Catalonia PAU Technical Drawing Applied to Plastic Arts and Design II exam-day guide
Catalonia PAU Technical Drawing Applied to Plastic Arts and Design II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID
Bring the identity document required for access to the exam room (typically DNI, passport, or residency card). The exact accepted documents and whether a copy is valid should be confirmed with the provider or your school before exam day.
Exam admission/session confirmation
Have the document that shows your assigned session, room, and time (the PAU enrolment receipt or centre-issued notice). Confirm with the provider how and when this is distributed.
Black or blue pens plus spares
Bring at least two working pens in the required ink colour and a spare. Check with the provider whether a specific ink colour is mandatory for answer sheets.
Pencils and sharpener or mechanical pencil
HB and 2H pencils are useful for construction lines and rough work before inking. Bring a sharpener or spare leads.
Eraser and soft cleaning eraser
A standard eraser plus a soft vinyl eraser for lifting graphite without damaging the paper.
Technical drawing instruments
Compass with spare leads, set squares (30-60 and 45), ruler, and protractor. Verify with the provider which instruments are permitted and whether any are supplied by the centre.
Approved calculator
Bring a calculator only if the exam regulations for this subject allow it, and confirm the permitted models. Do not assume a graphing or programmable model is accepted; check with the provider.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many venues require transparent containers so invigilators can check contents. Confirm the venue's rule with the provider.
Analog watch
A simple non-smart watch helps you manage the drawing time if the room clock is not visible. Smartwatches and phones are normally not allowed at the desk.
Water and a light snack
Bring a small bottle of water and something quick to eat during any permitted break. Confirm the venue's rules on drinks and food at the desk.
Review the exam structure and scoring
Re-read the official syllabus and model papers for this subject: know how many options or questions there are, the time limit, and the weighting. Confirm details with the provider rather than relying on hearsay.
Plan the journey and arrival time
Check the room location and arrive with margin before the call time. Confirm the exact arrival and access rules with the provider.
Plan the day
Do a timed full past paper under exam conditions with only the instruments you will actually bring. Mark it against the official criteria or solutions, list the three biggest point losses, and spend the remaining days on those specific constructions or topics rather than re-reading everything.
Check every instrument works: compass holds its radius, leads are the right hardness, set squares are clean and not warped, ruler markings are legible. Replace anything doubtful now, not on the morning.
Build a one-page personal sheet of the constructions and formulas you most often get wrong (tangencies, dihedral angles, axonometric scales, perspective vanishing points, standardised sheet layout). Keep it short enough to re-read in ten minutes.
Confirm logistics: room, time, ID requirements, permitted calculator, and whether any materials are supplied. Ask the provider or your school about anything unclear.
Do one light review of your one-page sheet and the layout conventions for the answer sheets. Stop active practice early; do not start a new topic or a full mock the night before.
Pack the transparent case with pens, pencils, eraser, compass, set squares, ruler, protractor, ID, and confirmation. Lay out clothes and transport plan. Sleep at a normal hour.
Eat a normal breakfast, re-check the packed case against the checklist, and leave with enough margin to absorb delays. Re-read only your one-page sheet on the way; avoid last-minute cramming of new material.
Read all questions or options before drawing anything. Note the time limit and allocate minutes per question, reserving the final ten to fifteen minutes for checking line weights, labels, and that every required view or construction is present.
Work construction lines lightly in 2H, then ink final lines with consistent weight. Label views, scales, and units as the statement requires. If a construction stalls, leave it, secure the marks on the rest, and return with remaining time.
Check that your name and identifying details are on every sheet as instructed, that no answer is left in rough form only, and that instruments are packed. Hand in according to the invigilator's instructions.
Rules to check
Bring and display the official photo ID required for access; the exact accepted documents and whether a copy suffices must be confirmed with the provider.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on where to sit, when to start, and how to hand in. Do not begin drawing before the signal.
Phones and smart devices must be switched off and stored as the venue requires; do not keep them at the desk. Confirm the venue's exact policy with the provider.
Use only permitted instruments and, if allowed, only the approved calculator models. Ask the provider in advance rather than assuming.
Breaks during the exam are normally not permitted; if you need to leave the room, follow the invigilator's procedure. Confirm any specific rule with the provider.
Write and draw only on the designated answer sheets or paper supplied; rough work goes where the invigilator indicates. Do not remove exam materials from the room.
Scoring follows the official criteria for this subject, including correct construction, precision, line quality, and presentation. Read the statement carefully so you answer the question actually asked.
Any irregularity or suspected cheating is handled under the official exam regulations; if you are unsure about a rule, ask the invigilator before acting.