Canary PAU French (ULPGC/ULL) exam-day guide
Canary PAU French (ULPGC/ULL) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI/NIE or passport
Bring the original photo ID you registered with. The name must match your enrolment exactly. If you registered with a passport, bring that passport, not a different document. Confirm with the provider which documents it accepts and whether a photocopy is ever valid.
Exam venue confirmation and seat/session details
Re-check the time, building, room and session (mañana/tarde) on the official ULPGC/ULL PAU information channel or your school's notice. Venues and call times can differ from your school. If anything is ambiguous, confirm with the provider before the day.
Printed or downloaded exam timetable and your subject list
Know exactly which French paper you sit and in which block, plus the timing of the other exams on the same day. Having your personal schedule on paper avoids confusion at the door.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (two or more)
Bring spare pens that write reliably. Check with the provider whether pencil is permitted for any part; do not assume it is for answers you want marked.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace the reading, writing and listening sections. Smart watches and phones are normally not allowed at the table; confirm with the provider.
Clear water bottle, no label
Hydration helps in long morning sessions. Many venues require unlabelled transparent bottles. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed in your room.
Light snack for between papers
If you have two sessions or several exams in one day, bring something small to eat outside the exam room during the break. Check venue rules on food.
No phone, smart watch, or notes at the table
Leave devices switched off and stored as instructed, ideally at home or in a bag away from your desk. Possession of unauthorised material can lead to invalidation. Confirm with the provider where bags and phones must be left.
Confirm listening equipment arrangements
If your French paper includes a listening component, ask your school or the provider in advance how audio is played and whether you need to arrive earlier. Do not assume a personal device is allowed.
Check accessibility or special arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments, verify in advance that they are approved and recorded. Confirm with the provider; do not raise it for the first time on exam day.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Arrive with margin for transport delays. Being late can mean losing your place depending on the rules. Confirm with the provider the latest arrival time and what happens if you are delayed.
Read the cover page instructions before writing
Check the number of options, whether there is a choice of questions, and where answers must go. If the format is unclear, ask the invigilator before the clock starts.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: venue, room, call time, ID document and any approved special arrangements. Re-read the official structure of the French paper (comprehension, expression, grammar/vocabulary, listening if applicable) so you know the shape of the test. Do one timed practice under exam conditions, then stop adding new material.
Review your own error patterns rather than new content: recurring grammar slips, false friends, connectors, and the register expected in a short written production. Prepare a small mental template for the writing task (introduction, development, conclusion) and a few reliable linking phrases.
Pack the checklist items in one place: ID, pens, watch, water, venue details. Check the route and set two alarms. Do a light review only, no full mock. Sleep at your normal time; avoid last-minute cramming that trades sleep for marginal recall.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and keep away from classmates who are panicking. Leave your phone off and stored as instructed. Once seated, read the cover page, count the pages, and note the total time and any suggested timing per section.
Read the instructions and all question stems before starting the first answer if the format allows. Decide your time allocation: for example, a share for reading comprehension, a share for grammar/vocabulary, and a protected block for the written production.
Answer the easiest sections first if the paper permits, but mark clearly which questions are done. For reading, locate evidence in the text rather than relying on general knowledge. For writing, plan for two or three minutes, write, then reserve time to check agreement, tenses, accents and spelling.
Check that every answer is in the right place, that you have not left blanks on items you could guess, and that your name and details are correct. Verify accents and verb endings in the written production. Stop writing when instructed.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID you registered with; the name must match your enrolment. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Arrive at the stated call time. Late arrival, and whether you may still sit the paper, is governed by the venue's rules; confirm with the provider rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Phones, smart watches and any notes must be switched off and stored as instructed, away from your table. Unauthorised material at the desk can lead to invalidation of your exam.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on starting, stopping and leaving the room. Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper has begun.
Breaks between papers, and whether you may leave the room during a paper, are set by the venue. Ask the invigilator or confirm with the provider; do not assume toilet breaks are allowed at any time.
Write your answers in the place and format the paper requires. Answers written outside the designated spaces, or in a format the markers do not accept, may not be scored.
Scoring and weighting of the French paper within the PAU phase, and how it combines with your other subjects, follow the current regulations. Check the official ULPGC/ULL PAU documentation or confirm with the provider; do not rely on second-hand summaries.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with equipment, raise it with the invigilator immediately and follow the venue's incident procedure. Do not attempt to resolve it yourself after the exam.