PAU General Sciences (Cantabria) exam-day guide
PAU General Sciences (Cantabria) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document (DNI, passport, or equivalent) that matches the name on your registration. If you are unsure which documents the venue accepts, confirm with the provider before the exam day rather than assuming.
Exam admission document / call letter
Print or download whatever admission or call document the organising institution issues to confirm your assigned room and session. The exact name and format of this document varies by convocatoria, so confirm with the provider what you must present.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written exams are answered on paper. Bring two or three working pens of the same colour plus a spare, since ink colour requirements can be specified in the instructions. Pencil is normally only for rough work or mark-sheet fields.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for annotations, diagrams, and any multiple-choice answer sheet that must be marked in pencil. Keep them in a clear case so they are easy to show if the invigilator checks materials.
Approved calculator
Science papers often allow a non-programmable scientific calculator, but the permitted model list is set per convocatoria. Check the official instructions and confirm with the provider whether yours is allowed; do not bring a graphing or programmable model unless explicitly authorised.
Ruler, set square, and protractor
Geometry, graph plotting, and physics vector questions frequently need straight edges and angle measurement. A transparent ruler is the safest choice if material rules are strict.
Analogue watch
Rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones must be switched off and stored. A simple analogue or non-smart digital watch lets you pace sections without drawing attention.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Staying hydrated helps concentration over a long paper. Remove or cover commercial labels, since some venues restrict what is visible on your desk.
Light layers and a snack for afterwards
Exam halls are often cold in the morning and warm later. Dress in layers you can remove, and bring a snack for after the session rather than eating during it, since eating during the test is usually not permitted.
Know your exact venue and route
Confirm the building, room, and entry gate in advance and plan to arrive well before the call time, allowing for traffic and for finding the room. Do a route check the day before if the venue is unfamiliar.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or switched off
Any device that can connect, store, or transmit information is typically banned from the desk. If you must carry a phone, switch it off completely and store it where the invigilators instruct.
Read the official instructions for your convocatoria
Duration, structure, permitted materials, and scoring rules are published per call. Download and read that document in the final week, and confirm with the provider anything that is unclear.
Plan the day
Download and read the official instructions and admission document end to end. Note the call time, venue, permitted materials, and the paper's structure and duration. Confirm with the provider any point that is ambiguous, especially calculator rules.
Do one timed full paper under realistic conditions: no notes, no phone, only the materials you will actually have. Mark it honestly and list the two or three topics that cost you the most marks.
Spend the remaining study time only on those weak topics and on formula recall. Do not start new material this late; consolidation beats coverage.
Prepare your materials bag physically: ID, admission document, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, set square, protractor, approved calculator with fresh batteries, watch, water bottle. Put it by the door.
Check the calculator works, the watch keeps time, and the pens write. Replace anything doubtful now rather than on the morning.
Do a light review only: formula sheets, unit conversions, and a short list of recurring mistakes from your practice papers. Stop studying in the evening.
Confirm the route and travel time to the venue, check transport schedules, and set two alarms. Aim for sleep at your normal time; a late cramming session costs more in alertness than it gains in knowledge.
Lay out clothes and the materials bag. Re-read the call time and note that you should arrive earlier than it, not exactly at it.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid heavy caffeine if you are not used to it, and leave with margin for delays. Arrive early enough to find the room and settle without rushing.
Before entering, switch off your phone and store it as instructed. Keep only permitted materials on your desk. Use the washroom before the session starts.
In the first two minutes, read the instructions and the whole paper structure. Note the mark allocation and decide a time budget per section, then write the finish time on your rough sheet.
Answer the questions you are most confident about first to secure marks, then return to harder items. Do not let one calculation consume the time budget for a whole section.
Show working clearly, state units in every numerical answer, and check significant figures. In written science answers, a clearly reasoned wrong final value often earns more than a bare correct number with no reasoning.
Reserve the last ten minutes to check that every question has an answer, that multiple-choice boxes are filled as instructed, and that your name and details are on every sheet that requires them.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document that matches your registration and present it when asked. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider in advance; without valid identification you may be refused entry.
Arrive before the call time stated in your instructions. Candidates arriving after the session has begun may be admitted or refused depending on the venue's rules, so treat the call time as a hard deadline and confirm with the provider if you expect to be late.
Keep only permitted materials on your desk. Phones, smart watches, notes, and unauthorised calculators must be switched off and stored as directed; possession at the desk can be treated as misconduct regardless of intent.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the session has started, and do not look at another candidate's paper. Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need anything.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on filling in answer sheets, rough paper, and candidate details. Mark sheets exactly as instructed, since answers recorded in the wrong place or format may not be marked.
Leaving the room during the session is usually restricted and may not be allowed in the early part of the paper. Ask an invigilator if you need to leave; confirm with the provider what the rules are for your venue.
Scoring and penalty rules for incorrect answers, where they exist, are set out in the official instructions for your convocatoria. Read them before deciding whether to guess, and confirm with the provider if they are not stated.
Any conduct that could give an unfair advantage, including bringing unauthorised material or devices, can lead to invalidation of your paper. If in doubt about an item, ask before the session begins rather than risk it.