Galicia PAU History of Art exam-day guide

The Galicia PAU (Probas de Acceso á Universidade) is organised by the Comisión Interuniversitaria de Galicia and is normally held in June and July, with the ordinary sitting in early June. Venues are usually assigned to your own secondary school or a designated centre. Exact dates and your assigned centre change year to year, so verify them on the official CIUG/PAU Galicia information and your registration receipt rather than relying on memory or a friend's timetable.

Spanish nationals normally present the DNI; foreign candidates should bring a passport or residence card. The name must match your registration. If you have lost your DNI, ask the provider (your school or the coordinating commission) in advance what alternative document they accept - do not assume a photocopy is enough.

Answers are handwritten. Bring at least two spare pens of the same colour, plus a pencil and eraser for rough work or for any multiple-choice answer sheet if your exam uses one. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid is permitted; if in doubt, cross out neatly instead.

Art History answers often benefit from a quick thumbnail sketch of a plan, composition, or iconographic scheme. A soft (2B or similar) pencil and eraser make this fast. Keep all drawing tools in a clear pencil case if the centre requires transparent containers - confirm with the provider.

Phones, smartwatches, and any device that can connect to a network are normally banned from the exam room and can lead to disqualification even if switched off in a pocket. Plan to hand your phone in or leave it at home. Confirm the centre's exact storage rule with the provider.

In Galicia, History of Art is one of the optional subjects in the specific phase (fase específica) of the PAU, and it can also be part of the general phase depending on the current model. The paper normally offers a choice of questions or image-based options, and you must show you can identify, describe, analyse, and contextualise works. Read the current model and past papers published by CIUG so you know exactly how many options you must answer and how they are weighted.

Your sheet should cover the works and movements on the official syllabus: for example Romanesque and Gothic architecture, Renaissance and Baroque painting and sculpture, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, and the main twentieth-century avant-gardes, plus Galician art where the syllabus requires it. Include dates, authors, materials, and two or three analytical points per work. This becomes your last-minute review on the morning of the exam.

Do at least two full mock papers in the final days, writing by hand and respecting the time limit. Art History rewards structured answers: identification, formal analysis (composition, light, colour, space, materials), function and context, and significance. Time yourself so you know how long you can spend planning, writing, and checking each option.

Plan to arrive at the centre well before the start time, allowing for traffic, public transport delays, and finding the right room. Confirm the address and the door you should use with the provider, and check local transport on the day.

The PAU sessions are long and can involve several papers in one day. Eat a proper breakfast or meal beforehand and bring a small water bottle if the centre allows it. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are permitted in the exam room.

Check how many options you must answer, whether there is a compulsory section, and where you should write. Misreading the rubric is one of the most common avoidable losses. If an instruction is unclear, raise your hand and ask the invigilator rather than guessing.

Number each answer exactly as the paper does and leave a line between sections. Examiners mark what they can read: clear handwriting, headings, and short paragraphs score better than dense blocks. If you run out of space, ask the invigilator for extra paper and label it clearly.