Canary PAU Physics exam-day guide
Canary PAU Physics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired identification document the provider requires (commonly a national ID card, passport, or driving licence). Confirm with the provider which document types are accepted and whether a photocopy is valid; do not assume a student card will be accepted.
Exam admission document / registration confirmation
Print or download whatever confirmation the provider issues (registration receipt, seat allocation, or admission slip). Check the exact exam time, venue, and seat number on it. If you have not received such a document, confirm with the provider whether you need one.
Know your exact venue and arrival route
Rehearse the route to the building, not just the city. Identify the correct entrance, the room or hall, and where bags are left. Allow extra time for security checks and for finding your seat in a large hall.
Permitted calculator
Check the provider's current rules on calculator models, programmable calculators, and graphing calculators before the exam. Bring only a model that is explicitly permitted, and know how to use it in the modes you rely on. If the rules are unclear, confirm with the provider.
Spare pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener
Bring at least two pens that write cleanly and a spare pencil for diagrams or multiple-choice answer sheets. Use a clear pencil case or pouch if transparent containers are required; confirm with the provider whether any container is allowed on the desk.
Analog watch
Many halls have no visible clock, and phones must usually be switched off and stored. A simple non-smart analog watch lets you pace yourself. Confirm with the provider whether smartwatches and fitness bands are banned from the room.
Clear water bottle
Bring water in a transparent bottle with the label removed, if the provider allows drinks at the desk. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are permitted and whether the bottle must be see-through.
Leave phones and smart devices behind or switched off
A ringing or vibrating phone can lead to removal from the exam even if you are not using it. Decide in advance where your phone will be during the exam, and check the provider's rules on storing devices.
Review the official instructions and formula sheet
Re-read the provider's exam instructions and any formula or data sheet you are given, so you know what is supplied and what you must memorise. Confirm with the provider what reference material is provided in the exam.
Confirm language and dictionary policy
If the exam is delivered in a language that is not your first, check whether a printed dictionary is allowed and which type. Do not bring one unless the provider's rules explicitly permit it; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Plan food, medication, and rest breaks
Eat a normal meal before a long session and bring any prescribed medication you may need. Check the provider's rules on leaving the room during the exam and on access arrangements for medical needs.
Read the candidate regulations
Read the current regulations on conduct, prohibited items, and scoring before exam day. Rules change between sessions, so rely on the version issued for your sitting rather than on what previous candidates told you.
Plan the day
Re-check the exam date, start time, venue, and seat on your admission document. Plan the journey with a realistic margin and identify a backup route. Decide what you will carry and lay out the permitted items early, so nothing is left to the last morning.
Stop learning new topics. Work through a small number of past-paper-style problems under timed conditions, focusing on the sections where you lose the most marks. Re-read your own summary of formulas, units, and common sign or significant-figure errors. For physics, practise writing clear working, since method marks are often awarded even when the final answer is wrong.
Run through the calculations you expect: trigonometry, logarithms, powers of ten, and unit conversions. Check that your calculator is in the correct angle mode and that you can enter scientific notation quickly. A calculator you have not used recently is a common source of lost marks.
Shift your sleep schedule so you are alert at the exam start time. Avoid all-night revision; fatigue costs more marks than one extra topic is worth. Keep the last evening light and practical.
Review formula sheets, unit conventions, and a short list of your recurring mistakes. Do not attempt a full new past paper. Pack your bag with ID, admission document, pens, pencils, eraser, permitted calculator, watch, and water bottle, and place it by the door.
Re-read the provider's instructions on permitted items, device storage, and arrival time. Confirm with the provider any point you are unsure about, such as calculator model or dictionary use, rather than guessing on the day. Set two alarms.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive at the venue with time to spare for security checks and finding your seat. Go to the correct entrance and room, keep your ID and admission document accessible, and switch your phone off before entering the hall.
Once seated, place only permitted items on the desk. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions, fill in your details exactly as instructed, and check that you have every page of the paper and any answer sheet before the start is announced.
Read the instructions and the whole paper quickly to see how many questions there are and how marks are distributed. Note the time available and set a rough pace per mark. Start with questions you can do confidently to build momentum.
Show your working clearly, state formulas before substituting numbers, and keep units consistent throughout. Watch significant figures and the direction of vectors. If a question stalls, mark it and move on; return later rather than losing time.
Reserve time to check that every question has an answer, that multiple-choice boxes are filled correctly, and that units and signs are right. Check that your name and candidate details are complete. Stop writing immediately when instructed.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID required by the provider and keep it on the desk if instructed. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if you arrive without them; do not rely on a photocopy or a student card unless the rules explicitly allow it.
Arrive by the stated time. Late admission is usually at the provider's discretion and may be refused once the exam has started. Confirm with the provider the exact cut-off for late arrival and whether any extra time is given.
Switch off phones, smartwatches, and any other devices before entering the hall, and store them where the provider requires. Using or even holding an unauthorised device during the exam is normally treated as misconduct.
Bring only permitted items to the desk. Bags, notes, and unauthorised calculators or dictionaries stay outside the hall or in the designated area. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask the invigilator before the exam starts.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times, including on filling in answer sheets and on when writing may begin and must stop. Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not look at another candidate's paper.
If you need to leave the room for medical reasons, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; you may be accompanied or supervised. Check the provider's rules on breaks and on access arrangements before exam day.
Report any problem immediately: a misprinted page, a faulty calculator, or another candidate disturbing you. Raise it during the exam rather than afterwards, so the invigilator can record it.
Scoring and grading rules, including how marks are awarded and how resits or appeals work, are set by the provider. Read the current regulations for your sitting and confirm with the provider any point that affects your result.