Canary Islands PAU Performing Arts II exam-day guide
Canary Islands PAU Performing Arts II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID (DNI, passport, or residence card)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. The name must match your exam registration exactly. If any personal detail on your registration is wrong, resolve it before the test day; confirm the accepted ID types and any correction procedure with the provider.
Exam admission document / registration receipt
Print or download whatever proof of registration the administering body issues for this sitting. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital version is accepted, and whether it must carry a photo or barcode.
Confirmed test centre, room, and reporting time
Locate the exact building and access door in advance; campuses often have several entrances and similar room codes. Re-check the official listing the day before, since rooms and times can change. Confirm the reporting time with the provider.
Route plan and travel buffer
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time to absorb traffic, parking, or public-transport delays. If you are travelling between islands, book transport and accommodation with a wide margin and keep a backup option.
Permitted writing materials
Bring several pens or pencils of the type the instructions allow. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid, highlighters, pencil cases, or loose paper are permitted, since rules vary by centre.
Permitted instrument or equipment for the practical component
If your practical option requires an instrument, scores, or other materials, confirm in writing with the provider what you must bring, what the centre supplies, and whether instrument cases may be kept in the room. Do not assume equipment is provided.
Watches and electronic devices plan
Mobile phones and smart devices are normally switched off and stored away; smartwatches are usually treated as phones. Bring a simple analogue watch if you want to track time, and confirm with the provider whether it is allowed.
Food, water, and any necessary medication
Bring water and a light snack for before or after the test. If you need medication or an access arrangement, request it in advance and confirm the procedure with the provider; do not rely on asking on the day.
Clothing and footwear suited to the practical work
Choose clothes you can move, breathe, and perform in comfortably, and footwear appropriate for the space. Confirm with the provider whether there are changing facilities or dress requirements.
Review of the exam structure and scoring criteria
Re-read the official description of the papers, their timings, and how the practical and written parts are weighted. Know which sections are compulsory and which are optional before you enter, so you do not lose time deciding.
Confirmed policy on breaks and leaving the room
Ask the provider in advance whether toilet breaks are allowed during the test, whether time is stopped, and whether you are escorted. Policies differ between centres and between theory and practical sessions.
Backup copies kept separately
Keep a photo of your ID and admission document on your phone and a paper copy in a different bag from the originals, so a lost item does not end your day. Confirm with the provider whether a digital copy can substitute for a lost original; usually it cannot.
Plan the day
Re-read the official exam description and any published criteria for the practical component, and list exactly what each part asks you to demonstrate. Check the centre address, reporting time, and permitted materials against the official notice, and email the provider about anything still unclear rather than guessing. Prepare and pack your ID, admission document, pens, and any approved equipment, and test any instrument or material you plan to use. Sleep on a normal schedule and avoid learning new repertoire or techniques at this stage; consolidate what you already do reliably.
Confirm your travel route and timing, including parking or public transport, and set two alarms. Re-pack your bag and place the ID and admission document where you cannot forget them. Do a short, low-strain run-through of your prepared material, focusing on starts, transitions, and endings rather than on fixing weaknesses. Check the weather and dress accordingly. Eat normally, avoid alcohol, and go to bed early enough that you are not dependent on caffeine on the day.
Eat a proper meal and hydrate, but avoid heavy or unfamiliar food. Dress in your chosen clothes and footwear, and take only what is permitted into the room. Leave with enough margin to arrive early, and use the waiting time for calm breathing and a brief mental rehearsal rather than last-minute cramming. Switch off your phone and store it as instructed before entering the room.
Read all instructions and check the number of questions or tasks and the marks available before starting. Allocate time per section and keep an eye on the clock, leaving a few minutes to check your work. For the practical component, set up calmly, begin only when you are ready and instructed, and if something goes wrong keep going rather than restarting unless the rules allow it. Answer every required item; a partial answer usually scores better than a blank. If you finish early, review rather than leaving.
Rules to check
Bring the original official photo ID named in your registration and present it when asked. A candidate who cannot prove identity may be refused entry or have the result withheld; confirm the accepted documents and the procedure for a lost ID with the provider before the test day.
Arrive by the reporting time. Centres commonly refuse entry after the test has started or after a stated cut-off; confirm the exact late-arrival policy with the provider, as it is not uniform.
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored as instructed. A device found on you during the test may be treated as misconduct even if you did not use it.
Do not bring unauthorised notes, scores, or materials into the room. Only items explicitly permitted for your practical option may be used; ask the provider in advance about anything you are unsure of.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, starting and stopping, and leaving the room. If you need to leave for the toilet or for health reasons, raise your hand and wait to be accompanied; confirm in advance whether breaks are permitted and how they affect your time.
Any suspicion of copying, communicating with another candidate, or impersonation may lead to removal and to disciplinary action affecting your grade. Keep your eyes on your own work and do not pass anything to another candidate.
Scoring follows the published criteria for each part of the exam. Do not assume that a strong practical performance compensates for a weak written section, or the reverse; check how the parts are weighted with the provider.
If you believe a problem affected your performance, such as a faulty instrument, noise, or a procedural error, report it to the invigilator immediately and ask how to record it. Confirm the appeals or incident-report procedure with the provider, since deadlines are usually short.