Catalonia PAU Choir and Vocal Technique (Cor i Tècnica Vocal II) exam-day guide
Catalonia PAU Choir and Vocal Technique (Cor i Tècnica Vocal II) · 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 or your centre which documents are accepted and whether a printed exam appointment slip is also required, since this varies by venue and call.
Printed or downloaded exam appointment/call document
Many Catalan universities publish the call (convocatòria) with room, time, and order of performance online. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or whether a digital copy is accepted.
Your own scores and lyric sheets
Prepare clean, legible copies of the pieces you will perform or sight-read. Confirm with the provider whether annotated scores, personal photocopies, or only originals are allowed in the room, as rules differ between centres.
Water (small bottle, no loud packaging)
Vocal hydration matters on exam day. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are permitted in the exam room; if not, hydrate before entering.
Pencil and eraser for any written or sight-reading tasks
Some centres include brief written or analytical components. Confirm with the provider whether writing materials must be supplied by the candidate or are provided.
Warm-up plan on paper
Write a short, familiar warm-up (gentle glides, lip trills, humming, resonant vowels) and keep it simple. Do not try new exercises on exam day.
Performance order and repertoire list
Know exactly which pieces you will sing and in what order. Confirm with the provider whether you must submit the programme in advance or announce it on the day.
Accompanist or backing arrangements
If an accompanist is required or permitted, confirm with the provider who provides them, whether a rehearsal is scheduled, and what format of backing track (if any) is accepted.
Arrive early and locate the room
Plan to arrive with enough margin to find the building, sign in, and warm up calmly. Confirm with the provider the exact check-in time and whether late arrival forfeits the turn.
Phone silenced and stored
Turn off or silence your phone before entering. Confirm with the provider whether devices must be left in a designated area.
Comfortable, appropriate clothing and footwear
Wear clothing that allows free breathing and good posture. Confirm with the provider if there is any dress expectation for the audition or recital component.
Review of assessment criteria
Re-read the published criteria (intonation, breath support, resonance, diction, ensemble, musicality). Confirm with the provider which criteria carry the most weight in this specific call.
Plan the day
Finalise repertoire and order, print clean scores, and confirm logistics: room, time, accompanist, and required documents. Do a full run-through with feedback but avoid over-singing; stop if you feel vocal fatigue. Confirm with the provider any unresolved points about materials or format.
Do a moderate technical session focused on breath support and resonance, then a short complete run of your programme. Record yourself once and note one or two specific fixes, not a long list. Protect your voice: avoid shouting, smoky or noisy environments, and very cold drinks.
Light warm-up and a slow, mark-only run-through of the programme, focusing on entries, diction, and ensemble cues. Prepare your bag with ID, scores, water, pencil, and clothing. Sleep early; do not cram new repertoire or push range.
Eat normally, hydrate steadily, and avoid dairy-heavy or very spicy food if it affects your throat. Do a gentle 10–15 minute warm-up (humming, lip trills, soft glides) about an hour before your call. Arrive early, sign in, and locate the warm-up space.
Do quiet, low-intensity resonance work and a few slow breaths. Review the first phrase and entry of your opening piece. Keep talking to a minimum to preserve your voice.
Enter calmly, greet the panel, and state your programme if asked. Settle posture and breath before starting. If you make a mistake, keep the pulse and continue rather than stopping. Follow the panel's instructions for sight-reading or technical exercises and ask for clarification only if a instruction is genuinely unclear.
Thank the panel, collect your materials, and leave quietly without discussing the exam in the waiting area. Note any feedback or observations while fresh, and rest your voice afterwards.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID and present it when requested; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if identification is missing or expired.
Follow the published call time strictly. Confirm with the provider the policy on late arrival, as some centres do not allow entry after the call has closed.
Do not bring unauthorised materials into the exam room. Confirm with the provider whether personal scores, notes, phones, or recording devices are permitted, and where they must be stored.
Breaks and warm-up time: confirm with the provider whether a warm-up room is available and whether candidates may leave and re-enter the waiting area between components.
Scoring is based on the published assessment criteria for this subject. Confirm with the provider the weighting of each component (technical control, intonation, diction, ensemble, musicality) and the pass mark.
Maintain silence in waiting areas and do not discuss repertoire or tasks with candidates who have not yet performed.
If you have a documented access need (for example, a longer warm-up slot or adapted materials), request it through the official channel well before the exam; confirm with the provider the deadline and evidence required.
Follow the panel's directions at all times, including whether you may restart a piece or must continue after an interruption; confirm with the provider in advance if this is unclear.