PAU Catalan Language and Literature (Catalonia) exam-day guide
PAU Catalan Language and Literature (Catalonia) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID (DNI, passport, or NIE)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted for your call and whether the ID must match the one used at registration.
Exam admission slip / registration confirmation
Print or download the document the organising body issues after enrolment. Check the exact requirements (printed vs. digital, signature) with the provider, since these vary by call.
Black or blue pens (at least two) and a pencil with eraser
Written papers require ink; a pencil is useful for planning outlines and for any machine-readable answer sheet. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is permitted on answer sheets.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. Smartwatches and phones are normally banned from the desk, so a simple analogue watch is the safe option.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Hydration helps during a long paper. Some venues restrict bottles with labels; confirm with the provider/venue whether drinks are allowed in the room.
Know the exact venue, room, and reporting time
Check the assignment published by the organising body a few days before. Arrive early enough to find the room and complete any identity check.
Review the official structure and timing of each part
The PAU Catalan Language and Literature paper combines text commentary and literary content. Re-read the official instructions for your year so you know how many questions to answer and how marks are distributed.
Prepare a short list of set literary works/authors
Confirm with the provider which works or authors are on the syllabus for your call, then prepare brief notes on themes, characters, genre, and context for each.
Practise one full timed paper
Simulate the real duration and question count so you can allocate reading, planning, writing, and checking time before the day.
Leave prohibited devices at home or switched off and stored
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and any connected device are normally forbidden in the exam room. Confirm with the provider where devices must be deposited.
Transport and backup plan
Check routes and timetables, and identify a backup way to reach the venue in case of delays. Being late can bar entry, so confirm the late-arrival rule with the provider.
Confirm permitted materials (dictionary, texts, annotations)
Rules on monolingual dictionaries and on copies of set texts with or without annotations differ between calls. Confirm with the provider what is allowed for Catalan Language and Literature.
Plan the day
Download and read the official instructions for your call: paper structure, number of questions, mark allocation, permitted materials, and timing. Write a one-page summary you can reread on the day.
Do a final pass over your literary notes: for each set work or author, summarise genre, main themes, characters, narrative voice, and historical context in a few bullet points.
Complete one full timed practice paper under exam conditions, then mark it against the official criteria and list your two or three weakest areas.
Target only those weak areas: reread key passages, practise structuring a commentary (introduction, analysis of form and content, conclusion), and revise literary terminology you tend to forget.
Prepare your materials: ID, admission slip, pens, pencil, watch, water. Put them in one bag so nothing is left to chance.
Confirm venue, room, and reporting time from the official assignment. Check transport timetables and plan arrival with a margin.
Do a light review only: your one-page structure summary and your literary bullet points. Avoid learning new material at this stage.
Eat normally, avoid late-night cramming, and set two alarms. Sleep is more useful than one more reread.
Eat a proper breakfast, dress in layers, and leave with time to spare. Reread only your one-page summary on the way.
At the venue, switch off and store your phone as instructed, keep your ID and admission slip ready, and locate the room and toilets before the start.
Read the whole paper first and note the marks for each question. Allocate time proportionally and keep a few minutes at the end for checking.
For the text commentary, read the passage twice, identify genre, register, and communicative purpose, and support every claim with a quotation or specific linguistic feature.
For literature questions, answer the question asked: state a thesis, support it with textual evidence, and connect it to context. Do not simply retell the plot.
Write legibly, number your answers clearly, and if time runs short, finish in note form rather than leaving a question blank.
Rules to check
Bring original official photo ID and the admission document required for your call; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a copy is valid.
Arrive at the reporting time stated in your assignment. Late entry is usually restricted; confirm the exact late-arrival policy with the provider.
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices must be switched off and stored as instructed. Possession at the desk may be treated as misconduct; confirm the rule with the provider.
Use only the materials permitted for this paper (for example, dictionary or set texts if allowed). Confirm with the provider before the exam which materials are authorised.
Follow invigilator instructions at all times and do not communicate with other candidates during the test. Any suspected irregularity is handled under the official regulations.
Breaks and leaving the room during the test are normally limited and supervised; confirm with the provider whether toilet breaks are allowed and how they are escorted.
Marks are awarded against the official criteria for Catalan Language and Literature, covering comprehension, analysis, expression, and literary knowledge. Check the published weighting for your year.
If you believe there was an incident or error affecting your exam, ask the invigilator to record it and follow the official review or appeal procedure; confirm the deadlines with the provider.