Catalonia PAU Foreign Language - English exam-day guide
Catalonia PAU Foreign Language - English · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original photo ID (DNI, passport, or residence card) that matches your registration. Confirm with your school or the exam centre which documents are accepted, and check the expiry date. A photocopy is normally not enough.
Exam admission slip or registration confirmation
Print or download whatever confirmation your centre issues. The exact format and whether it is required vary by centre, so confirm with the provider in advance.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (two or three)
Write the essay and answers in ink. Bring spares; pencil is normally only for marking the answer sheet if your centre uses one. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid is allowed.
Pencil and eraser
Useful if any part of the paper is answered on a machine-read sheet. Keep them for the answer sheet only and follow the invigilator's instructions.
Analog watch
Many exam rooms have no visible clock and phones must be switched off and stored. A simple non-smart watch lets you manage the time budget for the reading, listening, and writing sections.
Clear water bottle with the label removed
Staying hydrated helps concentration during a long paper. Check the centre's rules on drinks; some rooms allow only transparent bottles.
Know the exact room, building, and arrival time
Re-read the instructions from your centre. Arrive with enough margin for ID checks and seating. Confirm with the provider whether late arrivals are admitted.
Plan the journey and a backup
Check transport schedules, strikes, and weather the day before. Aim to be at the centre at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start unless your centre states otherwise.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or switched off in your bag
Any device that can connect to the internet or store text is normally banned from the desk. Confirm with the provider where bags are stored and what happens if a device is found.
A one-page revision sheet for the walk-in
Keep it short: essay linkers, a checklist for the writing task, common grammar traps, and timing for each section. Read it before entering, then put it away.
Snack for after the exam
The paper is long and mentally draining. Have water and a light snack for afterwards; eating during the exam may be restricted, so confirm with the provider.
Confirm the listening section arrangements
If the exam includes a listening component, ask your centre how audio is played and whether you may ask for repeats. Do not assume; confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new material to consolidating. Re-read your essay templates and linking phrases, review your personal list of frequent errors, and do one full timed past paper under exam conditions. Mark it honestly and list the three mistakes that cost most marks. Check the exam centre's instructions one more time: room, time, ID, and permitted materials.
Prepare the physical kit: ID, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water bottle, admission slip. Put everything in one transparent bag so the morning is frictionless. Confirm transport and note a backup route.
Do a light review only: essay structure, a few connectors, and the instructions for each section. Do not start new practice papers. Set out clothes and the exam kit. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy screen time, and go to bed at your usual time. Check the weather and any travel disruptions.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early. Skim your one-page sheet for five minutes, then stop. Keep conversation with other candidates light; last-minute panic is contagious. Switch off your phone and store it as instructed before entering the room.
Read the instructions on the paper carefully and check the number of questions and the marks for each. Note the official start and end times. Fill in your personal details exactly as instructed. If anything is unclear, raise your hand and ask the invigilator before you start writing.
Skim the questions first, then read each text with purpose. Underline evidence in the text as you answer. Do not spend too long on one item; mark a difficult question and return to it. Transfer answers to the answer sheet as you go if the format requires it.
Use the pause before each recording to read the questions. Write short notes during the audio and complete full answers afterwards. If you miss a point, let it go and focus on the next question; do not lose the thread of the recording.
Spend two or three minutes planning: audience, register, structure, and the linking words you will use. Write the essay within the word limit, leave two or three minutes to check subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, spelling, and punctuation. Cross out errors neatly rather than using correction fluid unless permitted.
Check that every answer is on the correct line or box, that your name and details are complete, and that you have not left blank items where there is no penalty for guessing. Stop writing immediately when the invigilator says so.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID document that matches your registration. Without acceptable ID you may be refused entry; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a provisional document is valid.
Electronic devices, including phones, smart watches, and earbuds, must be switched off and stored away from your desk. Possession at the desk can lead to disqualification. Confirm with the provider where bags and devices are kept.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times. Do not start writing before the signal and stop immediately at the end. Writing after time is called can invalidate your paper.
Raise your hand if you need to leave the room; an invigilator will accompany you. Toilet breaks are usually allowed but may not extend your time, and some centres restrict them during the listening section. Confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates, borrow materials, or look at another person's paper. Keep your eyes on your own work. Any suspected misconduct is reported and can lead to the annulment of your exam.
Use only permitted materials. Correction fluid, dictionaries, and notes are normally not allowed unless the centre says otherwise. Confirm with the provider what is permitted for your specific exam session.
Write legibly in the language of the exam and respect the word limits. Answers that cannot be read cannot be scored, and ignoring the word limit may cost marks.
The exam is scored by trained examiners against published criteria. Results and review or appeal procedures are set by the administering body; check the official instructions for dates and the process for requesting a review.