Canary Islands PAU Spanish Language and Literature II / Lengua Castellana y Literatura II exam-day guide
Canary Islands PAU Spanish Language and Literature II / Lengua Castellana y Literatura II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID (DNI, passport, or NIE card)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. The name must match the registration exactly. If you registered under a different name form (for example, a compound-name variation), confirm with the provider in advance how to handle it.
Exam admission slip / registration confirmation
Print or download whatever confirmation the university or organizing body issues. Whether a printed copy is mandatory versus a digital one varies by call - confirm with the provider.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Write the whole exam in ink unless the instructions say otherwise. Bring spares; pencil is normally only for multiple-choice answer sheets if any are used. Confirm with the provider whether pencil and eraser are permitted for any section.
Printed copy of the official exam instructions and scoring breakdown
Know before you enter how many options the paper has, the weighting of each block, and the time allowed. These details change between calls and autonomous communities, so download the current-year document from the official source.
A watch (non-smart) or awareness of the room clock
Phones are usually not allowed on the desk. A simple analogue or digital watch lets you pace the sections without relying on a visible clock.
Clear water bottle and a light snack for before/after
Check the venue's rules on drinks on the desk; many rooms allow a transparent bottle only. Eat before you arrive, since the paper is long and breaks are not guaranteed.
Knowledge of the prescribed reading list for the current year
The set works (obras de lectura obligatoria) rotate and differ by community and year. Verify the exact list and editions with the provider or the official curriculum document - do not rely on last year's list.
Prepared structure for each block (commentary, literature question, essay)
Rehearse the skeleton of each answer type: introduction, development, conclusion for the commentary; thesis, arguments, textual evidence for the essay. Bring the plan in your head, not on loose paper unless permitted.
Quotations or key textual references you have memorized (no notes)
You cannot bring annotated texts into the exam unless the rules explicitly allow it. Memorize short, accurate quotes and page/chapter references for the set works. Confirm with the provider whether clean copies of the texts may be brought in.
Electronic devices switched off and stored away
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and earbuds must be off and out of reach. A device sounding or being visible can be treated as misconduct; confirm the venue's exact policy with the provider.
Arrival time and exact room/venue location
Arrive with margin; late-entry cut-offs vary. Check the room assignment and building entrance the day before, and allow for transport disruptions.
A plan for the answer booklet (margins, numbering, legibility)
Write clearly, number questions exactly as in the paper, and leave space between answers. Illegible or wrongly numbered answers may not be marked; confirm with the provider whether extra sheets are provided and how they are labeled.
Plan the day
Do not start new material. Re-read your summaries of the set works and your own commentary plans. Practice one full timed paper under exam conditions (same duration, no notes) and mark it against the official criteria. Re-check the official instructions: number of options, weighting, and the current reading list. Confirm the venue, room, and start time.
Light review only: key literary periods, authors, genres, and your memorized quotations. Prepare your ID, admission slip, pens, watch, and water in one bag. Sleep a full night; avoid cramming new texts. Re-read the scoring breakdown so you know where the marks are. Check transport and set two alarms.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early. Leave phones and smart devices off and packed away. Skim your one-page plan (if you are allowed to bring notes to the door, leave them outside the room). Once seated, read the whole paper before writing: identify which option you will answer and how you will divide the time.
Read all instructions and all options carefully. Choose the option you can answer most fully, not the one that looks shortest. Note the marks per section and allocate time proportionally; leave 10–15 minutes at the end to review. Write your name and details exactly as instructed.
For the text commentary: identify the type of text, its theme, structure, and the linguistic and literary features that support your reading, quoting briefly from the passage. For the literature question: answer the question asked, name authors and works precisely, and support claims with specific examples. For the essay: state a clear thesis, develop it in ordered paragraphs, and close with a conclusion. Keep handwriting legible and number every answer.
Check that every required question is answered and correctly numbered. Verify that you have not left a blank section. Correct obvious spelling, accent, and punctuation errors - these are usually penalized. Make sure extra sheets are labeled and attached as the rules require. Stop writing immediately when time is called.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID required by the call; a photocopy or a document with a mismatched name may prevent you from sitting the exam. If your ID name differs from your registration, confirm with the provider beforehand.
Electronic devices - phones, smartwatches, earbuds - must be switched off and out of reach. A device that sounds or is visible during the exam can be treated as academic misconduct. Confirm the venue's exact policy with the provider.
Only bring materials the rules explicitly allow. Annotated texts, notes, or dictionaries are normally prohibited unless the call says otherwise; confirm with the provider whether a dictionary or clean copies of the set texts are permitted.
Follow the paper's instructions on choice: answer only the required number of options, and do not answer more than allowed. Extra answers may be disregarded or penalized according to the official criteria.
Breaks and leaving the room are usually restricted during the exam; if you need to leave, raise your hand and follow the invigilator's instructions. Confirm with the provider whether supervised breaks are allowed.
Scoring follows the official marking criteria for the current call, including penalties for spelling, accentuation, and punctuation, and for insufficient textual evidence. Read the published criteria before the exam; confirm the current version with the provider.
Any attempt to communicate with other candidates, use unauthorized material, or impersonate another candidate is misconduct and can lead to annulment of the exam. Report problems to the invigilator immediately.
If you have a disability or specific need requiring accommodations, request them through the official channel well before the exam date. Arrangements are not made on the day; confirm deadlines and documentation with the provider.