Galicia PAU History of Music and Dance / Historia de la Música y de la Danza 2º Bachillerato CIUG exam-day guide
Galicia PAU History of Music and Dance / Historia de la Música y de la Danza 2º Bachillerato CIUG · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or valid identity document
Bring the original document (not a photocopy). CIUG calls typically require photo ID; confirm with your centre or the CIUG which documents are accepted for your call.
Exam call/sede confirmation and timetable
Check your personal assignment (sede, aula, date and start time) on the CIUG/University of Vigo access portal a few days before. Arrive with time to spare; confirm the exact arrival margin with the provider.
Printed or downloaded exam schedule for the day
The PAU is sat over consecutive days with several subjects; verify the exact time and duration of Historia de la Música y de la Danza for your call, as sessions may be morning or afternoon.
Black or blue pens (at least two) and spare
Answers are handwritten. Bring several pens that work, plus a pencil and eraser for rough notes or annotations on the score.
Watch or silent timekeeping device
Classrooms may not display a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch without smart features is safest; confirm whether smartwatches are allowed.
Clear pencil case and no unauthorised material
Bring only what is permitted. Mobile phones must be switched off and stored as instructed; confirm the centre's rules on bags and devices.
Water bottle and light snack
Sessions can be long and the day tiring. Keep the bottle label-free if the centre requires it; confirm local rules.
Review of the exam structure and scoring
Know before entering: the paper typically combines a listening/score-analysis section with a development or terminology question and a broader music-history question. Confirm the exact structure and weighting for your year with the provider, as it can change.
Working knowledge of the set listening list
The syllabus includes a defined repertoire of audition pieces and scores. Be able to place each by style, period, genre, composer and key features; verify the current list with the provider.
Key terminology prepared in the language of the exam
The exam is delivered in Galician/Spanish. Prepare definitions and descriptions of form, texture, rhythm, melody, harmony, instrumentation and genre vocabulary you may be asked to apply.
A plan for timing the written paper
Decide in advance how many minutes to allocate to each section and leave time to re-read. Practise this on a full past-style paper under timed conditions.
Transport and contingency plan
Know how you will reach the sede and allow for delays. Confirm with the provider what happens if you arrive late or miss a session.
Plan the day
Do a final pass over the set listening list: for each piece, write from memory a short card with period, genre, composer, form, texture, instrumentation and two or three distinctive features. Check any gaps against your notes rather than re-reading everything.
Sit one full timed paper under exam conditions, including handwriting the answers. Afterwards, mark it against the criteria and identify the two weakest areas to target in the remaining days.
Rehearse score/analysis technique: how to describe texture, thematic development, instrumentation and formal sections clearly and in order, using precise vocabulary in Galician/Spanish.
Consolidate terminology and short definitions. Practise writing concise, accurate definitions and applying them to a specific work rather than reciting generic lists.
Light review only: skim your own summary cards, the set-list cards and a terminology sheet. Do not start new topics. Confirm again the sede, room, time and transport.
Prepare the physical kit: ID, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water, printed confirmation. Pack it the night before so nothing is forgotten.
Sleep at a normal hour. Avoid all-night cramming; recall and clear writing depend on rest.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive at the sede early, and do only a brief warm-up: read your set-list cards and terminology sheet for 15-20 minutes, then stop.
Switch off your phone and store it as instructed before entering the room. Check you have your ID and pens out and ready.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note the marks or weighting of each section and the number of questions to answer, and check whether there are choices you can exploit.
Allocate time per section according to marks. For analysis questions, jot a brief outline (period, genre, form, texture, instrumentation, key features) before writing full sentences.
Answer in clear, ordered prose with specific musical vocabulary and concrete references to the works. For listening-based questions, justify statements with audible or score evidence rather than vague adjectives.
Leave 5-10 minutes to check you have answered every required question, that question numbers are clear, and that no answer is left half-finished. Correct obvious errors legibly.
Do not dwell on it between sessions; if you have further papers, reset and focus on the next subject. Keep your ID and materials safe for subsequent calls.
Rules to check
Bring the original identity document required for your call and present it when asked; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted, as a photocopy may not be valid.
Mobile phones and smart devices must be switched off and stored as the centre instructs; using them during the exam is treated as a serious irregularity. Confirm the centre's device policy.
Bring only permitted materials. Unauthorised notes, books or electronic aids are not allowed; confirm whether any materials (for example a dictionary) are permitted for this subject.
Write your answers legibly in the language in which the exam is delivered (Galician or Spanish), using correct musical terminology; illegible answers may not be credited.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on seating, timing and leaving the room. Confirm with the provider the rules on breaks and on leaving before the session ends.
Answer the required number of questions and respect any choice rules; extra answers outside the instructions are not scored. Check the paper's instructions carefully.
Scoring follows the official criteria for the subject; confirm the current structure and weighting with the provider, as these can change between calls.
If you arrive late or miss a session, the provider's regulations determine whether you may still sit; confirm the procedure in advance rather than assuming.