Castilla y León PAU History of Art exam-day guide
Castilla y León PAU History of Art · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your assigned exam centre and session time
Your school or the Junta de Castilla y León / universidad coordinating PAU publishes your assigned centre (sede) and call time. Centres are usually the university campus or an affiliated school in your province. Verify the exact building and door, not just the city. If anything on your registration is unclear, confirm with the provider (your school's PAU coordinator) rather than guessing.
DNI or valid official photo ID
Spanish nationals normally present the DNI; foreign candidates normally present passport or residence card. The identity document must be the original and in force. Confirm with the provider which document is accepted for your case, especially if your registration used a passport.
Printed exam registration / proof of enrolment
Carry the document showing your subjects and, where issued, your seat or identification number. Some centres check it at the door. If your centre does not require it, keeping it in your folder costs nothing and resolves identification questions quickly.
Blue or black ballpoint pens, at least two
History of Art answers are handwritten and image-based questions may require labelling. Bring spare pens of the same colour; avoid pencil for final answers unless the instructions explicitly allow it for sketches or labels.
Pencil, eraser and a small ruler
Useful for quick schematic sketches, axis lines, or labelling parts of an image if a question asks for identification. Do not plan to submit important content in pencil.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones are normally not allowed on the desk. A plain analogue or digital watch lets you allocate time across the comment and the image-analysis sections. Confirm with the provider whether any watch type is restricted.
Clear water bottle and a light snack for between sessions
The PAU is usually a multi-day or multi-session schedule. Hydration and a quick snack between papers help concentration. Check centre rules on food and drink inside the exam room; confirm with the provider if you have a medical need.
No phone, smartwatch or study notes at the desk
Leave these in your bag at the back of the room or, better, at home. Possession at the desk can be treated as academic dishonesty. If you need a phone for transport, keep it switched off and stored away.
Review the official structure and marking criteria for the subject
Know how many questions or options the paper offers, whether there is a choice, and how image analysis is weighted. The Castilla y León PAU History of Art paper typically combines a theoretical question, an image comment and terminology or a similar structure; confirm the current model with the provider or the official PAU documentation for your year, since the format can be adjusted.
Prepare a one-page terminology and chronology sheet
List key terms (dintel, arco de medio punto, bóveda de cañón, contraposto, claroscuro, perspectiva, etc.) and a timeline of periods and works you have studied. This is your last revision tool; it is not to be taken into the exam room.
Plan transport and arrival with a buffer
Aim to arrive well before the call time. Public transport can fail on exam mornings. If you travel from another province, consider staying near the centre the night before.
Check accessibility or special arrangements in advance
If you need extra time, a separate room or other adaptation, it must normally be requested through official channels before the exam. Confirm with the provider that your arrangement is approved and how it will operate on the day.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Re-read your own summaries and the terminology sheet. Practise two timed image comments on works you find hardest, writing full answers by hand so you test both recall and handwriting speed. Check the exact centre address, call time and the list of your subjects against your registration. Prepare your ID, pens and folder in one place.
Do one full timed simulation of the paper format you expect, respecting the time limit. Then mark it against the official criteria: identification, formal analysis, context and significance. Note the two or three weaknesses to fix, and nothing more. Confirm with the provider any point about the paper structure or permitted materials you are unsure about.
Light revision only: chronology, key terms, and the identifying features of major works. Lay out clothes, ID, registration printout, pens, pencil, ruler, watch, water and snack. Charge nothing you cannot take in; leave the phone charger in your bag. Eat a normal meal, avoid late-night cramming, and set two alarms. Check transport times once more.
Eat breakfast and arrive at the centre with a generous buffer. Keep your ID and registration in an outer pocket. Once seated, read the whole paper before writing: note the options, choose the questions where you can give the fullest answer, and write a short time budget in the margin. Breathe and start with the question you know best if that helps you settle.
Follow the instructions on the cover exactly. For each image comment, identify the work, period and author if asked, then describe materials, structure and formal elements, then place it in its historical and cultural context and state its significance. Use specific terminology and refer to visible features. Leave a few minutes at the end to check that every chosen question is answered, that numbering is clear, and that no page is left unlabelled. If a question is optional, do not answer more questions than required.
Do not spend the break re-litigating answers with classmates; it raises anxiety for the next session. Note briefly what you would do differently, then move to the next subject's one-page summary. Keep your ID and materials together for the following sessions.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid photo ID and keep it visible on the desk if the invigilator asks. If your ID is lost or expired, contact the centre and confirm with the provider what alternative is accepted before the exam; do not assume a photocopy will do.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on seating, start and finish times, and collection of papers. Do not start writing before the signal or continue after it; both can be penalised.
Phones, smartwatches and any notes must be switched off and stored away from your desk. Possession of unauthorised material or any attempt to communicate with another candidate is treated as academic dishonesty and can lead to annulment of the subject or the whole PAU. Confirm with the provider how the centre handles bags and devices.
Write in the language and format the paper requires, answer only the number of questions requested, and label answers clearly. Extra answers beyond the required number are normally not marked, so confirm the choice rules on the cover before starting.
If you need to leave the room (toilet, illness), raise your hand and wait for an invigilator. Leaving may be accompanied, and re-entry rules vary by centre; confirm with the provider if you have a medical condition that may require this.
Scoring follows the official criteria and weightings for History of Art: accurate identification, correct formal and technical analysis, appropriate contextualisation and clear, well-organised expression. Read the rubric printed on the paper and allocate time in proportion to marks.
Any special arrangement (extra time, separate room, adapted materials) must be approved in advance through official channels. On the day, identify yourself to the invigilator so the arrangement is applied; if it is not, ask to speak to the centre's PAU coordinator.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with the room, report it calmly to the invigilator and ask for it to be recorded. Do not attempt to resolve it yourself or discuss it with other candidates during the session.