Galicia PAU General Sciences exam-day guide
Galicia PAU General Sciences · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original, valid photo ID required for admission (typically DNI or passport for candidates in Spain). Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is ever allowed; do not assume.
Exam admission/registration proof
Print or download any confirmation, receipt, or registration document the organizing body issues. The exact document and whether it must be printed should be confirmed with the provider.
Know your exact exam venue and session time
Confirm the building, room, and reporting time from the official call or your registration record. Venues and times are set per convocatoria, so verify rather than rely on memory or rumor.
Check the current exam structure and instructions
Review the official instructions for the Galicia PAU General Sciences block: number of exercises, options, and time allocation. Details can change between calls, so confirm with the provider.
Permitted calculator and materials
Confirm whether a calculator is allowed, which models are permitted, and whether rulers, set squares, or formula sheets are provided or forbidden. Policies vary by subject and year; confirm with the provider.
Black or blue pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener
Bring spare writing instruments and a pencil for any diagrams or multiple-choice marking. Do not rely on borrowing from other candidates.
Analog watch (no smart devices)
Many rooms lack a visible clock. A simple wristwatch helps you pace the sections; smartwatches and phones are usually restricted, so confirm the device policy with the provider.
Clear water bottle and light snack
Stay hydrated and keep energy steady between sessions. Check whether food and drink are allowed in the exam room; confirm with the provider.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or switched off
Devices are typically prohibited in the exam room. Confirm the exact rule and any storage arrangements with the provider before the day.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Rehearse the journey and aim to arrive well before the reporting time. Traffic, parking, and public transport delays are the most common avoidable problem.
Read the answer-sheet and format instructions carefully
Confirm how answers must be recorded, whether rough work is graded, and how to correct mistakes. Follow the invigilator's instructions on the day.
Review the scoring and appeal rules
Understand how the General Sciences block is weighted in your overall PAU score and how to request a review or second correction. The specific procedure and deadlines should be confirmed with the provider.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating: review summary sheets, formula lists, and past-paper mistakes. Do one timed practice run under exam conditions to check pacing, then stop adding new material. Confirm venue, time, transport, and required documents. Protect sleep.
Pack your bag with ID, registration proof, pens, pencil, calculator if permitted, watch, water, and snack. Re-read the official instructions and the structure of the General Sciences paper. Do a light review of high-yield formulas and definitions only. Eat normally, avoid late-night cramming, and set two alarms.
Eat a proper breakfast, leave early, and arrive with a buffer. Keep phones off and stored as instructed. Before entering, skim your one-page summary of key formulas and units. In the room, listen carefully to invigilator instructions and check that your paper is complete before starting.
Read the whole paper first and allocate time per section. Start with questions you can answer confidently, then return to harder ones. Show working clearly, include units, and watch significant figures. Leave time to transfer answers correctly and check that no question is blank. If you finish early, review calculations rather than leaving.
Rules to check
Bring the original valid photo ID required for admission; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if you forget it.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Late-entry rules vary, so confirm with the provider how lateness is handled.
Phones and smart devices must be switched off and stored as instructed; possession in the exam room may be treated as misconduct. Confirm the exact rule with the provider.
Use only permitted materials, including any calculator model. Confirm the allowed list with the provider before the day.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, answer sheets, and communication. Talking or exchanging material during the test is prohibited.
Breaks and leaving the room are usually restricted; confirm with the provider whether toilet breaks are supervised and whether you may leave early.
Answers must be recorded in the required format. Confirm with the provider how rough work and corrections are handled and whether they affect scoring.
Scoring, weighting of the General Sciences block, and review or appeal procedures are set by the official call. Confirm deadlines and the exact process with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.