Catalonia PAU Physics / Física 2º Bachillerato (CIC Generalitat) exam-day guide
Catalonia PAU Physics / Física 2º Bachillerato (CIC Generalitat) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document (DNI, passport, or equivalent) required to verify your identity at the examination venue. The exact document accepted is set by the call/centre, so confirm the accepted list with your centre or the official instructions before the day.
Exam admission/session information
Have the exact date, start time, building, room, and seat/group assignment (if any) ready. Check the official calendar and your centre's published instructions; do not rely on memory or second-hand messages.
Blue or black pens (spare)
Bring at least two or three working pens of the same ink colour plus a spare. Answers must be legible; confirm any required ink colour with the official instructions if unsure.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Useful for graphs, sketches, and rough work. Keep rough work clearly separated or crossed out so it is not confused with the final answer.
Scientific calculator you know well
Bring a calculator you have practised with. Check the official rules on permitted calculator models and any restrictions, since these can change; confirm with the provider if uncertain. Ensure batteries are fresh and know how to switch between degrees and radians.
Ruler and set square
For vector diagrams, ray diagrams, and graphs. A transparent ruler is convenient for drawing straight lines without obscuring labels.
Analogue watch or clock
A simple watch helps you manage time without relying on a phone, which is normally not allowed during the exam. Confirm the centre's rules on watches and electronic devices.
Formulae and constants reference, if permitted
Some calls allow a data or formula sheet, but this is set by the exam regulations. Do not assume it is provided or permitted; confirm with the provider and, if allowed, bring your own clearly annotated copy.
Light layers and water
Exam rooms can be warm or cool; dress in layers and bring a small bottle of water if the venue permits it. Confirm any restrictions on drinks and food with the centre.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or switched off
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices are typically prohibited in the examination room. Confirm the exact rule with the provider and plan where to leave them safely.
Review the official instructions and prohibited-items list
Read the current call and your centre's instructions for permitted materials, prohibited items, and arrival procedures. Policies can change between calls, so verify each year.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Know how you will get to the venue and aim to arrive well before the start time. The required arrival margin is set by the centre; confirm it rather than guessing.
Plan the day
Do a final pass over the syllabus topics you find weakest, focusing on problem types rather than new theory. Rehearse the standard procedures: resolving vectors into components, applying Newton's second law with friction and inclines, conservation of energy and momentum, circular and simple harmonic motion, electric and magnetic field problems, induction, wave and optics problems, and nuclear decay calculations. Use your own summary sheets and worked examples, and check that you can state units and significant figures correctly.
Practise under timed conditions with a full past-paper-style set or your own mixed problem set, working without notes where the real exam forbids them. Time each section and note where you lose time. Practise drawing clear free-body, ray, and circuit diagrams with labels and units, because marks are often awarded for correct method and presentation.
Prepare your materials: test your calculator, replace batteries, gather pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, and set square, and confirm whether any formula sheet or data sheet is permitted. Check the official instructions for prohibited devices and permitted aids, and confirm anything unclear with your centre or the provider.
Confirm logistics: venue, room, start time, arrival margin, and transport. Get a printed or offline copy of the session details so you are not dependent on a phone on the day. Protect sleep in these days; avoid last-minute all-night revision.
Do a light review only: key formulae, constants, unit conversions, and common pitfalls such as sign errors, forgetting to convert to SI units, and mixing degrees with radians. Stop intensive study early enough to sleep well. Pack your bag with ID, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, calculator, watch, and water if permitted.
Re-read the official instructions one last time: permitted and prohibited items, identification requirements, and any rules about leaving the room or arriving late. Reconfirm the start time and venue, and set alarms. Avoid trying to learn new topics the night before.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive at the venue with a generous buffer, and locate the room and your seat. Keep your phone switched off and stored as instructed. Before entering, take a few minutes to recall the structure of the paper and your time allocation plan rather than cramming new material.
Read the whole paper first and allocate time according to the marks and the number of questions. Start with questions you can do confidently, then return to harder ones. Show method clearly: state the principle used, write the equation, substitute with units, and give the final answer with correct units and sensible significant figures. Draw labelled diagrams where they help. If a question is worth several marks, make sure each step is visible.
Watch the clock and keep a reserve for checking. If you get stuck, move on and come back. Check that you have answered every required part, that numerical answers are plausible in magnitude and sign, and that units are consistent. Cross out rough work clearly so it is not mistaken for your final answer. Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times.
Rules to check
Bring and be ready to show the identity document required by the call; the accepted documents are set by the official instructions, so confirm the list with your centre or the provider before the day.
Electronic devices such as phones and smartwatches are generally not allowed in the examination room. Confirm the exact policy with the provider and store devices as instructed.
Only permitted materials may be used. Check the official rules on calculators, formula or data sheets, and any other aids, since these can change between calls; confirm with the provider if anything is unclear.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on seating, starting and finishing, and leaving the room. Rules on late arrival, early departure, and breaks are set by the exam regulations; confirm them with your centre rather than assuming.
Write legibly and show your working. Marks are normally awarded for correct method, units, and significant figures, not only for the final number, so make each step visible and cross out rough work you do not want marked.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam and do not bring unauthorized notes. Any suspected irregularity is handled under the official regulations; confirm the consequences with the provider if you are unsure.
Scoring and grading are governed by the official call and the university access regulations. Do not rely on rumoured mark schemes; consult the official documentation or your centre for how the subject contributes to your access score.