Canary PAU Biology exam-day guide
Canary PAU Biology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID
Bring the identity document the examining board requires for admission. The exact accepted documents and validity conditions vary by call and centre, so confirm the accepted list with the provider before the exam and carry the original, not a photocopy.
Exam admission document / registration proof
Print or download any confirmation, seat assignment, or access document issued after registration. If you are unsure whether one is issued for your centre, confirm with the provider; do not assume you can enter with ID alone.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers are usually handwritten. Bring two working pens of the same colour plus a spare, and check the ink flows before the exam. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is permitted for any section.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for multiple-choice answer sheets and rough diagrams. Keep them in a clear case if the centre restricts what may be on the desk.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres require all materials to be visible. A transparent pouch avoids disputes at the desk and speeds up inspection.
Analog watch (no smart features)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones are usually collected. A simple wristwatch lets you pace sections, such as the recommended time per block of questions.
Water in a transparent bottle, label removed
Hydration helps concentration over a long paper. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk and whether the label must be removed.
Printed summary sheet or formula list for last-minute review
Bring concise notes on genetics problems, metabolic calculations, and key definitions to review outside the room. Leave them outside; they cannot enter the exam hall.
Location and transport plan
Check the exact building and room, not just the campus. Plan to arrive well before the start time because admission and ID checks take time; confirm the required arrival margin with the provider.
Confirm permitted calculator policy
Some biology papers allow a basic calculator for genetics and dilution problems, others do not. Confirm with the provider which model, if any, is allowed, and do not bring a programmable or graphing model unless explicitly authorised.
Mobile phone switched off and stored as instructed
Phones, smartwatches, and earbuds are normally banned from the desk. Follow the centre's storage instructions exactly; an alarm or vibration during the exam can be treated as misconduct.
Read the official instructions for your specific call
Structure, duration, and permitted materials can change between calls. Download the current instruction sheet for your sitting and confirm anything unclear with the provider rather than relying on older candidates' accounts.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Review the syllabus headings and mark any topic you cannot explain in one sentence; spend your remaining time only on those. Practise under timed conditions: complete one full past-style paper or a set of genetics and metabolism problems in the official time, and mark it strictly.
Rehearse the practical skills the paper can test: interpreting graphs and tables, reading electrophoresis or chromatography results, calculating ratios and concentrations, and describing experimental controls. Write out the standard structure for a data-analysis answer: identify the variable, describe the trend with figures, and propose a biological explanation.
Assemble your materials and documents, check the exam venue and travel route, and confirm any uncertain rule (calculator, ID type, arrival time) with the provider now, not on the day.
Do a light review only: key definitions, formulas, and the mistakes you made in your last practice paper. Stop studying in the evening. Prepare clothes, ID, pens, water, and your transport plan in one place so the morning is frictionless.
Protect your sleep. A full night's sleep improves recall and sustained attention more than an extra late-night review session. Avoid intensive discussion with other candidates about topics you have not covered, as it raises anxiety without adding knowledge.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and use the waiting time for a short, calm review of your summary sheet only. Do not attempt new material. Follow ID checks and seating instructions, place all prohibited items in the designated storage, and check that your desk has only permitted materials.
Read the cover page and all instructions before writing. Check the number of questions, the marks per question, and whether there is a choice. Write your identifying details exactly as instructed. Scan the whole paper and allocate time per section, leaving a margin for checking.
Answer the questions you know best first if the paper allows it, then return to harder items. For data questions, quote figures from the information given and link each conclusion to a biological mechanism. For calculations, show your working so partial credit is possible, and include units.
Watch the clock at the halfway point and adjust. If you are running short, write structured outline answers rather than leaving blanks, since key terms and correct reasoning can earn marks. Reserve the final minutes to check that no question or page has been missed and that your answer sheet matches your intended answers.
Rules to check
Bring the original identity document accepted by the examining board and present it on request. The accepted documents and any conditions are set by the provider, so confirm them in advance; a photocopy or expired document may be refused.
Follow all instructions from invigilators immediately, including seating, starting and stopping writing, and leaving the room. Writing after the signal to stop or before the signal to start is commonly treated as misconduct.
Keep only permitted materials on the desk. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and unauthorised calculators must be stored as directed; possession of a prohibited device during the exam can lead to annulment of the paper.
Communicate only with invigilators. Do not talk to other candidates, pass materials, or attempt to view another candidate's answers; suspected collaboration or copying is reported and sanctioned.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator. Whether toilet breaks are allowed, and whether you are escorted or the time is compensated, depends on the centre, so confirm with the provider beforehand.
Scoring is based on the official marking criteria for the call, including partial credit for correct reasoning and working. Read the marks available per question and allocate effort accordingly; do not assume negative marking unless the instructions state it.
Report any problem immediately: a misprinted page, a missing answer sheet, or a disturbance. Issues raised after the exam are harder to resolve, and the provider's procedure for appeals and incidents should be confirmed in advance.
Any special arrangement (extra time, separate room, medical needs) must normally be requested and approved before the exam date. Confirm the deadline and evidence requirements with the provider; arrangements cannot usually be granted on the day.