PAU French II (Cantabria) exam-day guide
PAU French II (Cantabria) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID (DNI, passport or equivalent)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. The name must match the one on your registration. If you registered with a different document or your ID is expired or being renewed, confirm with the provider beforehand which document they will accept.
Exam admission document / registration confirmation
Print or download whatever the convocatoria tells you to bring (resguardo de matrícula, admission letter or similar). Check the official notice for your call, since the exact document and whether a printed copy is required can change between sessions - confirm with the provider if the instructions are unclear.
Know your exact time, room and campus
The call (hora de citación) is usually earlier than the start of the test. Locate the building and room in advance on the campus map and note how long the walk from the entrance takes. Arrive at the citación time, not at the nominal exam start.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers must be legible. Bring spare pens of the same colour and avoid erasable ink or pencil for the final answer, since these can be hard to read or may not be accepted. Confirm any specific writing-material rule with the provider.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Useful for drafting, underlining and any multiple-choice or grid answer sheet. Keep the pencil for rough work only unless the instructions say otherwise.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones are usually not allowed on the desk. A simple analogue or digital watch without connectivity lets you manage the time budget yourself.
Clear water bottle, no label
Hydration helps during a long reading-and-writing paper. Remove the label so invigilators can see the contents. Food and drink policies vary - confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk.
Leave phone and smart devices switched off and stored
Smartphones, smartwatches and any device that can connect or store information must be off and out of reach, not in a pocket. An alarm going off during the test can be treated as misconduct.
No notes, dictionaries or study material at the desk
This is a language exam, so a dictionary, grammar reference or annotated text is normally prohibited. Anything you bring must be left in the designated area. Confirm with the provider what, if anything, is permitted.
Plan transport and a backup
Check bus or train times for the morning of the exam and identify a fallback (taxi, lift, earlier service). Aim to be at the campus 20–30 minutes before the citación time to absorb delays.
Read the official convocatoria for your call
The specific instructions (documents, permitted materials, duration, structure) are published per call. Read the version for your exam session rather than relying on what a previous candidate told you.
Confirm accommodation and meal logistics if you travel
If you are coming from outside the city, book accommodation near the campus and check the exam start time before choosing it. Have a light breakfast and know where you can eat nearby.
Plan the day
Download and read the official convocatoria for your call: exact time, room, campus, permitted materials and required documents. Print the admission document if a paper copy is requested.
Do a final structural review rather than new content: the format of each part (comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, written production, and any oral or listening component if your call includes one), the mark weighting and the time per section. Write a one-page timing plan.
Do one timed full practice paper under exam conditions, with no dictionary and no phone. Mark it, then list the three error types that cost you most marks (for example verb tenses, connectors, register) and revise only those.
Prepare and rehearse a small bank of reusable written-production structures: opening and closing formulas for a formal letter or email, opinion expressions, connectors of contrast, cause and consequence, and a short narrative tense pattern. Practise applying them to two or three different prompts.
Check the practical route to the campus and confirm transport times for the morning of the exam. If you are travelling, confirm your accommodation booking and the check-out time.
Pack the bag: ID, admission document, two pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener, watch, clear water bottle. Put everything by the door. Charge nothing you cannot bring in - leave the phone charger at home or in your bag, not on the desk.
Light revision only: reread your error list, your connector list and your written-production formulas. Do not start a new grammar topic or a full mock at this point; it raises anxiety without adding marks.
Set two alarms, check the weather forecast and decide what to wear (layers, comfortable shoes). Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy late meals and alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a proper breakfast, take the packed bag and leave with a margin that puts you at the campus 20–30 minutes before the citación time. Check that your phone is off before entering the building.
At the room, find your seat, put only permitted materials on the desk, and listen carefully to the invigilators' instructions about filling in headers, timing warnings and how to hand in.
Fill in all identification fields correctly, then read the whole paper before writing. Note the marks per section and allocate minutes accordingly, leaving 5–10 minutes at the end for checking.
Read the questions before the text if that suits you, underline where each answer is supported, and answer in the language and format requested. Do not copy long stretches of the text as your answer.
Work at a steady pace and do not let one item stall you; mark it and return later. Check agreement, tense consistency and spelling in the items you complete.
Spend two or three minutes planning (audience, register, structure, key phrases), then write. Respect the word limit and the required format. Reserve time to reread for verb tenses, agreement, accents and connectors.
Check that every section has an answer, that your name and details are correct, and that you have not left rough work where the final answer should be. Hand in as instructed and keep your materials until you leave the room.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID required by the convocatoria and keep it on the desk if instructed. If your document is expired, lost or being renewed, contact the provider before the exam to ask what alternative is accepted; do not assume a photocopy will be allowed.
Arrive by the citación time. Late entry, and whether a candidate arriving after the start may still sit the test, is governed by the call - confirm with the provider rather than relying on rumour.
Phones, smartwatches and any device that stores or transmits information must be switched off and stored out of reach. An alarm or a device found on your person during the test can be treated as academic misconduct.
Only permitted materials may be on the desk. Dictionaries, notes, grammar references and annotated texts are normally prohibited in a language exam; confirm with the provider what your call allows.
Breaks are usually not permitted once the test has started, and leaving the room may require an escort or may end your participation. Ask the invigilator before the test if you have a medical need, and confirm any special arrangements with the provider in advance.
Write legibly in the ink colour requested and keep answers within the designated spaces. Answers that cannot be read or that are written outside the marked areas may not be marked.
Scoring follows the official criteria for each part (comprehension, linguistic accuracy, written production with attention to task achievement, coherence and correctness). Word limits and required formats are part of the task; check the convocatoria for the weighting of each section.
Follow the invigilators' instructions at all times, including when to start, when to stop writing and how to hand in. Talking, looking at another candidate's paper or using unauthorised material can lead to disqualification.