Balearic Islands PAU History of Spain exam-day guide
Balearic Islands PAU History of Spain · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your exam venue, date, session and seat assignment
Your school or the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) coordinates the PAU call. Check the official UIB PAU web page and any notice from your centre for the exact building, room and start time; venues can change between the ordinary (June) and extraordinary (July) calls. If anything is unclear, confirm with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
Bring your DNI or an equivalent official photo ID
You must identify yourself at the start of each session. Bring the original document (DNI, passport or residence card), not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. If your document is expired or being renewed, confirm with the provider in advance which alternative proof is accepted.
Bring your exam registration receipt or proof of enrolment
Keep the receipt from the enrolment process (matrícula) and the list of subjects you registered for. Some centres ask to see it at the door or when signing the attendance sheet. Keep it in the same folder as your ID so you do not have to search for it.
Carry several blue or black pens and a spare
Written answers must be legible and in ink. Bring at least three pens of the same colour, plus a pencil and eraser for rough work. Do not write final answers in pencil or in a colour that could be hard to scan or photocopy.
Bring a watch that is not a smart device
Exam rooms may not have a clearly visible clock, and phones must be switched off and put away. A simple analogue or digital wristwatch lets you manage the time for each block of the paper. Smartwatches are treated as electronic devices and should be left at home.
Leave phones and smart devices switched off and out of reach
Switch off your mobile before entering the room and store it in your bag, not in a pocket. A device that rings, vibrates or is visible during the exam can be treated as a disciplinary matter. Confirm with the provider how devices are handled at your venue.
Know which optional subjects you are sitting and in what order
The PAU is organised in sessions; the History of Spain paper belongs to the common block. Write down your personal timetable with room numbers and the exact time of each paper, and check it the night before. If the timetable you have differs from the official one, confirm with the provider.
Check the permitted materials for the History of Spain paper
The History of Spain exam is normally answered without calculators, dictionaries or notes. Confirm on the official instructions for your call whether any support material is allowed, and do not bring unauthorised material into the room.
Plan your journey and arrive early
Aim to be at the venue well before the call time, allowing for traffic, parking and finding the room. Late arrival rules are set by the organising centre; if you expect a delay, contact your centre immediately and confirm with the provider what happens.
Eat and hydrate before the session
Sessions can be long and papers may be scheduled back to back. Have a proper meal beforehand and bring a small bottle of water if the venue allows it. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are permitted in the exam room.
Prepare a small clear bag with the essentials
ID, enrolment receipt, pens, pencil, eraser, watch and water in one place. A single small bag makes the security check quick and reduces the risk of leaving something behind between sessions.
Review the exam structure, not new content, the day before
Reread the format of the History of Spain paper: the source-based question, the short-answer or definition questions and the essay question, together with how marks are distributed. Knowing the structure lets you allocate time on the day. Confirm the exact structure for your call with the provider or your teacher, as formats can be adjusted between years.
Plan the day
Finish your content revision and switch to practice. Write at least one full History of Spain paper under timed conditions, using the same structure you expect on the day: source analysis, short definitions and the essay. Mark it against the assessment criteria and list the two or three topics where you lose most marks. Spend the remaining time only on those weak areas, using your own summaries and the official curriculum (the historical periods set for the course).
Assemble your documents and materials. Put your DNI, enrolment receipt and pens in one place. Check the official UIB PAU page and your centre's notices for the final timetable, room list and any instructions about permitted materials. If anything is missing or contradictory, contact your centre now rather than on the morning of the exam.
Do a light review only: key dates, the main periods, and the vocabulary you need for source analysis (author, nature, date, context, purpose). Do not start new topics. Prepare your clothes, bag and transport plan, set two alarms, and go to bed at a normal time. Confirm the start time and room one last time.
Have breakfast, take your clear bag with ID, receipt, pens and watch, and arrive at the venue early. Switch off your phone before entering the building. Find your room and check the seating or attendance list. Keep calm and avoid last-minute group revision of uncertain facts, which tends to create doubt rather than confidence.
Read the whole paper before writing. Check how many questions there are, whether there are options to choose from, and the mark allocation. Read the instructions twice, including any requirement about answering in a specific order or on a separate sheet. Fill in your personal details as instructed and ask the invigilator if a page is missing or unclear.
Divide the available time according to the marks, and keep a few minutes at the end to review. For the source question, identify the type of source, its author and date, its context and purpose, and connect it to the historical period. For short answers, be precise and use the correct terminology. For the essay, write a short plan first, then an introduction, structured paragraphs with evidence and a conclusion that answers the question directly. Write legibly and number your answers clearly.
Check that every required question is answered, that your name and details are correct and that you have not left loose papers inside the answer booklet. Hand in your paper as instructed and take your belongings. Between sessions, avoid comparing answers in detail; focus on the next paper. Keep your enrolment receipt until results are published, and note the dates for review or appeal of marks, confirming them with the provider.
Rules to check
Identification is compulsory. Carry your original DNI, passport or residence card to every session and present it when asked. If your document is expired or being renewed, confirm with the provider before the exam which alternative is accepted; do not assume a photocopy will be enough.
Electronic devices must be switched off and stored away. Phones, smartwatches, earphones and similar devices may not be used or kept visible during the exam. Bringing unauthorised material into the room can lead to the invalidation of your paper or disciplinary action, so confirm with the provider how devices are handled at your venue.
Follow the invigilators' instructions at all times. Do not start writing before you are told to, do not continue after the end is announced, and do not communicate with other candidates during the session. Raise your hand if you need to speak to an invigilator.
Leaving the room before the minimum time set by the organising centre is normally not allowed, and once you leave you may not return until the session ends. The exact rules on breaks and early exit are set by the centre; confirm with the provider if you have a medical or other need that requires special arrangements.
Answer in the language and on the answer sheets specified in the instructions. Write legibly, number your answers and do not write in the margins reserved for the examiners. Work that cannot be read or attributed may not be marked.
Marking follows the official assessment criteria and weightings for the subject, published with the curriculum. The final PAU grade combines your school assessment with the results of the general and, where applicable, specific papers; the exact weighting and calculation are set by the university and should be confirmed with the provider or your school.
Requests for review or appeal of marks, and any special accommodation (for example for a documented disability or medical condition), must be requested through the official procedure and within the published deadlines. Confirm the deadlines and the procedure with the provider; they are not handled informally at the exam venue.