Castilla-La Mancha PAU Music Analysis II (Análisis Musical II - UCLM 2026) exam-day guide
Castilla-La Mancha PAU Music Analysis II (Análisis Musical II - UCLM 2026) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original DNI, passport or residence card in force. The identity check is standard at PAU venues; confirm with your tribunal or the UCLM PAU information page which documents they accept and whether a photocopy is valid.
Exam call/schedule printout
Print or download the official timetable for the Análisis Musical II sitting, with room and building. PAU calls are usually posted a few days before; verify the exact time and place on the official UCLM PAU calendar rather than relying on what classmates say.
Black or blue pens (at least two)
Written answers and score annotations must be legible. Carry spare pens; pencil is normally only for rough work unless the instructions say otherwise. Confirm with the provider whether pencil annotations on the score are acceptable.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Useful for sketching chord labels, form schemes and rhythmic reductions before writing the final answer. Keep all rough work clearly marked as draft so it is not confused with the answer.
Printed scores you are allowed to use
The exam normally supplies the scores or fragments to analyse. Do not bring your own annotated copies unless the instructions expressly allow it; confirm with the provider what printed material is permitted in the room.
No phone, smartwatch or unauthorised notes
Leave devices switched off and stored as instructed. A ringing phone or a smartwatch on the wrist can be treated as academic misconduct; check the venue's storage rules in advance.
Clear water bottle and small snack
The sitting can be long. Bring water in a transparent bottle and something quiet to eat during any authorised break; confirm with the provider whether food is allowed at the desk.
Read the instructions page carefully
Before answering, check the number of questions, the optional choices, the time allowed and the scoring shown on the paper. Mark which optional items you choose so the examiner knows what to grade.
Know the score-analysis vocabulary in Spanish
Revise terms such as compás, tonalidad, cadencia, textura, forma, motivo, tema, sección, desarrollo, reexposición, modulación, grado conjunto and salto. Answers should use standard analytical terminology, not vague descriptions.
Practise timed full papers
In the last weeks, do at least two complete papers under real time conditions, including writing the harmonic and formal analysis by hand. Time yourself per section so you know how many minutes you can spend on each question.
Prepare a one-page form and harmony sheet
Summarise binary, ternary, rondo, sonata and variation forms, plus cadence types and common harmonic functions, on a single revision sheet for the final days. Leave it at home on exam day unless the provider allows notes.
Plan arrival with margin
Arrive at the building well before the call, allowing for transport delays and the search of materials at the door. Late entry rules vary by venue; confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled.
Plan the day
Stop learning new repertoire and consolidate. Re-read your summary of forms, cadences and harmonic functions, and review the corrections on your last two mock papers. Identify the two or three error types that cost you most marks, such as mislabelling a cadence or missing a modulation, and write a short reminder for each.
Do one full timed paper in the morning, at the same hour as the real sitting if possible, writing everything by hand. Afterwards mark it against the model answer or your teacher's guide and note where you lost time, not only where you lost marks.
Revise score-reading mechanics: clefs, key signatures, transposing instruments if they appear in the syllabus, and the relationship between metre, tempo and phrase structure. Practise labelling a short fragment's phrases, cadences and tonal plan in under ten minutes.
Do light revision only: your one-page form and harmony sheet, plus a quick listen-and-follow of two or three works from the syllabus. Confirm the call time, room and building on the official PAU calendar, and check transport.
Prepare your bag: ID, pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener, water, snack, schedule printout. Charge nothing you cannot bring; leave the phone and smartwatch out of the exam bag or store them as the venue requires. Sleep at a normal hour rather than revising late.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early. Do not attempt to memorise new material in the queue; instead skim your summary sheet for five minutes at most, then put it away. Check at the door which materials you may take to the desk.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note the marks per question, identify any optional choices, and decide the order in which you will answer. Write your name and identification exactly as instructed.
For each score, work in layers: first key or keys and tonal plan, then phrase structure and cadences, then texture and instrumentation, then form and stylistic context. Write the analytical labels directly on the score if the instructions allow, and make the written answer refer to bar numbers.
Watch the clock. Allocate roughly the time proportional to each question's marks, and keep five to ten minutes at the end to check labels, bar references and spelling of technical terms. If a question stalls you, leave a short answer and move on rather than losing time elsewhere.
Check that every chosen question is clearly marked, that no answer is left blank where a partial answer could earn marks, and that rough work is not mistaken for the final answer. Hand in the paper and any materials as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring valid official photo ID and present it when requested; the accepted documents and any exceptions must be confirmed with the provider before the exam, as rules differ between venues and calls.
Follow the instructions of the tribunal and invigilators at all times, including where to sit, what may be on the desk and when you may leave the room.
Do not use phones, smartwatches, earphones or unauthorised notes. Any device found in your possession during the sitting may be treated as academic misconduct, so switch it off and store it as directed.
Write legibly and in the language of the exam. Answers that cannot be read, or that do not identify which optional question is being answered, may not be marked fully.
If you need to leave the room during the sitting, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; re-entry and break rules are set by the venue, so confirm them with the provider rather than assuming.
Scoring follows the official marking criteria for Análisis Musical II, which weight accurate identification of tonal plan, cadences, form, texture and stylistic context. Read the marks shown on the paper and answer accordingly.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with the room, tell an invigilator immediately and follow their instructions; do not attempt to resolve it yourself.
Keep your answers original. Copying from another candidate or from unauthorised material is academic misconduct and can lead to annulment of the subject or the whole PAU, according to the regulations in force; confirm the current disciplinary rules with the provider.