Catalonia PAU History of Philosophy exam-day guide
Catalonia PAU History of Philosophy · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID (DNI, passport, or equivalent)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted for your sitting and whether the document must be the same one used at registration.
Exam admission slip or registration confirmation
Print or download whatever the organising body issues confirming your registration, seat, and timetable. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital one is accepted.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
The exam is handwritten. Bring two working pens plus a spare, and check the ink flows before the day. Pencil is normally only for rough work; confirm any stationery restrictions with the provider.
Pencil and eraser for planning
Useful for outlining essay structures and annotating the question paper before writing the final answer. Keep planning notes clearly separate from the answer booklet if the provider requires it.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch helps you allocate time across the two parts. Smartwatches and phones are normally prohibited; confirm with the provider.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Hydration matters for a long handwritten paper. Many venues require transparent bottles with no labels. Confirm the venue's policy with the provider.
Know the syllabus structure cold
The Catalonia PAU History of Philosophy paper is built around a fixed set of authors and texts. Be able to state, from memory, which authors are compulsory and which are optional, and which text or text fragment each author is examined on.
Prepare author-by-author summary sheets
For each author, condense context, core theses, key concepts, argument structure, and standard criticisms onto one or two pages. These are your last-24-hour revision tool.
Rehearse the two-part answer format
Practise writing a short contextual/explanation section and a longer argumentative essay under timed conditions. Confirm with the provider the exact weighting and expected length of each part for your year.
Memorise short primary-text quotations
Two or three accurate short quotations per author let you anchor the essay in the text. Keep them brief and exact; a misquoted line is worse than a paraphrase.
Plan travel and arrival time
Arrive with margin for transport delays and room-finding. Confirm the exact building and reporting time with the provider, since these vary by centre.
Leave prohibited devices at home or switched off and stored
Phones, smartwatches, and any connected device are normally banned from the exam room. Confirm the provider's policy on where devices must be left.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Switch to consolidation: reread your author summary sheets and produce a one-page map linking each author to their historical period, central problem, and two or three key concepts. Test yourself by writing the map from memory, then check it.
Do one full timed practice paper under exam conditions: no notes, fixed time, handwritten. Mark it against your summary sheets and list the three weakest areas. Spend the remaining days only on those.
Rehearse essay openings and closings for each author. Write, from memory, a thesis statement and a concluding paragraph for every author on your syllabus. This is the part candidates most often improvise badly under time pressure.
Review the vocabulary of the period: for each author, write definitions of five to eight core terms in one sentence each. Precision with terminology earns credit and prevents vague filler in the essay.
Do a light pass only: summary sheets, quotation list, and the concept map. No new authors, no new secondary sources. Sleep a full night; a rested memory retrieves arguments better than a sleep-deprived one.
Pack your bag: ID, admission slip, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water bottle. Check the venue address and journey plan. Confirm with the provider the reporting time and any stationery or device rules you are unsure about.
Eat properly and arrive early. Read only your one-page concept map and quotation list; do not attempt to cram a neglected author, which tends to displace well-prepared material. Keep calm and avoid comparing notes with other candidates.
Read the whole paper before writing. Identify which authors and questions are offered, choose your options deliberately, and write a time budget on the question paper: roughly a quarter of the time for planning, half for the essay, and the rest for the shorter section and checking.
Spend a few minutes per answer producing a skeleton outline: thesis, three or four argument steps, textual anchor, objection, reply. A visible structure keeps the essay coherent and makes it easier for the examiner to award marks.
Answer the question asked. State your thesis in the first paragraph, use one idea per paragraph, and connect paragraphs with explicit transitions. Name concepts precisely and attribute claims to the correct author rather than blending authors together.
Reserve time to check that every chosen question is answered, that author names and key terms are spelled correctly, and that no answer is left unfinished. Cross out rough work clearly if the provider requires it.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification and your admission documentation; without them you may be refused entry. Confirm with the provider exactly which documents are accepted and whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and any connected or recording devices are normally prohibited in the exam room. Switch them off and store them where the venue instructs; confirm the provider's device policy in advance.
Write only in the answer booklet or paper supplied, using the permitted ink colour. Rough work should be clearly marked or kept separate. Confirm any stationery restrictions with the provider.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on start, finish, and leaving the room. Candidates are usually not permitted to leave during the early part of the paper; confirm the venue's rules with the provider.
Scoring rewards accurate, well-structured argument and correct use of concepts and authors, not length. Irrelevant material and invented quotations do not earn credit and can undermine an otherwise sound answer.
If you need to leave the room for medical or other reasons, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; do not simply walk out. Ask the provider in advance about any accommodation you may need.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper has been distributed, and do not remove question papers or answer materials from the room unless explicitly permitted. Confirm with the provider.
If a question is ambiguous or a text fragment appears misprinted, state your interpretation briefly in your answer and continue; report it to an invigilator afterwards. Confirm the provider's procedure for reporting problems.