Galicia PAU Business and Business Model Design exam-day guide
Galicia PAU Business and Business Model Design · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document (DNI, passport, or equivalent) accepted for PAU access in Galicia. Confirm with the provider which document types are accepted for your call, and keep it in the same bag as your pens so you cannot forget it.
Exam call and seat information
Know your assigned centre, room, and reporting time. The call is usually published by the Universidade de Galicia or your secondary school; confirm the exact time and venue with your centre, because arriving late can exclude you from the sitting.
Printed or downloaded exam timetable
Have the schedule for your subjects, including the Business and Business Model Design block. Check whether your exam is in the ordinary or extraordinary call and whether it overlaps with another subject you registered for.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Write in ink. Bring spare pens of the same colour; pencil is normally only for rough work or multiple-choice answer sheets, and erasable pen is risky on official answer booklets. Confirm any specific stationery rules with the provider.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for drafts, calculations, and any multiple-choice answer sheet. Keep rough work clearly separated from final answers so the marker does not confuse them.
Basic calculator
Business and Business Model Design involves break-even, ratios, and profitability calculations. Bring a non-programmable calculator with no communication capability. Confirm with the provider whether calculators are permitted in this subject and which models are allowed.
Ruler and graph paper if allowed
A ruler helps with tables and simple graphs. Confirm with the provider whether graph paper or extra sheets are provided or permitted.
Analogue watch
Mobile phones are normally prohibited or must be switched off and stored away. A simple watch lets you manage time without touching your phone.
Clear water bottle and light snack
Exams can run long. Keep the bottle label-free if the centre requires it. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the room.
Review the subject's key formulas the night before
Re-read break-even point, contribution margin, profitability ratios, payback, and NPV basics. Write a one-page formula sheet in your own words; this is the highest-yield revision in the final hours.
Plan your answer structure
Decide in advance how you will lay out definitions, development, and applied examples. A clear structure earns presentation marks and helps you finish on time.
Confirm logistics (transport, arrival buffer)
Plan to arrive at least 20-30 minutes early. Check transport disruptions and the weather. Confirm with the provider whether late arrival is allowed and under what conditions.
Plan the day
Do a full timed mock of the Business and Business Model Design paper under exam conditions. Mark it against the official criteria, list every lost mark, and turn each into a one-line correction note. Then stop learning new content and consolidate.
Rebuild your formula and concept sheet from memory: break-even, contribution margin, margin of safety, profitability ratios, liquidity ratios, payback, NPV, and the business model canvas blocks. Check gaps against your notes.
Practise two past-style case questions: one on business model design and one on financial analysis. Focus on showing workings, units, and interpretation, because method marks are often awarded separately from the final number.
Light revision only: read your correction notes and formula sheet. Prepare your bag with ID, pens, calculator, watch, water, and timetable. Confirm the exam room and reporting time with your centre.
Set out clothes and transport plan. Sleep at your normal time. Do not start a new topic or attempt a full mock the night before.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and avoid last-minute group discussions that can raise anxiety. Glance at your formula sheet, then put it away before entering the room.
Read the whole paper, note the marks per question, and allocate time proportionally. Identify the questions you can answer best and start there to secure marks.
Answer in the requested order or your planned order, showing all workings. For case questions, define the concept, apply it to the data given, and finish with a short conclusion or recommendation.
Check units, that every question number is answered, and that your name and details are filled in. Correct obvious arithmetic slips rather than rewriting whole answers.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document accepted for the PAU and keep it visible on the desk. If you do not have it, you may be refused entry; confirm the accepted documents with the provider before exam day.
Mobile phones and smart devices must normally be switched off and stored away, not on your person. A ringing or visible phone can lead to disqualification. Confirm the exact rule with the provider.
Write final answers in ink on the official answer sheets. Rough work should be clearly marked and separated. Confirm with the provider whether extra sheets are provided and how they must be labelled.
Calculators must be non-programmable and non-communicating. Confirm with the provider whether calculators are allowed in this subject and which models are permitted.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on starting, finishing, and leaving the room. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not leave before the permitted time.
Scoring in this subject typically rewards accurate definitions, correct application to the case, justified reasoning, and clear presentation, not just final numbers. Show workings so partial credit can be awarded.
If you need to leave the room for an emergency, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Confirm with the provider how supervised absences are handled and whether time is compensated.
Check the number of questions and any choice requirements before starting; answering more questions than allowed or missing a compulsory one can cost marks. Confirm the paper's structure with the provider if it is not stated on the cover.