Castilla y León PAU Artistic Drawing II exam-day guide
Castilla y León PAU Artistic Drawing II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original DNI/NIE or passport in force. The document that accredits you must match the registration data; a photocopy or a photo on the phone is not usually accepted. Confirm with the tribunal or the university which documents are admitted if you present yourself as an external candidate or with a pending document.
Exam call and registration receipt
Print or download the call letter with your assigned classroom and schedule. Check the exact start time: in PAU the call is usually earlier than the start of the exercise, and late arrivals may not be admitted once the test has begun. Confirm the specific cutoff time with your school or the coordinating university.
Graphite pencils of several hardnesses
Bring a full range (for example 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B) because the Artistic Drawing II exercise usually values both the analysis sketch and the final resolution. Carry them sharpened and with a spare of the ones you use most; a pencil sharpener and sandpaper block are part of the kit.
Eraser, putty rubber and blending tools
A soft white eraser, a kneaded putty rubber and a blending stump or tortillon allow you to control values without dirtying the paper. Include a soft brush or cloth to remove graphite dust without smudging the sheet.
Ruler, set square and compass
The exercise may include geometric construction, proportion or perspective analysis. Bring a graduated ruler, 45° and 60° set squares, a compass with a spare lead and an eraser shield. Check that the compass is tightened and does not slip.
Approved drawing supports
Take several sheets of the paper you have rehearsed with (for example Ingres or smooth paper in the size the call allows) plus a rigid support or board. Do not bring pre-drawn or pre-ruled supports: any pre-existing mark can be considered a prohibited aid. Confirm the admitted format and paper type with the provider.
Admitted colour or dry media
If you plan to use coloured pencils, charcoal, pastel or ink, verify beforehand which techniques the year's statement permits. Bring only what the instructions allow and keep it in a transparent case if the venue requires it. Confirm the allowed materials with the provider.
Watch without smart functions
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you manage the time without depending on the classroom clock. Smartwatches and devices with connectivity are usually prohibited; leave them at home or switched off and stored away.
Clear water bottle and light snack
The exercise can last several hours. Bring a transparent bottle without a label and something easy to eat during the authorized break, if the venue allows it. Confirm the venue's rules on food and drink.
No phone or smart devices at the table
Leave the mobile phone switched off and stored in the backpack, never on the table or in your pocket. Using or even displaying a device during the exercise can lead to expulsion. Confirm the storage rules of the venue.
Rehearsed timing plan
Write on a small card your time split (analysis, block-in, values, final touches, review) and the checklist of what the statement asks for. Having it in writing prevents you from skipping a required section under pressure.
Label and personal data ready
Some calls require identifying the sheet with a code or sticker provided by the tribunal, not with your name. Do not write identifying data on the work unless the instructions ask for it. Confirm the identification procedure with the provider.
Plan the day
Reread the official statement and evaluation criteria of Artistic Drawing II for your year and make a list of the sections it usually requests (analysis, proportion, value, composition). Do one full timed simulation with the exact materials and format you will take, and time each phase separately. Review only your weak points: hands, ellipses, cast shadows or perspective, depending on what the simulation reveals. Prepare the material kit and check that the pencils, compass and paper are the ones you have rehearsed with. Do not start new techniques or buy untested material at this point.
Do a short, low-intensity session: quick sketches to warm up the hand and a review of your timing card, without exhausting yourself. Physically prepare the kit and leave it closed by the door: pencils sharpened, spare leads, paper in perfect condition (no folds, no marks), board, ID, call letter and watch. Check the route and transport time to the venue and set two alarms. Sleep at your usual time; fatigue is more damaging in a long drawing exercise than one more hour of practice.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive with margin, keeping in mind that the call is earlier than the start. Before entering, check that the phone is off and stored, that the ID and call letter are at hand and that the kit has all the pieces. Once seated, do not unpack everything at once: place the support, the paper and the pencils you will use first. Listen carefully to the instructions and the time of the break and the end, and write the end time on your timing card.
Read the whole statement twice and underline every requirement and every scoring criterion. Before drawing, spend a few minutes on a small thumbnail or scheme to decide the framing, the proportion and the value range. Write your time split on the card and stick to it: analysis and block-in, then values, then detail, and reserve the last part for review. If something is not clear, ask the tribunal before starting to draw.
Work from the general to the specific: fit the whole, check proportions and axes, then build values and finally detail. Step back from the sheet every so often to see it from a distance. Keep the paper clean, use a fixative only if the statement allows it and never lean your hand on the graphite. At the break, check the time actually elapsed against your plan and adjust without panicking.
Stop adding detail and review the checklist: does the work answer every section of the statement, is the identification correct, are there smudges or stray marks, is the support properly labeled? Make only small corrections. Hand in the work when the tribunal indicates it, without waiting for the last second, and make sure you take all your material and your ID with you.
Rules to check
Identification is mandatory: carry the original ID document in force and the call letter, and present them whenever the tribunal requests it. If you cannot prove your identity, the tribunal may not allow you to take the exercise; confirm with the provider which alternative documents are accepted in exceptional cases.
No phones, smartwatches or devices with connectivity at the table. Keep them switched off and stored away from the start of the exercise; using them or having them visible can be considered a serious irregularity and lead to expulsion.
Do not bring pre-drawn, pre-ruled or pre-treated supports, nor notes or images that could serve as a reference. The work must be done during the exercise with the materials admitted in the statement. Confirm with the provider the exact list of allowed materials for your year.
Follow the instructions of the tribunal about the start, the break and the end. Once the exercise has started, late entry or leaving the classroom before the authorized time may not be allowed; confirm the venue's policy with the provider.
During the authorized break, do not take the work out of the classroom or communicate with other candidates about the content of the exercise. Keep the sheet on the support and in the place indicated by the tribunal.
The evaluation follows the criteria published in the statement (usually adequacy to the statement, proportion and composition, value treatment, technical resolution and personal expressiveness). Read those criteria before drawing and make sure your work addresses each one.
Do not write your name or identifying data on the work unless the instructions ask for it; use the code or label provided by the tribunal. An incorrectly identified work can cause administrative problems in the correction.
If you need to clarify a point of the statement, ask the tribunal before starting to draw. Do not rely on what other candidates say or on your memory of previous years: the statement of your year is the only valid reference, and any doubt about the rules should be confirmed with the provider.