Canary Islands PAU Technical Drawing II
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ExploreAbout this exam
Dibujo Técnico II is the second-year technical drawing subject in the Spanish Bachillerato, and the Canary Islands PAU/EBAU paper of the same name is the university-access exam taken by students who choose it as an examinable subject. It is aimed at candidates heading into architecture, engineering, industrial design, or any degree where spatial reasoning and standardised graphical communication are prerequisites, and it also serves private candidates who need to certify those skills for admission. The paper is graphical rather than multiple-choice: you draw. Expect constructions in plane geometry, tangency and conic problems, descriptive geometry in dihedral projection (points, lines, planes, intersections, distances, polyhedra, sections and developments), orthographic multiview work with dimensioning, and axonometric or cavalier/cabinet views, all governed by the ISO/UNE conventions on formats, scales and line types. Because accuracy and construction method carry most of the marks, preparation means drawing by hand, with instruments, on a regular schedule: drill the classic constructions until they are automatic, keep clean layouts, and practise reading a statement and deciding which construction it demands before touching the pencil. Work through the published model papers and past Canary Islands sittings under timed conditions. The current official structure, duration and scoring criteria are published by the Consejería de Educación, Formación Profesional, Actividad Física y Deportes del Gobierno de Canarias and the university access coordination body; check those sources, not third-party summaries.
What you'll study
About Canary Islands PAU Technical Drawing II preparation
What exactly does the exam ask me to do?
Solve graphical problems by hand: construct polygons and triangles, resolve tangencies and conic elements, work intersections and true shapes in dihedral projection, draw orthographic views with dimensions, and produce axonometric or cavalier/cabinet perspectives. Marks come from correct construction and precision, not from a written explanation of the method.
How long is the paper and how many questions must I answer?
The number of exercises, the choice between options and the time allowed are set in the current official model. Those figures change between sittings, so confirm them on the Gobierno de Canarias education website and the university access coordination pages before you plan your exam-day timing.
Is the paper difficult?
It rewards precision more than inspiration. Most candidates lose marks through construction errors, faint or wrong line types, missing auxiliary lines and poor page layout rather than through not knowing the theory. If you can complete standard constructions cleanly and quickly, the difficulty is manageable.
Can I retake it if I do badly?
Retake and repeat-sitting rules belong to the PAU/EBAU regulations for the Canary Islands and to each call's resolution. The conditions are not fixed for all candidates, so check the current regulations published by the regional education authority and your school's examination coordination.
Do I have to choose between two options?
The paper is normally presented as alternative options from which the candidate selects one, then answers the required exercises within it. Read the instruction page carefully: mixing exercises across options is usually not allowed, and answering more than required rarely earns extra credit.
What should I study first?
Start with plane geometry constructions and tangencies, since they underpin later work and are quick to drill. Then move to dihedral projection fundamentals, because sections, developments and true shapes all depend on confident work with points, lines and planes. Leave perspective and normalisation for consolidation once the core is solid.
How much does the exam cost, and what is the pass mark?
Fees, if any, and the scoring scale are set by the official call and the regional regulations, and they are not stated here. Consult the Gobierno de Canarias education portal and the university access coordination body for the figures that apply to your sitting.
What are the most common mistakes?
Unclear line hierarchy, construction lines left in the wrong weight, missing dimension arrows, inaccurate compass work, and failing to check which projection system or scale the statement demands. Also common: spending too long on one construction and leaving a whole exercise blank.
How should I practise in the final weeks?
Work past papers and model exams under time pressure, drawing with the same instruments you will use in the exam. Afterwards, compare your construction steps, not just the final figure, and redo the ones that went wrong. Keep a sheet of recurring errors and check it before each practice run.