Balearic Islands PAU Chemistry / Química 2º Bachillerato UIB exam-day guide
Balearic Islands PAU Chemistry / Química 2º Bachillerato UIB · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport
Bring your original official photo ID (DNI, passport, or equivalent). Confirm with your centre or the UIB which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is ever valid; do not rely on a copy.
Exam venue and session confirmation
Check your assigned building, room, and call time on the official UIB PAU schedule or your centre's notice board. Arrive early; access to the room usually closes once the exam has started. Confirm the exact cut-off time with the provider.
Printed or downloaded exam timetable
Know the order of your exams and the exact start and end times for Química, including whether it is a morning or afternoon session. Write down room changes in advance.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Use ink, not pencil, for answers and for the answer sheet if one is used. Bring spares; a leaking pen mid-exam is avoidable stress.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for rough work and for any multiple-choice or grid answer sheet. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is permitted on the official answer sheet or only for drafts.
Scientific calculator
A non-programmable scientific calculator is normally expected in Química. Confirm with the provider which models are allowed and whether programmable or graphing calculators are banned; do not assume.
Watch (non-smart)
Exam rooms may not have a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch helps you manage the 90-minute paper. Smart watches and phones are not allowed at the desk.
Clear water bottle and light snack
Stay hydrated and eat something before a long session. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the exam room; some centres restrict this.
Periodic table and constants
Check whether the exam paper includes a periodic table and a data sheet, or whether you must bring your own. Confirm with the provider; do not assume either way.
Phone switched off and stored
Leave your phone switched off and outside the desk area, in a bag at the front or as instructed. Any device at the desk can be treated as misconduct.
Review formula sheet and key constants
The night before, reread the formulas you tend to forget: ideal gas law, equilibrium, pH, Nernst, rate laws, thermochemistry, and stoichiometry. Write them from memory once.
Plan your answer strategy
Decide in advance how many minutes to spend per section and in what order you will answer. Practise a full past paper under timed conditions before the exam.
Plan the day
Do a final pass over the syllabus: atomic structure, bonding, equilibrium, acid-base, redox and electrochemistry, kinetics, thermochemistry, and organic chemistry. For each topic, write a one-page summary of definitions, formulas, and units. Identify your two weakest topics and do focused exercises on them rather than rereading everything.
Complete at least one full past paper under timed conditions, using the same calculator and materials you will bring. Mark it strictly against the official criteria and note where you lost points: units, significant figures, unbalanced equations, missing states of matter, or unclear reasoning.
Prepare your exam kit: ID, pens, pencil, eraser, calculator with fresh batteries, watch, water. Put everything in one bag so nothing is left to the morning.
Review your one-page summaries and formula list only. Do not start new topics. Reread the common traps: not balancing equations, forgetting to state units, confusing oxidation and reduction, misusing significant figures, and not answering the question asked.
Check the venue, transport, and call time one last time. Set two alarms. Sleep a full night; cramming past midnight costs more than it gains.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the venue with time to spare. Leave your phone switched off and stored. Go to the toilet before entering the room. Have your ID ready for inspection.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note the marks per question and allocate time proportionally, leaving about 10 minutes at the end to check. Write your name and details exactly as instructed. Start with questions you can answer confidently to build momentum.
Show your working: method marks are awarded even when the final number is wrong. Always include units and significant figures. Balance every equation and include states where relevant. If you get stuck, move on and return later. Cross out rough work clearly so it is not marked.
Check that every question has been attempted, that units and signs are correct, and that numerical answers are plausible. Make sure your answer sheet or booklet is complete and correctly identified before time is called.
Rules to check
Bring original official photo ID and place it on the desk for inspection. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted; a photocopy is generally not sufficient.
Arrive before the call time. Access to the exam room is normally refused once the exam has started, and no extra time is given for lateness. Confirm the exact cut-off with the provider.
Phones, smart watches, and any programmable or graphing calculator must be switched off and stored away from the desk unless explicitly permitted. Using them can be treated as academic misconduct.
Write in blue or black ink unless the instructions say otherwise. Use pencil only for rough work or where the answer sheet requires it.
You may normally leave the room only in exceptional circumstances and under supervision; confirm the provider's policy on toilet breaks and early departure.
Answers must be your own. Any attempt to copy, communicate with another candidate, or use unauthorised material can lead to disqualification from the exam.
Show working and include units and significant figures. Marks are awarded for method as well as final answers, and an unsupported number may score zero.
Scoring and grading boundaries are set by the official PAU authorities for your region. Do not rely on rumoured cut-offs; confirm the official criteria with the provider.