PAU History of Art (Extremadura) exam-day guide
PAU History of Art (Extremadura) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document (DNI/NIE or passport)
Bring the original document, valid and in date. Photocopies are generally not accepted. If you are unsure which document is valid for your call, confirm with the provider or your examination centre.
Exam call/registration confirmation and seat assignment
Print or download the notification showing your assigned centre, room and time. Access to the room is usually organised by lists, so arrive knowing your details. Confirm with the provider how the call is published in Extremadura.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written exams are answered by hand. Carry spare pens of the same colour; avoid erasable ink and pencils for the final answer unless the instructions explicitly allow them.
Pencil, eraser and small sharpener
Useful for sketching compositional schemes, quick thumbnails, or underlining before writing. Keep them separate from the final ink text.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Rooms do not always have a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch without connectivity lets you manage the time for each section. Smart watches are normally prohibited.
Transparent water bottle without label
Hydration helps in long written papers. Many centres require transparent containers with labels removed; confirm local rules with the provider.
Light snack for before/after the paper
Eat before entering the room; eating during the exam may be restricted. Keep it small and quiet so it does not disturb others.
Printed summary of key works and authors (for last-minute review only)
Use it before entering the room, not inside. A one-page list of movements, authors, dates and formal features is the most efficient final revision tool.
Knowledge of the paper structure and time allocation
The History of Art paper in Extremadura typically combines image analysis/commentary with a thematic or developmental question. Check the current official model and instructions for your call and confirm with the provider.
Plan for image identification without the image in front of you
Practise describing works from memory: title, author, date, movement, materials, composition, light, colour and iconography. The exam may ask you to comment on reproductions; train the same structured script for any work.
Checked transport and arrival time
Aim to be at the centre well before the call, allowing for traffic and access checks. Late entry rules vary; confirm with the provider what happens if you arrive after the start.
Phone switched off and stored away
Mobile phones and connected devices must be off and out of reach during the exam. Do this before entering the room to avoid any suspicion of misconduct.
Plan the day
Consolidate, do not expand. Review your own summary sheets: one page per period (Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, 19th century, avant-gardes, contemporary). For each, fix 5-8 key works with author, date, movement and three formal features. Redo one full timed commentary and one thematic essay under exam conditions, then mark them against the official scoring criteria if available; otherwise use a clear rubric of identification, analysis, context and terminology.
Rehearse the image-commentary script until it is automatic: identification, typology and function, materials and technique, formal analysis (composition, space, light, colour, line), iconography, historical and stylistic context, influence and significance. This structure protects your marks when you are nervous and short of time.
Check practical logistics: confirm the centre, room and call time, plan the route, prepare the ID and stationery, and decide what you will eat and drink. Confirm with the provider any doubt about permitted materials, dictionaries or calculators (normally not allowed in History of Art).
Light revision only: reread your summary sheets and the list of authors and works you tend to confuse (for example Romanesque versus Gothic, or the different avant-garde movements). Do not start new topics. Prepare clothes and bag, charge nothing you cannot take in, and set two alarms.
Sleep a full night. A tired candidate misreads dates and confuses authors. Stop studying early enough to wind down, and avoid last-minute cramming that increases anxiety without adding retention.
Eat a proper breakfast, take your ID, pens, watch and water, and arrive early. Do a short, calm review of your one-page summaries outside the room; do not try to memorise new facts. Switch off your phone before entering.
Read all the questions and the instructions carefully. Check whether there is a choice and how many questions are compulsory. Note the marks per question and divide the total time proportionally, reserving 5-10 minutes for review.
Spend 2-3 minutes planning each answer: outline the structure and the works you will cite. Write in clear paragraphs with a short introduction and conclusion. Use precise vocabulary (materials, techniques, stylistic terms) and always anchor general statements in specific works, authors and dates.
If you cannot identify a work exactly, do not leave the answer blank: analyse what you can see (or recall) formally and contextually, and state your hypothesis cautiously. Partial, well-reasoned analysis earns more than an empty page. Watch the clock at each section boundary.
Review legibility, question numbering, and whether you have answered every compulsory part. Correct obvious date or name slips, and make sure your name and details are filled in as instructed. Hand in calmly and keep your materials with you.
Rules to check
Bring valid original identification (DNI/NIE or passport). Without acceptable ID, the centre may not admit you; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what to do if yours is lost or being renewed.
Follow the invigilators' instructions at all times: sit where assigned, keep your desk clear except for permitted materials, and do not communicate with other candidates during the paper. Breaches can lead to expulsion or annulment of the exam.
Electronic devices, including mobile phones and smart watches, must be switched off and stored out of reach. If a device sounds or is used during the exam, it may be treated as misconduct; confirm the specific policy with the provider.
Breaks and leaving the room are usually restricted and may require supervision. Ask an invigilator if you need to leave; do not assume you can return to the paper at any time. Confirm the centre's rules with the provider.
Answer in the language and format required by the paper, respect the number of questions and the choice offered, and number your answers clearly. Extra answers outside the instructions are normally not marked.
Scoring follows the official criteria for the subject: accurate identification, formal analysis, historical and stylistic contextualisation, correct terminology and coherent structure. Address every part of each question to avoid losing marks on omitted sections.
Do not bring unauthorised notes, books, printed summaries or electronic aids into the room. Possession of prohibited material, even if unused, may be treated as a serious irregularity; check the permitted-materials list with the provider.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem in the room, raise it calmly with the invigilator and ask for it to be recorded. Do not attempt to resolve it yourself during the exam.