Canary PAU Music & Dance exam-day guide
Canary PAU Music & Dance · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the same government-issued photo ID you used at registration (passport or national ID are the safest choices). The name must match your registration exactly; if you have recently changed your name, confirm with the provider which supporting document they will accept before test day. Check the ID's expiry date now, because an expired document is commonly refused even when everything else is in order.
Admission confirmation / appointment letter
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, test centre address, and reporting time. Do not rely on finding it in your inbox on the morning of the exam; save it offline on your phone as well as on paper. If you never received one, contact the provider immediately rather than assuming your booking went through.
Instrument-specific requirements
For instrumental or vocal candidates, confirm with the provider what you must supply (for example own instrument, reeds, strings, rosin, valve oil, tuning device) and what the centre provides (music stand, piano, amplification). Ask whether a warm-up room is available and how long before your slot you may use it. Mark this as needs_review until your provider confirms in writing.
Accompanist and set-list paperwork
If your programme requires a pianist or other accompanist, confirm whether you must arrange and pay for them yourself, whether the centre supplies one, and what rehearsal access exists on the day. Bring clean, legible copies of your scores or lead sheets, plus a written programme list with keys, tempos, and timings, in case the panel asks for it.
Dancewear, footwear, and spare tights
Pack the exact footwear your pieces require (for example ballet flats, character shoes, jazz shoes, tap shoes) and break in new shoes well before the exam, never on the day. Bring a spare pair of tights or socks, layers to keep warm between pieces, and a small towel. Confirm with the provider whether changing facilities, showers, and secure storage are available.
Water, snack, and any permitted medication
Bring a refillable water bottle and a light snack you have eaten before; test day is not the moment to try a new energy drink or supplement. If you need medication or an inhaler, carry it with you and tell the steward. Ask the provider in advance about their policy on food and drink in the waiting area and in the exam room.
Hair kit and small repairs
For dancers especially, pack hair pins, hair ties, a small brush, and any grip or tape you normally use. For instrumentalists, add a spare set of strings or reeds, a pencil, and a small cloth. These items are cheap insurance against a routine that is otherwise ready falling apart over a broken hair tie.
Arrival plan and backup route
Rehearse the journey to the centre at the same time of day you will travel, and identify a backup route and a backup transport option. Note the nearest car park or station exit and the building entrance, since large centres can be hard to navigate. Aim to arrive with generous margin; confirm with the provider how early they expect candidates to report.
Warm-up routine written down
Write your warm-up on a card and practise it in the final week so it takes a predictable amount of time. Include general mobilisation, technique-specific preparation, and a short run-through of the opening bars or first eight counts of each piece. On the day, follow the card rather than improvising under nerves.
Silence your phone and leave valuables at home
Switch your phone off, not just to silent, before entering the waiting area, and confirm with the provider whether phones are banned entirely from the exam room. Leave jewellery, large bags, and anything valuable at home or with whoever accompanies you. Centres vary in what storage they offer, so do not assume a locker will be free.
Confirm reporting time and room
Re-check the reporting time and the exact room or studio number 24 hours before, since schedules occasionally shift. If you have not been told where to report on arrival, ask the provider now. Mark this as needs_review if your confirmation is vague on location.
Read the provider's current candidate regulations
Download the latest regulations and read the sections on permitted aids, recording of performances, late arrival, and misconduct. Rules differ between providers and change between sessions. If anything in the document is unclear, email the provider for written clarification and keep the reply.
Plan the day
Taper rather than cram: reduce full-intensity practice and focus on slow, accurate work on the hardest passages. Run each piece once at performance tempo, note two or three fixes, and stop. Check that all paperwork, ID, and instrument or footwear needs are resolved, and send any outstanding questions to the provider today so there is time for a reply.
Do a full dress rehearsal in the clothes and shoes you will wear, at the time of day your exam falls, and time every piece including transitions. If an accompanist is involved, hold the final rehearsal now and agree tempos, starts, and cuts. Sleep on a normal schedule; shifting your body clock late in the week does more harm than an extra hour of practice.
Pack your bag completely and place it by the door: ID, confirmation, scores, instrument or shoes, water, snack, hair kit, and spares. Lay out your clothes. Re-read the confirmation for reporting time and address, and check travel updates for planned engineering works or road closures. Keep practice light and technical, no new repertoire, and no attempt to fix long-standing problems overnight.
Eat familiar food, avoid alcohol, and protect your voice and body: no shouting over loud music, no unaccustomed exercise, no long screen sessions that leave you tired. Set two alarms plus a backup on a second device. Write a short note to yourself with your three performance intentions, so the morning self has something calm and concrete to read.
Eat a normal breakfast you know suits you, hydrate steadily rather than in one large amount, and leave earlier than the journey planner suggests. Arrive at the centre with the margin the provider recommends, then report to the steward and confirm where to change and warm up. Keep conversation with other candidates light; comparing preparation rarely helps.
Warm up properly in the time available, following your written routine, and finish the warm-up shortly before you are called so you go in ready rather than cold or fatigued. Visit the toilet, silence your phone, check your appearance and footwear, and have your ID and programme list in hand. If anything goes wrong with transport, contact the centre immediately rather than arriving silently late.
Enter, greet the panel politely, and set up without rushing; a few calm seconds of preparation are normal and expected. Announce your pieces briefly if that is the format, then begin. If you make a mistake, keep going; stopping and restarting is usually worse than continuing, unless the panel invites a restart. Breathe before each new piece and reset your posture.
Listen carefully to any instructions, including whether you may warm up in the room, whether repeats are taken, and how you will be stopped if time runs out. Answer any spoken questions clearly and briefly. After the final piece, thank the panel, collect your belongings, and leave quietly. Do not ask for your mark on the spot; confirm with the provider how and when results are released.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID matching your registration and present it when asked. If your ID is expired, lost, or shows a different name, contact the provider before test day; do not assume a photocopy or a digital image will be accepted, because rules on this vary and should be confirmed with the provider.
Arrive by the reporting time stated in your confirmation. Policies on late arrival differ between providers and may range from a short grace period to refusal of entry, so confirm with the provider in advance and contact the centre immediately if you are delayed.
Follow the centre's instructions on what may be taken into the exam room. Phones, smart watches, and recording devices are commonly restricted or banned; confirm with the provider whether any device or aid is permitted for your particular component.
Breaks are not automatic and are usually only available as a reasonable adjustment arranged in advance. If you need extra time, rest breaks, a separate warm-up space, or other access arrangements, apply through the provider's published process well before the exam and get written confirmation.
Perform only the repertoire declared in your programme, and observe any time limits for each piece or the whole recital. If the panel stops you early, that is normally a time-management decision rather than a judgement on your performance; confirm the provider's policy on overrunning.
Treat the panel, stewards, accompanist, and other candidates with courtesy. Talking, coaching, or receiving signals from anyone during the exam, or discussing repertoire with candidates who have already performed, may be treated as misconduct; follow the provider's published conduct rules.
Scoring is carried out by the examiner or panel against the published assessment criteria for your component, not against other candidates. Marks are not usually disclosed on the day; confirm with the provider how and when results, feedback, and any appeals process are made available.
If you believe something went wrong on the day, such as a room or equipment fault, tell the steward immediately so it can be recorded, and follow up in writing with the provider afterwards. Requests made only after results are issued are much harder to resolve.