PAU Mathematics II (Cantabria) exam-day guide
PAU Mathematics II (Cantabria) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document (DNI, passport, or equivalent) accepted for access to PAU examinations. The exact document accepted and any name-matching requirement should be confirmed with your school or the Universidad de Cantabria before the exam; if you are unsure which document is valid, ask the provider rather than guessing.
Exam registration / proof of enrolment
Carry the registration receipt or the document your centre issues confirming you are enrolled for the convocatoria (ordinary or extraordinary). Some centres check it at the door; confirm with your school whether a printed copy is required.
Know your assigned building and room
The Universidad de Cantabria publishes the distribution of students by building and classroom, usually through your secondary school and the university's PAU web pages. Locate the exact room the day before if you can; do not rely on memory from a previous year.
Check the timetable for your specific subjects
PAU sessions run in blocks over several days, and different subjects are scheduled at different times. Write down the day, start time, and call time for every subject you sit, including any overlap decisions if two subjects you registered for coincide. Confirm the timetable with the provider.
Blue or black pens, pencils, eraser, ruler
Bring several pens of the same colour, a pencil, eraser, and ruler. For technical drawing or graphical questions, bring the instruments required (compass, set squares, protractor). Confirm with the provider which materials are permitted for each subject.
Approved calculator
Check the current PAU rules for calculators: models that store data, graph, or communicate are normally excluded, and the permitted features can change between years. Confirm the exact allowed characteristics with the provider before the exam.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you manage time because you cannot rely on using a phone. Smartwatches and phones must stay off and out of reach; check the centre's rules on where to leave them.
Clear water bottle and light snack
Sessions can be long and the day can be tiring. Bring water and something small to eat between blocks. Check whether food and drink are allowed at the desk in your room.
Rest, food, and transport plan
Plan the route to the exam venue, allow extra time for traffic or public transport, and know a backup option. Being late can mean losing the right to sit the exam; confirm the centre's late-arrival policy with the provider.
Read the instructions printed on the exam paper
Each subject paper states the number of questions to answer, optional sections, and scoring. Read the cover page carefully before starting; the instructions on the paper take precedence over anything you remember from practice.
No notes or unauthorised material
Leave notes, books, and any unauthorised material outside the exam room. Bringing prohibited material, even unintentionally, can lead to invalidation of your exam; confirm the centre's rules on bags and personal items.
Confirm the schedule and rules with the provider
Details such as call time, allowed materials, and room assignments can vary by centre and year. Verify the current instructions on the Universidad de Cantabria PAU pages or with your school rather than relying on second-hand information.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidation. Review your summary sheets and formula lists for each subject, and redo a small number of representative problems rather than entire mock exams. Check the official timetable and room assignments one more time, and confirm that your ID and registration documents are ready. Sleep on a regular schedule so that the exam start time is not a shock.
Prepare the materials for that subject: pens, calculator with fresh batteries, drawing instruments, and any permitted material. Re-read the structure of the paper (number of questions, optional sections, weighting) and the typical time allocation per question. Do a light review of the topics you find hardest, then stop early. Avoid discussing the exam with classmates late in the evening, and confirm transport and departure time.
Eat a proper breakfast, take your ID, registration proof, pens, and calculator, and arrive at the venue with margin before the call time. Keep your phone switched off and stored as the centre requires. Once seated, read the cover instructions, scan all questions, and plan the order and time budget before writing.
Start with the questions you can solve confidently, but keep to your time budget so that no question is left blank. Show your reasoning: in mathematics, a correct method with a small arithmetic slip usually earns partial credit, while an unsupported answer may not. Write clearly, number your answers, and box final results. If a question blocks you, move on and return later. Reserve the last few minutes to check that you have answered the required number of questions and that units and signs are correct.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document required for access and keep it on the desk if instructed. If you are unsure which document is accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Follow the instructions of the examiners and the printed instructions on the paper. The number of questions to answer and the scoring rules stated on the paper govern your exam.
Phones, smartwatches, and any device that stores or transmits information must be switched off and kept out of reach as the centre requires. Unauthorised material can lead to invalidation; confirm the exact policy with the provider.
Use only the calculator and materials permitted for the subject. The list of allowed calculator features can change, so verify it with the provider rather than assuming.
Breaks between exam blocks are managed by the centre. Confirm where you may wait, whether you may leave the building, and when to return for the next call time.
Scoring is based on the marks shown on the paper, and partial credit for correct reasoning is common in mathematics. Read the weighting before choosing which optional questions to answer.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a problem with the conduct of the exam, raise it with the examiner at the time and follow the centre's procedure; confirm the appeals or incident-reporting route with the provider.