Galicia PAU English - First Foreign Language exam-day guide
Galicia PAU English - First Foreign Language · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport (original, valid)
Galician PAU (ABAUs) rules require photo ID at access control and at the desk. Bring the original document, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. If you have lost it, ask your secondary school or the Comisión Interuniversitaria de Galicia (CIUG) about the procedure before exam day - confirm with the provider.
Exam registration / matrícula proof and your assigned seat or classroom information
Your school or the UVigo/UDC/USC call usually publishes the seat list, timetable and building a few days before. Print or download it and check which classroom you are in. The exact format of the proof you must show is set by your centre - confirm with the provider.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Write the whole paper in ink. Pencil is not accepted for answers on the answer sheet, and correction fluid can invalidate a line if it is not dry. Bring spares.
Pencil, eraser and a small sharpener
Useful for rough notes, planning the writing task, and for any multiple-choice or grid answer sheet that requires pencil filling. Keep rough work clearly marked as such.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Rooms normally have a clock, but you should be able to time the reading, listening and writing sections yourself. Smart watches and phones are not allowed at the desk.
Clear water bottle, no label
Hydration helps in a long morning. Labels are often required to be removed. Whether food or drink is allowed at the desk is set by the venue - confirm with the provider.
Leave your phone switched off and in your bag, away from the desk
A phone or smart device at the desk, even switched off, is treated as a serious irregularity in Spanish university access exams. Hand it in or leave it in the designated area if the venue provides one.
Know the exact building, entrance and reporting time
Galicia's PAU is held at faculties and schools in A Coruña, Ferrol, Lugo, Ourense, Pontevedra, Santiago and Vigo. Do a route check the day before and arrive with a margin; access usually closes before the paper starts.
Review the official structure and timing of the English paper
The Galician PAU first foreign language paper combines reading comprehension, use of English and a written production, and may include a listening task depending on the current model. Check the CIUG model and instructions for your year - confirm with the provider.
Prepare 3–4 flexible writing structures, not memorised essays
Have ready a plan for an opinion/for-and-against essay and for an informal email or review: a clear thesis, two developed arguments with examples, linkers, and a conclusion. Memorised full texts are risky because the prompt will not match.
Bring a small clear bag for pens and ID
Keeps the desk tidy and makes ID checks quick. Some venues restrict what can be on the desk; follow the invigilator's instructions.
Sleep, breakfast and a calm arrival plan
A long exam rewards a rested brain more than last-minute cramming. Eat something you normally eat, avoid new energy drinks, and plan to arrive early enough to find your room without rushing.
Plan the day
Do one full timed mock of the English paper using the official model and mark scheme, then diagnose your losses by skill: reading detail, vocabulary/grammar, listening, or writing organisation. Spend the remaining days only on your two weakest areas. Re-read the instructions for each task type so nothing in the wording surprises you on the day.
Consolidate writing. Draft one opinion essay and one informal email from past-style prompts in 25–30 minutes each, then check them against a checklist: task fully covered, clear paragraphing, varied linkers, correct tenses, subject–verb agreement, spelling of common words. Note your three recurring errors on a single card and review that card, not a whole grammar book.
Light review only: skim your error card, a list of 20–30 useful linkers and discourse markers, and common collocations. Confirm your ID, registration proof, pens, watch and route. Check the venue's published reporting time and any access instructions. Pack your bag the night before and set two alarms. Do not start a new topic.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive at the building well before the reporting time, and locate your classroom and seat. Keep away from last-minute discussions of grammar with other candidates, which mainly raises anxiety. Once seated, put your ID on the desk, check that you have the correct paper and answer sheet, and read the front-page instructions carefully before the start signal.
Read the whole paper quickly to see the task order and mark allocation. Decide your time budget per section and write the finish times on your question paper. Start with reading comprehension: skim for the gist, then scan for the specific information each question asks for, and answer in your own words where the task requires it rather than copying long stretches of the text.
Move through use of English and listening at a steady pace; do not let one unknown word block you. For listening, read the questions before each recording and note key words. Leave the writing task a protected block of time: plan for 3–4 minutes, write, then reserve 3–4 minutes to check agreement, tense consistency, articles, prepositions and spelling.
Check that every question is answered, that your answers are on the correct answer sheet and in ink, and that your name and details are filled in as instructed. Fix the errors you know you make rather than rewriting sentences. Hand in all sheets and question papers as the invigilator directs, and do not leave anything on the desk.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID (DNI, passport or equivalent) and keep it visible on the desk throughout. Without valid identification you may be refused entry or your paper may not be marked; the exact accepted documents are set by the organising university - confirm with the provider.
Phones, smart watches, earphones and any other electronic device must be switched off and kept away from the desk. Possession at the desk during the exam is treated as an irregularity and can lead to annulment of the paper.
Write your answers in the format the paper requires: ink for written answers, and the specified pencil/pen for any machine-read sheet. Answers written outside the designated spaces or on rough paper are not marked.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on timing, breaks and leaving the room. Toilet breaks are usually escorted and may not be allowed during the listening section; the exact policy is set by the venue - confirm with the provider.
No communication between candidates during the exam, no borrowing of material, and no unauthorised dictionaries, notes or grammar references. The paper is designed so that all vocabulary needed is either given or inferable from context.
Scoring: the English paper is marked out of 10 and then weighted for your university access score according to the current Galician PAU regulations. The weighting and the pass thresholds change between years - confirm with the provider rather than relying on older figures.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with the room, raise it with the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded; complaints raised only after the exam are much harder to resolve.
Check the official calendar and rules for the ordinary and extraordinary sittings, and for any special provisions (for example for candidates with a recognised disability or specific learning difficulty), well in advance - these must normally be requested before the exam, so confirm the deadlines with the provider.