Castilla-La Mancha PAU Business and Business Model Design exam-day guide
Castilla-La Mancha PAU Business and Business Model Design · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport (original, valid)
Bring the original photo ID you registered with. A photocopy or expired document is normally not accepted. If you have any doubt about which document is valid for your situation, confirm with the provider (your school or the university coordinating the PAU) before exam day.
Exam registration / matrícula proof
Carry the document showing your registration for the convocatoria and the subjects you are sitting. The exact format (printed or digital) is set by the organizing university: confirm with the provider which version they require.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Write the exam in ink. Bring two working pens plus a spare refill; a pen that fails mid-answer costs time you cannot recover.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Useful for drafts, tables and any part of the answer where the instructions allow pencil. Keep the final answers in ink unless told otherwise.
Ruler and basic calculator
Business questions often involve tables, break-even calculations or ratio work. Only bring a calculator model permitted by the instructions; scientific/graphing models may be restricted, so confirm with the provider which models are allowed.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones are usually not allowed on the desk. A simple analogue or digital watch lets you manage the time budget for each question.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many venues require materials to be visible. Pack only what you need: pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, calculator.
Printed or written summary sheet for last-minute review
Keep it short: definitions of business model, value proposition, canvas blocks, legal forms, growth strategies, and the formulas you use most. Review it before entering, then put it away; notes are not allowed during the exam.
Water and a light snack
Check the venue rules on drinks and food; some rooms allow only a transparent bottle. Confirm with the provider if you are unsure.
Know the exact room, building and access door
Check your assignment (sede, aula, floor) the day before and, if possible, do a trial route. Arrive with margin for queues at the entrance and ID checks.
Phone switched off and stored away
A phone on the desk, even silent, is usually treated as a serious irregularity. Switch it off before entering and keep it in your bag, not your pocket.
Read the cover page instructions carefully
The cover states the duration, the number of questions to answer, the optionality (for example, choose A or B) and the scoring. These details can differ between subjects and convocatorias, so read them before writing anything.
Plan the day
Close the content. Review your own summaries of the core blocks: what a business model is and its components; the value proposition and customer segments; the canvas and its nine blocks; the business idea and opportunity analysis; legal form and ownership; resources, activities and partners; costs and revenue streams; growth and internationalization strategies; and the basics of financial viability (break-even, simple ratios). Do not open new topics; consolidate what you already know.
Do one full timed practice paper under exam conditions: no notes, fixed time, writing by hand. Then mark it against the criteria you have been given and list the three mistakes that cost you the most marks. Those three become your priority for the next two days.
Prepare the practical side: practise reading a table of costs and revenues to calculate break-even, margin and a simple profit figure, and practise justifying a recommended legal form or growth strategy with two or three reasons. Business answers earn marks for justification, not just for the final number.
Do a second, shorter practice session focused on structure. For each long-answer question, practise a 30-second plan: define the concept, explain it, apply it to the case given, and close with a short conclusion. This habit prevents rambling answers that lose marks on precision.
Light review only. Re-read your summary sheet and the list of your three recurring mistakes. Check the exam logistics: venue, room, start time, transport, ID, materials. Set out your pens, pencil, ruler, calculator and watch the night before.
Sleep a full night. Cramming new material the night before a handwritten exam usually reduces clarity and handwriting quality the next morning. Stop studying at a reasonable hour.
Eat properly and arrive early, with enough margin for ID checks and finding the room. Do a final 15–20 minute pass over your summary sheet only. Do not attempt new exercises or discuss answers with other candidates; it raises anxiety without adding knowledge.
Read the cover page and the whole paper before writing. Identify the optionality (choose A or B, or answer a set number from a list), the marks per question and any compulsory parts. Decide which questions you will answer and in what order. Write your name and details as instructed.
Allocate time in proportion to marks, and reserve the last 10 minutes for checking. For each question, spend a short moment planning the structure before writing. If a question is worth many marks, its answer should show definition, explanation, application to the case and a conclusion.
Answer the question that was asked. In business questions, name the concept, explain it in your own words, then apply it to the information in the statement. When a calculation is required, show the formula and the steps; a correct method with an arithmetic slip usually earns partial credit, a bare wrong number earns nothing.
If you use a canvas, a table or a diagram, label it clearly and keep it neat; an unreadable diagram cannot be marked. Leave a line between sections and number your answers exactly as the paper does.
Check that you have answered the required number of questions, that no answer is left blank where a partial attempt could earn marks, and that your name and details are correct. Correct obvious arithmetic slips. Do not rewrite whole answers; clarity matters more than calligraphy.
Do not try to reconstruct every answer with classmates. Note down anything you found difficult while it is fresh, and move your attention to the next subject. Confirm with the provider the dates and procedure for reviewing your marks if that option is available.
Rules to check
Bring the original valid ID you registered with and keep it visible on the desk. If your document is damaged, expired or in a different name, resolve it with the provider before exam day; do not assume a photocopy will be accepted.
Follow the venue's instructions on personal objects. Phones must be switched off and stored away, not on the desk or in a pocket. Any device that can transmit or store information may be treated as an irregularity, so confirm with the provider what is permitted if you are unsure.
Use only the materials allowed by the instructions for that subject. Calculators, dictionaries or formularies are permitted only when the paper explicitly says so and only in the permitted model; confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has started, and do not look at another candidate's paper. If you need something, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator.
If you need to leave the room (for example, to use the toilet), raise your hand and follow the invigilator's instructions. Whether leaving is permitted, and whether you are accompanied or supervised, is set by the venue; confirm with the provider if this is a concern for you.
Answer exactly the number of questions required and respect the optionality of the paper. Extra answers beyond what is asked are normally not marked, and answering from both options when you must choose one can invalidate part of your work.
Write in the language in which the exam is delivered, and use the terminology of the subject correctly. Marks are awarded for precision, justification and application to the case, not for length alone.
If you believe there is an error in the paper, or you feel unwell, tell an invigilator immediately and follow their instructions. Claims raised after leaving the room are much harder to resolve; confirm with the provider how incidents are recorded.