited; a simple analogue or digital watch is the safe option. Confirm the centre's rules on devices with the invigilator.
Clear plastic water bottle, label removed
Hydration helps during a long sitting. Many centres require the bottle to be transparent and unlabelled; follow whatever the invigilator announces.
No phone, smartwatch or notes in the exam room
Leave devices switched off and stored where the centre indicates. Carrying unauthorised material into the room can lead to annulment of the paper, so check the rules published with your call.
Know the paper structure in advance
The German paper normally combines reading comprehension, language use (grammar/lexis), and written production, and may include a listening task depending on the model applied in your year. Confirm the exact structure and timing on the official model published for your sitting, because the format has changed between years.
Practise with the official model and criteria
Download the current model and the correction criteria published by the Aragón PAU coordination. Write at least two full timed run-throughs so you know how long each section really takes you.
Review your own error list
Bring a one-page list of the grammar points you personally get wrong (case endings, verb position in subordinate clauses, prepositions with fixed case, tense choice). Re-read it in the final 24 hours rather than starting new material.
Transport and timing plan
Plan the route and a backup option, and add a buffer for delays. Being late may mean you cannot sit the paper; the exact tolerance is set by the centre, so confirm it with the provider if you are unsure.
Confirm accommodation or special arrangements
If you have a recognised need for adapted conditions (extra time, separate room, larger print), verify in advance that the centre has received and approved the request. This is handled by the administering body; confirm with the provider that your approval is on file.
Plan the day
Do one full timed simulation of the complete German paper under exam conditions, no dictionary, no phone, phone off in another room. Mark it yourself against the published criteria and write down the three biggest sources of lost marks (for example: wrong case after a preposition, missing verb at the end of a subordinate clause, going over the word limit in the writing task).
Target only those three weaknesses. Do 20–30 minutes of focused exercises on each, then re-write one paragraph of your simulation correcting the errors. Do not start new grammar topics; consolidation beats coverage at this stage.
Rehearse the writing task: plan, draft and check one composition in the time you will actually have. Build a personal checklist you will use in the exam (agreement, verb second position, subordinate clause verb-final, prepositions with case, spelling of capitalised nouns, connectors). Read a short German text aloud to keep listening and pronunciation habits warm.
Light review only: your one-page error list, your writing checklist, and the instructions for the paper structure. Prepare the physical items (ID, pens, watch, water, call confirmation) in one bag. Check the exam centre, room and call time once more on the official channel. Sleep at your normal time; do not cram new vocabulary overnight.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early with your ID and materials ready, and keep away from last-minute group discussions about grammar that can shake your confidence. Once seated, read the whole paper's instructions before writing anything, and note the time at which you must stop each section.
Read the instructions and the tasks in full, then allocate minutes to each section on your answer sheet margin. In reading tasks, identify what type of answer is required (short answer, true/false with justification, matching) before reading the text in detail.
Answer in the language and format demanded by each task, keep to word limits, and leave space to correct. If a listening task is included, use the pause before it to read the questions and predict the kind of information you need. Never leave a blank item if there is no penalty for guessing; confirm the scoring rule from the published criteria first.
Run your writing checklist over the production task: agreement, verb position, tenses, prepositions with case, capitalisation of nouns, connectors, and word count. Check that every item has an answer and that your name and details are filled in as instructed. Stop writing when the invigilator says so.
Rules to check
Identification: carry your original DNI or passport and place it on the desk if asked. The list of accepted documents and what happens if yours is expired or being renewed is set by the administering institution; confirm with the provider before exam day rather than assuming a photocopy will be accepted.
Materials: only bring what the call permits into the room. Phones, smartwatches and any connected device must be switched off and stored as the invigilator directs; unauthorised material can lead to the paper being annulled. Dictionaries and reference materials are normally not allowed in the foreign language paper, but confirm the exact rule with the provider for your sitting.
Conduct and communication: no talking, no passing material and no looking at another candidate's paper once the exam has started. Raise your hand and wait for the invigilator if you need something. Follow invigilator instructions immediately, including on when to stop writing.
Timing and lateness: the start and end times are fixed by the centre. Arrival after the permitted margin may mean you cannot sit the paper; the exact tolerance is a centre decision, so confirm it with the provider in advance if your journey is uncertain.
Leaving the room: rules on leaving during the paper and on returning vary by centre and by the length of the sitting. Ask the invigilator at the start what applies to you rather than assuming you can step out and come back.
Scoring: marks come from the published correction criteria for the German paper, which weight comprehension, language use and written production. Penalties for going over or under a word limit, and whether unanswered items score zero or are penalised, are defined in those criteria; read the current document for your year and confirm with the provider if anything is unclear.
Academic integrity: any attempt to use unauthorised help, including notes or devices, is dealt with under the rules of the administering body and can affect your access to university. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask before the paper starts.
Special arrangements: adapted conditions must be requested and approved through the official procedure in advance. The centre applies what has been approved, so confirm with the provider well before the exam that your arrangements are confirmed and that the room staff know about them.