Canary Islands PAU Technical Drawing Applied to Plastic Arts & Design II exam-day guide
Canary Islands PAU Technical Drawing Applied to Plastic Arts & Design II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original photo ID (DNI, passport, or NIE card) that matches your exam registration. Check the exact document type and validity requirements on your official exam call (convocatoria) and confirm with the provider if you are unsure which documents are accepted.
Exam call / registration receipt
Print or download the official convocatoria or proof of registration showing your assigned centre, room, and time. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is accepted.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (two or more)
Bring at least two working pens of the same colour for written answers, labels, and annotations. Confirm with the provider which ink colours are permitted for the official answer sheets.
Pencils and eraser
HB or 2B pencils for construction lines and preliminary sketching, plus a soft eraser and a pencil sharpener. Many centres require final technical drawings to be inked, so treat pencil work as construction only.
Technical drawing instruments
Bring a compass with spare leads, a 30-60-90 and a 45-45-90 set square, a ruler, and a protractor. Confirm with the provider whether instruments are permitted on the specific paper and whether any are supplied by the centre.
Colour media for the design/colour question
If the paper includes a colour or design composition task, bring coloured pencils, markers, or the media you have practised with. Confirm with the provider which colour media are allowed, since some centres restrict wet media or sprays.
Watch (non-smart, non-connected)
Bring a simple analogue or digital watch to manage time, since room clocks may be missing or out of view. Smartwatches and connected devices are normally not allowed at the desk; confirm with the provider.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Use a transparent case so invigilators can check contents quickly. Confirm with the provider whether transparent cases are mandatory at your centre.
Water bottle with labels removed
Bring a clear bottle with the label removed. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk during the exam.
No notes, no pre-drawn templates
Leave at home any annotated notes, formula sheets, or pre-drawn construction templates. Only bring blank paper or materials explicitly allowed by the official call; confirm with the provider if you are unsure whether a particular instrument or template is permitted.
Know your seat and arrival time
Check the centre, room, and reporting time the day before and plan to arrive with a margin for ID checks. Confirm with the provider the exact reporting time and whether late entry is allowed.
Review the official paper structure and scoring
Re-read the official exam description for the number of questions, the choice options, and the weighting of each part. Confirm with the provider any detail not stated in the official documentation, especially whether questions are compulsory or optional.
Plan the day
Do timed practice under exam conditions: one full paper per day, using only the instruments and media you will bring. Focus on the two or three question types that carry the most marks, and rehearse the constructions you tend to get wrong (tangencies, dihedral projections, axonometric views, standardised perspectives, colour composition).
Build a one-page personal sheet of the constructions and formulas you actually use: scale conversions, tangent and bisector steps, the layout conventions for multiview and axonometric drawings, and the colour-theory terms you need for the design question. Rewrite it by hand so it sticks, then set it aside and do not bring it into the exam.
Check your instrument kit: compass lead and needle, set squares, ruler markings, eraser, and enough pens. Replace anything worn, and practise a full drawing with the exact tools you will use so nothing fails on the day.
Confirm logistics: centre address, room, reporting time, transport, and the exact ID you will present. Confirm with the provider anything unclear in the official call, including permitted materials and the colour media rule.
Do one short, light practice session only: redraw two or three constructions from memory and review your one-page personal sheet. Stop early; do not start a new topic or a full mock.
Pack the kit in one bag the night before: ID, registration proof, pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, compass, set squares, ruler, protractor, colour media, watch, transparent case, and water. Lay out clothes and transport details.
Sleep a full night and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. A steady hand and clear spatial reasoning matter more than one extra fact.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and re-check that the bag contains the ID and the full instrument kit before leaving. Do not bring notes or annotated sheets.
On arrival, follow ID checks, switch off and stow your phone and any smart device as instructed, and set out your instruments on the desk before the paper is distributed.
First five to ten minutes: read the whole paper, mark compulsory and optional questions, and choose your options deliberately. Note the mark weight of each part and allocate time proportionally, leaving a reserve for the final inking and labelling.
Work in the order that protects your marks: start with the questions you can complete cleanly, then tackle the harder constructions. Keep construction lines light and thin, and reserve time to darken final outlines, add labels, and check scale and line types.
For design and colour questions, plan the composition and colour scheme briefly before committing, and keep the answer legible and within the given format. For technical questions, show construction arcs and auxiliary lines, since method marks are often awarded for them.
Last ten minutes: verify that every chosen question is answered, that labels, scales, and titles are present, and that your name and candidate details are filled in as instructed. Stop drawing when told and hand in the paper as directed.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID required by the official call and keep it on the desk for inspection; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted if the call is ambiguous.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on phones, smartwatches, and any connected devices. Normally these must be switched off and stored away from the desk; confirm with the provider the exact rule at your centre.
Use only the materials permitted by the official call. If you are unsure whether an instrument, template, or colour medium is allowed, ask before the exam or confirm with the provider rather than risk a sanction.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not look at another candidate's paper. Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need something.
If you need to leave the room (for example, for the toilet), raise your hand and follow the invigilator's instructions. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are permitted and whether you will be escorted or supervised.
Write and draw only in the designated answer areas and follow the instructions on the answer sheet. Work outside the permitted areas may not be marked.
Answer in the language and format required by the paper, and follow the stated choice rules (compulsory versus optional questions). Confirm with the provider any structural detail not stated in the official documentation.
Scoring follows the official marking criteria for the subject: accuracy of construction, correct line types and scales, clarity of projection and labelling, and the quality of the design and colour work. Confirm with the provider the weighting and any penalties for presentation errors.