PAU Foreign Language II: Italian (Canary Islands) exam-day guide
PAU Foreign Language II: Italian (Canary Islands) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document (DNI, passport, or NIE)
Bring the original document, valid and unexpired. Photocopies and digital copies are generally not accepted for identity verification. If you have any doubt about which document is valid for your situation, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Exam admission slip / matrícula confirmation
Print or download whatever proof of registration your centre issues. Some centres require it to enter the room; others only check the ID. Confirm with the provider which document is mandatory at your venue.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers must be legible; pencil is usually discouraged for the final answer sheet. Bring spares so a failing pen does not cost you time.
Pencil and eraser for the answer sheet
Useful if the exam uses a multiple-choice answer sheet that must be filled in and corrected. Confirm with the provider whether machine-readable sheets are used in your call.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Mobile phones are usually forbidden or must be switched off and stored away, so a simple watch helps you manage the timing of each section. Smartwatches are normally treated as electronic devices and prohibited.
Clear water bottle without label
Many venues allow water if the label is removed; rules vary. Confirm with the provider or your invigilator on arrival.
Know your exact venue, room, and reporting time
Check the assignment published by your centre (often a few days before the exam) and plan the route. Arriving after the start may mean being refused entry, so aim to be there well ahead.
Review the official exam structure and timing
Re-read the official description of the test: number and type of tasks (typically reading, listening, grammar/vocabulary, and written production), time per block, and whether there is an oral component. Confirm the exact format with the provider, as it can change between calls.
Prepare a one-page personal revision sheet
Condense your own frequent errors (verb tenses, prepositions, connectors, false friends) into a single page you can read in the final hour without stress.
Plan for the oral test if your call includes one
If there is an oral component, confirm its date, time, and procedure with the provider, and prepare short self-introduction and opinion phrases you can deploy under pressure.
Leave prohibited items at home or in a bag
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and textbooks must normally be left outside the testing area. Confirm with the provider what storage is available at your venue.
Check transport and weather the day before
Canary Islands venues can be affected by inter-island travel and local conditions; build a buffer so a delay does not become an absence. This is general advice, not a policy of the exam.
Plan the day
Confirm the logistics: venue address, room, reporting time, and whether an oral test exists and when. Re-read the official exam description so there are no surprises about task types or timing. Do one timed full practice run under exam conditions, then correct it and note only the three or four error patterns that matter most.
Shift from new content to consolidation. Review your personal error sheet, high-frequency connectors, verb tense contrasts, and typical reading-task traps (false friends, distractors that repeat words from the text). Practise one listening task if your exam includes listening, at exam speed and without pausing.
Prepare the physical kit: ID, admission slip if required, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water. Lay out clothes and check the route and travel time. Do a light review only, no new grammar. Sleep at your normal time; fatigue costs more marks than one extra hour of study.
Eat normally and arrive early with a margin for delays. Do not cram new material; read your one-page error sheet once. Once seated, read the instructions carefully, note the time allocation per section, and start with the tasks you handle most confidently if the format allows it.
Read each task fully before answering, underline key words in prompts, and watch for time sinks. In writing tasks, plan for two or three minutes, write, then reserve time to check agreement, tense consistency, and connectors. Never leave blanks in objective items unless the format penalises wrong answers, which you should confirm in the instructions.
If there is an oral test, confirm the exact time and location with the invigilator before leaving. Otherwise, note what felt weak for future reference, but do not second-guess answers with other candidates, as this rarely changes the outcome and adds stress.
Rules to check
Bring valid original identification. The specific documents accepted and any exceptions are set by the organising institution, so confirm with the provider if you are unsure your document qualifies.
Arrive at or before the reporting time. Late entry is usually restricted or refused once the test has started; the exact cut-off is a centre rule, so confirm with the provider.
Electronic devices, smartwatches, notes, and unauthorised materials must normally be switched off and kept out of reach. What counts as authorised (for example, a printed dictionary) varies by call; confirm with the provider in advance.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on filling in personal data and the answer sheet. Errors in identification fields can delay or invalidate correction, so check them before the test begins.
Breaks and permission to leave the room are at the invigilator's discretion and are typically not allowed during timed sections. Ask before the test starts if you anticipate needing to leave.
Scoring and weighting of each section are defined in the official exam specification. Do not assume that one section compensates for another; confirm the pass criteria and weighting with the provider.
Academic honesty applies: any attempt to copy, communicate with other candidates, or use prohibited aids can lead to invalidation of the exam. The applicable procedure is set by the organising institution.
If you have a disability or specific need requiring adjustments, these are normally arranged in advance, not on the day. Contact the provider as early as possible to confirm what is available and how to request it.