Cantabria PAU Artistic Drawing II (Dibujo Artístico II) exam-day guide
Cantabria PAU Artistic Drawing II (Dibujo Artístico II) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document (DNI, passport, or equivalent) required for admission to the PAU venue. Keep it in the same bag as your drawing materials so it is not left behind. If you are unsure which document is accepted for your specific call, confirm with the provider (your school or the coordinating university).
Exam call/schedule confirmation
Print or screenshot the official schedule showing date, time, and room assignment for Dibujo Artístico II. Arrive with margin; the timetable and access rules are set by the coordinating university, so confirm exact arrival time and permitted lateness with the provider.
Graphite pencils in a range of hardness
Bring a working set (for example 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B) plus a sharpener or craft knife and sandpaper block. Harder leads for construction lines and light values, softer leads for shadow mass and accents. Test each pencil before the exam so you know how it behaves on your chosen paper.
Erasers and blending tools
A kneaded eraser for lifting graphite without damaging the sheet, a firm plastic eraser for clean edges, and optional tortillons or paper stumps for smooth gradients. Wrap blending tools so they do not smudge your case.
Drawing supports and boards
A rigid board or clipboard slightly larger than the largest permitted format, plus clips or tape to fix the sheet. Confirm the allowed paper size and whether the provider supplies paper; if paper is supplied, still bring a board and fixing method that will not mark the sheet.
Permitted dry media only
The exercise is typically solved in graphite and other dry media, but the exact list of allowed and forbidden materials is set by the exam regulations. Do not bring solvents, sprays, or wet media unless the instructions explicitly allow them; confirm the material list with the provider.
Watch or small timer
A silent wristwatch or small clock lets you pace the composition, modelling, and final clean-up without relying on a phone (phones are usually restricted in the room). Check the venue rules on electronic devices with the provider.
Water and a light snack
Drawing sessions can run long. Bring water in a closed container and a snack you can eat without leaving residue on your hands or the sheet. Keep food away from the drawing surface and follow venue rules on consuming items in the room.
Rehearsed personal work plan
Before exam day, write a short time plan (for example: reading and thumbnail decisions, block-in, value structure, detail, clean-up) and practise it on at least two timed full exercises. On the day, follow the plan rather than improvising under pressure.
Reference mental toolkit
Review anatomy proportions, perspective basics, and light-and-shadow logic so you can construct a figure or still life from observation or from the prompt without external references. No printed references or phones should be assumed; confirm what the prompt permits with the provider.
Clothing that tolerates graphite
Wear clothes that can get dusty and avoid long sleeves that drag across the sheet. Bring a cloth or apron if allowed. Graphite smudges transfer easily, so a clean hand rest (paper under the drawing hand) protects finished areas.
Bag and label plan
Use one bag with materials grouped and a clear place for ID and schedule. Confirm with the provider whether you must label the sheet with your details, a code, or nothing at all, and follow that instruction exactly to avoid invalidation.
Plan the day
Do two full timed rehearsals of a typical Dibujo Artístico II exercise using only the materials you will bring. Time each phase and note where you lose minutes. Adjust your plan so the final 15 minutes are reserved for checking proportions, strengthening the focal point, and cleaning smudges and construction lines.
Inventory and sharpen every pencil, test the erasers, cut fresh blending stumps, and confirm the board and clips fit the permitted paper size. Replace anything that fails now rather than on the morning of the exam.
Re-read the official exam instructions for your call: duration, paper format, allowed media, and whether the prompt offers a choice of options. If any point is unclear, contact the provider now, not on exam day.
Do a light review only: proportion checks, value scales, and a few quick thumbnail sketches. Avoid a long, exhausting drawing session the night before; fatigue shows in line control and decision-making.
Pack the bag completely: ID, schedule, pencils, sharpener, erasers, blending tools, board, clips, watch, water, snack, and cloth. Place it by the door. Confirm the venue location and travel time, including any access restrictions.
Sleep on a normal schedule and set two alarms. Decide your clothing in advance. Do not plan to buy or borrow materials on the morning of the exam.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive at the venue with generous margin, and locate the room and any bag-drop area. Keep your ID accessible. Avoid last-minute cramming that raises anxiety; a brief look at your time plan is enough.
Once seated, set out materials in a consistent layout, fix the sheet securely, and check the lighting on your board from where you sit. Read the prompt twice before making any mark.
First minutes: read the prompt fully, identify what is being assessed (composition, proportion, modelling, expressive handling), and choose your approach. Make one or two small thumbnails to decide the framing and the light direction before committing to the sheet.
Block-in phase: establish the overall envelope, main axes, and proportions with light lines. Check the whole against the parts before adding detail. Keep construction lines light so they can be erased or absorbed later.
Modelling phase: build the value structure from large masses to smaller ones, keep a consistent light source, and reserve your darkest accents and sharpest edges for the focal area. Step back periodically to judge the whole sheet.
Final phase: use the last portion of the time to correct proportions, clean stray marks, reinforce the focal point, and make sure the drawing reads clearly from a distance. Stop when the plan says stop rather than risking a late-stage change that weakens the result.
Rules to check
Carry the official ID required for admission at all times in the venue. The exact document and any consequences of not presenting it are set by the coordinating university; confirm with the provider if you are unsure.
Follow the invalidation rules exactly: label the sheet only as instructed, do not write identifying marks where they are forbidden, and do not remove or substitute exam paper unless the instructions allow it. Confirm the labelling requirement with the provider.
Electronic devices such as phones and smartwatches are typically restricted during the exam. Do not rely on them for timing or references; confirm the venue's device policy with the provider before exam day.
Bring only the materials the regulations permit. If you are unsure whether an item (for example a fixative, coloured medium, or mechanical tool) is allowed, ask the provider in advance rather than risking confiscation or penalty.
Breaks and leaving the room are usually controlled by the invigilators, and time lost may not be recovered. Ask an invigilator before leaving and confirm the break policy with the provider if it matters to your plan.
Scoring is based on the criteria published for the exercise, typically composition, proportion and structure, modelling of form and light, and expressive or technical quality of handling. Read the prompt to identify which criteria carry weight and allocate your time accordingly.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, do not look at others' work, and do not bring prepared drawings or reference images into the room. Original work produced during the session is what is assessed; confirm any specific prohibition with the provider.
If you believe an instruction is ambiguous or a material is questioned, raise it with an invigilator immediately and calmly. Follow the invigilator's direction, and confirm any unresolved policy question with the provider after the session.