Extremadura PAU Technical Drawing Applied to Plastic Arts and Design II exam-day guide
Extremadura PAU Technical Drawing Applied to Plastic Arts and Design II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original DNI or passport (or the identity document your centre accepts). Confirm with the provider which documents are valid and whether a photocopy is ever accepted; do not rely on a copy.
Exam appointment / registration proof
Print or download the confirmation showing your assigned centre, date, time and any seat or classroom information. Re-check the time on the official PAU calendar for Extremadura before travelling.
Technical drawing kit
Two compasses (one with an extension bar), a set of leads or a fine mechanical pencil, a lead sharpener, a good eraser (soft and vinyl), and a dusting brush or soft cloth so you do not smudge graphite across the sheet.
Rulers and set squares
A 30–60–90 set square, a 45–45–90 set square, and a straightedge or ruler of at least 30 cm. Check the edges are not nicked; a damaged edge produces inaccurate parallels.
Drawing instruments for curves and detail
French curves or an adjustable curve, plus a protractor and, if you normally use them, a scale ruler and a circle template. Bring whatever you have practised with rather than new equipment.
Pencils and pens for labelling
Graphite pencils in at least two grades (for example HB for construction and 2H for fine lines), a black fineliner for lettering and a second pen as backup. Confirm with the provider whether ink is permitted for final linework.
Approved paper or answer sheets
Do not assume you may bring your own paper. Confirm with the provider what paper or printed answer sheets are supplied and whether any specific format (for example DIN A4 or A3) is required.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch, since phone use is normally restricted. Confirm with the provider whether a watch is allowed in the room and whether a clock is visible.
Clear pencil case and transparent bottle of water
Use a transparent case so invigilators can check contents quickly, and a label-free transparent bottle. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed in the room.
Plan for the drawing-board surface
Find out in advance whether the centre provides drawing boards or whether you work on a desk. If boards are provided, bring clips or tape only if permitted; confirm with the provider.
Rehearsed timing plan
Write down, on paper, the number of minutes you will allocate to reading, construction, inking and checking, based on the actual duration and structure of the paper. Confirm the duration and structure with the provider.
Travel and centre logistics
Know the route, the arrival buffer you want (aim for well before the call time) and where you will leave bags. Locate the exact building, not just the campus.
Plan the day
Re-read the official description of the exam for this subject and list, in your own words, the blocks it contains: for example geometric construction and tangencies, dihedral projection (system of planes), axonometric or perspective representation, standardisation and dimensioning, and any design or colour component. For each block write the typical command verbs and the deliverable expected. Confirm the current structure and weighting with the provider, because it can change between years.
Do at least two full timed papers under exam-like conditions: same duration, same instruments, no pauses, no reference notes. Afterwards mark your own work against the stated criteria and record, in a short log, where you lost time or accuracy. Typical losses are over-erasing, re-drawing construction lines in ink, and leaving dimensioning to the last five minutes.
Test every instrument you plan to bring. Sharpen or replace compass leads, check that the compass holds its radius without slipping, check that set-square edges are straight against a ruler, and confirm the eraser does not tear the paper you will actually use. Replace anything doubtful now, not on the morning.
Run short drills on the operations that cost the most marks: drawing a perpendicular and a parallel through a point, bisecting an angle, constructing a tangent to a circle from an external point, and setting out a dihedral projection with correct alignment between views. Accuracy in these underpins almost every longer problem.
Fix a personal presentation standard and practise it: construction lines light and thin, final lines firm and consistent, hidden lines dashed with even gaps, centre lines chain-dotted, lettering upright and legible, dimensions with arrowheads and figures clear of the lines. Decide now which pencil grade you use for each type of line.
Review your own error log and the summary sheet of formulas and constructions you have built during the course. Do not start a new topic. Check the exam call time, the centre address and the transport plan once more, and lay out everything from the checklist on a table.
Pack the pencil case, ID, appointment proof and watch in your bag. Set two alarms. Sleep a full night: fine motor accuracy and spatial reasoning degrade noticeably with fatigue, and this paper rewards steady hands more than last-minute memorisation.
Eat properly, arrive early, and avoid crowding your hands with heavy bags. Before entering the room, do a two-minute warm-up on scrap paper: draw a circle with the compass, a parallel with the set square, and a short line of lettering. This settles hand control.
Once seated, arrange instruments in a fixed order so you never search for them, check the lighting and the angle of your board, and confirm the number of sheets and whether rough paper is provided. Read the instructions on the paper before writing anything.
Read the whole paper and mark each question as confident, doable or risky. Choose your order: secure the marks you can certainly earn first, then attempt the rest. Note the marks per question and allocate minutes proportionally, keeping a reserve of about ten per cent for checking.
For each construction, sketch the solution small and freehand first to fix the order of operations, then execute at full size. Keep construction lines until the end so the examiner can follow your method, and label points as you go rather than reconstructing them later. If a construction goes wrong, start it on a fresh area of the sheet rather than layering corrections.
Stop drawing with enough time to check: that every question has been attempted, that views in a projection align and share the same scale, that dimensions are complete and not duplicated, that no stray construction lines obscure the answer, and that your name and any required identification are on every sheet.
Rules to check
Bring the original identity document accepted by the centre and keep it on the desk if asked. Confirm with the provider exactly which documents are valid and what happens if you arrive without one; do not assume a photocopy or a photograph on your phone will be accepted.
Phones, smart watches and any connected device must be switched off and stored out of reach as the invigilators instruct. Confirm with the provider the exact policy on electronic devices and calculators for this subject before the exam day.
Only bring instruments and materials that the provider permits. Because rules on paper, ink, calculators and drawing boards vary, confirm the permitted list with the provider rather than relying on what other candidates say.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on timing, leaving the room and any permitted breaks. If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait; do not take papers or devices with you. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are allowed and how time is handled.
Write only in the space and on the sheets designated for each question, and keep your identification on every sheet as required. Work outside the designated areas may not be marked.
Stop writing or drawing immediately when time is called and remain seated until sheets are collected. Continuing after the call can be treated as misconduct.
Scoring is based on the published criteria for this subject, which typically reward correct construction, accuracy, clarity of linework and correct dimensioning, not only the final figure. Confirm the current criteria and weighting with the provider.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with your materials, tell an invigilator immediately and calmly; do not attempt to resolve it by borrowing from another candidate.