PAU Artistic Drawing II (Canary Islands) exam-day guide
PAU Artistic Drawing II (Canary Islands) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport (original, valid)
Spanish public-university access exams require official photo ID. Bring the original document, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone; the same ID must match the registration data. If you have any doubt about which document is accepted for your call, confirm with the provider (the university or the examining board) before the day. needs_review
Exam call / seat assignment printout
The call document (citación) usually states the date, session time, building, classroom and sometimes the seat. Print it or keep it offline on your phone, and note the exact reporting time, which is normally earlier than the start of the exercise.
Graphite pencils in several hardnesses
A practical drawing test rewards control of value. Bring at least 2H, HB, 2B and 4B or 6B, sharpened, plus a sharpener and a sandpaper block or cutter to keep points crisp. Do not rely on a single pencil.
Eraser and kneaded eraser
A hard plastic eraser for clean corrections and a kneaded eraser for lifting graphite without damaging the paper. Both are cheap insurance against a smudged or overworked drawing.
Drawing supports the call allows
Check the call for the permitted paper size and type. Bring a rigid support or board if the room does not provide one, and clip or tape your sheet so it cannot shift. Confirm with the provider whether you must use paper supplied by the exam and whether any support is allowed. needs_review
Dry media that the call permits
Coloured pencils, charcoal, pastel or graphite may or may not be allowed depending on the exercise. Read the instructions on the paper itself: they usually name the permitted techniques. If the wording is ambiguous, confirm with the provider in advance rather than gamble. needs_review
Ruler, set square and compass if the exercise is geometric
Technical drawing content (perspective, proportion, geometric construction) often benefits from a ruler and set square. Bring them only if the call does not prohibit them; check the list of allowed material.
Watch (non-smart) and water/snack
Many rooms have no visible clock and phones must be off. A simple wristwatch lets you manage the time. A small snack and water are useful for a long session; keep them out of the way of your sheet.
Phone switched off and stored as instructed
Smartphones, smartwatches and any connected device are normally banned during the exercise. Switch off, not silent, and store where invigilators direct. Using one can mean disqualification.
Read the whole prompt before drawing
Identify exactly what is being asked: format, technique, number of drawings, whether a written commentary or labels are required, and the time allocated. Underline the verbs of the instruction.
Plan the composition on the sheet
Decide the framing and the placement of the main masses before committing. Light construction lines are acceptable in most practical tests, but keep them faint and erase or integrate them at the end.
Reserve time to finish and clean up
Stop adding new elements in the last 10–15 minutes. Fix smudges, strengthen the focal contrast, check the label or commentary, and make sure your name and details are where the paper requires them.
Plan the day
Re-read the official call and the exam regulations for your university. Confirm the date, session, building, classroom and reporting time, and the exact list of permitted materials. If anything is unclear, contact the provider now, not on the morning of the exam.
Do two or three timed full exercises under exam conditions: same paper size, same time, same media. Practise the type of task the syllabus emphasises (observation drawing, composition, value, perspective, colour), and review your weak points rather than starting new topics.
Prepare and test your kit. Sharpen pencils, check the eraser, test the paper you will use, and pack everything in one bag. Replace anything that fails now, so you are not improvising on the day.
Do a light review only: composition strategies, proportion checks, value scales, and a short list of common mistakes. No long or exhausting practice session; fatigue costs more than extra practice at this point.
Confirm the route and travel time to the venue, including public transport schedules and possible access restrictions. Lay out ID, call document, kit and clothes. Sleep a full night.
Eat properly and arrive at the venue with margin, typically well before the reporting time, to find the classroom and settle. Keep the phone off from the moment you enter the building.
Read the prompt twice and note the requirements and time budget. Check the paper for instructions about technique and format. Ask the invigilator only procedural questions; do not ask for interpretation of the artistic task beyond what the instructions state.
Spend a short block on thumbnails or light construction: framing, main masses, proportion and light direction. Choose one solution and commit; changing composition halfway usually wastes the session.
Work from general to specific: block the big shapes and values, then refine. Keep the focal area the most resolved and let secondary areas stay simpler. Step back physically from the sheet every so often to check the whole.
Use the last minutes to unify values, clean construction lines and smudges, complete any required labels or commentary, and verify your identification on the sheet. Hand in only when the invigilator indicates.
Rules to check
Bring original official photo ID matching your registration. Without valid identification you may be denied access; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted for your call. needs_review
Follow the instructions printed on the exam paper and given by the invigilators about permitted techniques, paper and materials. If an instruction is ambiguous, ask before starting, not after.
Phones, smartwatches and connected devices must be switched off and stored as directed. Their use during the exercise is normally treated as a serious irregularity and can lead to disqualification.
Do not talk to other candidates during the exercise and do not look at or copy another candidate's work. Raise your hand and wait for the invigilator if you need something.
Leaving the room before the permitted time, or during the session without permission, may end your participation. Confirm the exit rules with the invigilator at the start. needs_review
Scoring is based on the criteria published for the subject: usually adequacy to the prompt, composition, proportion and observation, value and colour handling, technique and presentation. Read the criteria for your course so you know what is weighted.
Work must be your own and produced during the session. Do not bring pre-drawn sheets, tracings or reference images if the call prohibits them; confirm with the provider what reference material, if any, is allowed. needs_review
Keep your working area and sheet clean and identifiable as required. Follow the invigilator's instructions when handing in, and do not remove exam materials unless explicitly permitted.