PAU General Sciences (La Rioja) exam-day guide
PAU General Sciences (La Rioja) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID (DNI, passport, or equivalent)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. The name must match your registration exactly. For which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider (Universidad de La Rioja / PAU coordination) before exam day.
Exam admission slip or registration confirmation
Print or download whatever proof of registration your call or regional instructions require, and check your assigned site, room, and timetable on it. Whether a printed copy is mandatory varies, so confirm with the provider.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two) plus a pencil and eraser
Multiple-choice answer sheets are usually marked with pen and corrected with eraser only if the instructions allow it; essay answers should be in blue or black ink. Bring spares so a failing pen does not cost you time.
Approved calculator for science subjects
Check the current year's rules on which calculator models are permitted for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology; programmable or graphing models are often restricted. Confirm the exact model policy with the provider, and do not rely on a classmate's calculator.
Ruler, set square, and protractor for Physics, Mathematics, and Technical Drawing
Graph work and vector diagrams are easier and neater with proper instruments. A clear plastic ruler also helps when reading scales on graphs.
Analog watch (no smartwatch)
Phones and smartwatches are typically collected or banned at the desk, so a plain analog watch lets you pace yourself without touching a prohibited device. Check whether the room has a visible clock.
Clear water bottle with the label removed
Staying hydrated helps during long sittings. Labels and opaque containers are often disallowed; confirm the site's rules on drinks and snacks.
Small transparent bag for permitted items
Many sites require all materials to be visible on the desk in a clear bag or pencil case. Keep only what is allowed inside it.
Know your exact site, room, and arrival time
Rehearse the route in advance and add a buffer for transport delays. Arrive earlier than the stated call time, since access may close once the exam begins. Confirm the official arrival time with the provider.
Read the current year's official instructions for your autonomous community
Rules on calculators, mobile phones, late arrival, and answer-sheet format change between years. Download the current call document and read the conduct section in full.
Plan food, medication, and rest for a long day
If you take regular medication or need to eat between sessions, check in advance how the site handles this and whether you must declare it. Confirm with the provider.
Leave prohibited devices at home or switched off and stored away
Even an idle phone found on you during the exam can be treated as a serious irregularity. The safest option is not to bring it into the room at all.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content and switch to consolidation. Rework your summary sheets for each science subject, focusing on formulas, units, and the recurring question types you got wrong in practice. Do one timed section per subject rather than full papers, and check the official instructions again for calculator and material rules. Prepare your documents and materials early so nothing depends on the last morning.
Do a final pass over the highest-yield items: constants and units in Physics and Chemistry, key definitions in Biology, and standard procedures in Mathematics. Practise reading graphs and writing answers in the required format, including showing working where marks depend on it. Confirm transport, site, and room details, and tell someone your schedule.
Keep the day light. Review only your own summary sheets, pack the transparent bag with ID, admission slip, pens, pencil, eraser, calculator, and instruments, and lay out clothes. Check the exam timetable and set two alarms. Sleep at your normal time; a late cramming session costs more in concentration than it gains in marks.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive at the site with a generous buffer. Keep your phone switched off and out of the exam room from the start. Once seated, fill in identification fields carefully, read the cover instructions, and note the total time and the mark allocation before writing anything.
Scan the whole paper and mark questions as easy, medium, or hard. Budget time per section according to marks, not question count, and leave a few minutes at the end for checking. Start with questions you can answer confidently to build momentum.
Show working in science problems, keep units consistent, and sanity-check numerical answers for magnitude and sign. If a question stalls you, move on and return later. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints, and transfer multiple-choice answers to the official sheet as you go rather than in a final rush.
Check that every answer is on the official sheet, that identification fields are complete, and that you have not left stray marks that could be misread. Hand in materials as instructed and take your belongings with you. Between sessions, avoid comparing answers in detail; focus on the next paper instead.
Rules to check
Bring original official photo ID and keep it visible on the desk if instructed. If your document is lost or expired, contact the provider immediately; do not assume a substitute will be accepted.
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and any device with connectivity must be switched off and stored as the site requires, or left outside the room. Possession during the exam can be treated as an irregularity regardless of whether you used it.
Only permitted materials may be on the desk: pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, and, where allowed, an approved calculator. Confirm the current calculator policy with the provider before the exam.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on timing, starting and stopping, and leaving the room. Do not begin writing before the signal or continue after it; both can invalidate part of your paper.
If you need to leave the room for a genuine emergency, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator. Whether you may be accompanied or allowed to return is set by the site; confirm the specific procedure with the provider.
Any communication with other candidates during the exam, or looking at another candidate's paper, is an irregularity and can lead to annulment of the subject or the whole exam. Keep your eyes on your own work.
Scoring and the structure of the exam (number of questions, weighting, and duration) follow the current official call for your autonomous community. Read the cover page carefully and confirm any detail you are unsure of with the provider.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a problem with the room, report it to the invigilators at the time and follow the official claims procedure; do not rely on informal channels afterwards.