Castilla y León PAU Performing Arts II exam-day guide
Castilla y León PAU Performing Arts II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original DNI/NIE or passport in force. The identity document must match the registration data; a photocopy or a photo on the phone is not normally accepted. Confirm with the provider which documents are admitted for candidates without DNI/NIE.
Exam venue and session confirmation
Re-check the room, building, date and call time on the official PAU calendar or your centre's notice before travelling. Castilla y León usually publishes seat/room assignments shortly before the exam; verify it rather than relying on memory.
Printed or downloaded exam timetable
Performing Arts II is a modality-specific subject, so its slot depends on the published schedule. Carry the timetable so you do not confuse the call time with the start time of the paper.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written papers are answered in ink; bring spares. Pencil is normally only for rough work or drawings, and answers in pencil may not be corrected. Confirm with the provider if any part allows pencil.
Plain pencils, eraser and sharpener
Useful for rough sketches of staging, floor plans, score annotation or rhythm exercises before committing answers to ink.
Ruler and simple geometry set
Handy for drawing stage plans, ground plans, sightlines or proportional diagrams if a question asks for a sketch. Keep it plain, with no printed notes.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Many rooms have a clock, but not all. A simple watch helps you allocate time across sections. Smart watches and phones are normally prohibited at the table.
Clear water bottle, no label
Hydration helps in long sessions. Labels are often removed or bottles must be transparent; check the centre's rules.
Transparent pencil case or bag
Some venues require transparent containers and forbid pencil cases with printed content. Confirm with the provider what is allowed on the table.
No notes, books, scores or annotated material
Performing Arts II is a written paper; study notes, score excerpts or annotated programmes must stay outside the exam room. Leave them at home or in a bag deposited as instructed.
Phone switched off and stored
Unless the centre states otherwise, mobile phones must be off and out of reach during the paper. An alarm or a visible device can be treated as a serious irregularity.
Reviewed key concepts, not new material
In the last hours, revise definitions and frameworks you already know (e.g. staging types, body and voice training, production roles, analysis of a performance) rather than starting new topics.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: venue, room, call time, transport and travel time. Check the official PAU calendar for Castilla y León and your centre's instructions. Prepare the ID, pens, pencils, ruler and a non-smart watch in one bag.
Do a structured review of the syllabus areas you are least secure on: terminology of staging and production, principles of body/voice work, and how to structure an analysis of a performance. Write short summaries in your own words; do not memorise model answers.
Practise timing: answer one full past-style question under the official duration for the paper, then check what you left out. Confirm the exact duration and structure with the provider if it is not on your centre's notice.
Light revision only: key definitions, a list of examples you can cite from performances you have seen or studied, and the structure you will use for long answers (introduction, analysis, evaluation, conclusion).
Prepare clothes and bag, charge nothing you will bring into the room, and plan meals and sleep. Avoid learning new authors or works at this stage; it increases anxiety without adding reliable marks.
Eat, arrive early, and locate the room and your seat. Keep notes in your bag; do not revise from annotated material inside the exam area if the centre forbids it.
Read the instructions and all questions first. Check whether there are optional questions or sections and note the marks per question. Write your name and identification as instructed.
Allocate time in proportion to marks, start with the questions you can answer best, and leave space to return. For analysis questions, name the work, describe what happens, then interpret and evaluate with specific evidence.
Check that every required question is answered, that numbering is clear, and that diagrams are labelled. Correct obvious errors but avoid rewriting whole answers; legibility matters.
Rules to check
Bring and display the original identity document required for access. If you have no DNI/NIE or your document is being renewed, confirm with the provider in advance which alternative is accepted.
Follow the call time strictly. Late arrival may mean exclusion or a reduced time; the exact margin is set by the centre, so confirm it with the provider rather than assuming.
Keep phones, smart watches and any electronic device switched off and stored as instructed. Unauthorised devices at the table can be treated as an irregularity with consequences for the grade.
Leave notes, books, scores and annotated material outside the exam room. Only the materials permitted by the centre may be on the table.
Write in the language and format the paper requires, answer in ink, and number answers clearly. Answers that cannot be attributed to a question may not be marked.
If you need to leave the room (toilet, illness), raise your hand and wait for an invigilator. Leaving without permission or before the permitted time is normally not allowed; confirm the centre's rule with the provider.
Scoring follows the official criteria for the subject: accuracy of concepts, appropriate terminology, coherence of argument and, where asked, quality of analysis of a performance. Answer the question asked rather than writing everything you know.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem in the room, report it to the invigilator immediately and note it afterwards through your centre's procedure; do not attempt to resolve it yourself.