La Rioja PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression (UR) exam-day guide
La Rioja PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression (UR) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the same photo ID you used at registration (DNI, passport, or residence card for most Spanish university access procedures). Check that it has not expired. If you registered with a different document, confirm with the Universidad de La Rioja which ID they expect on the day.
Exam venue and session confirmation
Print or save the call/assignment showing your room, building, and start time for the Expresión Gráfico-Plástica paper. UR publishes the calendar and classroom assignments before the PAU phase; verify the exact room because arts practicals are often moved to a drawing studio rather than a lecture hall. If the room is not published, confirm with the provider.
Admission card or proof of registration
Some autonomous communities require the tarjeta de acceso or a printed proof of the PAU registration at the door. UR's specific requirement should be confirmed with the provider; carry a printed copy regardless.
Your own drawing materials
Bring the media you have trained with: graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B), erasers (soft and kneaded), sharpener or cutter, ruler, set square, compass, and blending stumps if you use them. The exam normally expects you to supply your own materials; do not rely on borrowing.
Colour media if the paper allows it
If you plan to work in colour, bring coloured pencils, pastels, or gouache plus the brushes and water container they need. Confirm in the official instructions which techniques the Expresión Gráfico-Plástica paper permits; if the instructions are ambiguous, ask the provider before the day.
Support and board
A rigid support or clipboard and a drawing board help when the desk is small. Check whether the venue supplies easels or boards; if not stated, bring your own lightweight board and clips.
Watch or small clock
Phones are usually collected or switched off, so bring a simple wristwatch to manage the timed practical. Confirm whether phones must be handed in at UR; assume they may be.
Clear water bottle and snack
Practical papers can run long. Bring water in a transparent bottle and a quick snack for before or after the session, subject to the venue's rules on food in the room.
Layer clothing
Drawing studios can be cold or poorly ventilated. Dress in layers you can remove without disturbing others.
No pre-drawn or reference material
Do not bring finished drawings, photocopied references, or pre-ruled supports if the instructions forbid them. Check the call for what counts as prohibited material; if unsure, confirm with the provider.
Review the scoring criteria
Before the day, reread the official descriptors for the paper: composition, use of technique, expressive quality, and originality are typically weighted. Knowing the weights tells you where to spend effort.
Plan the journey and arrival buffer
Arrive well before the start time; late entry rules vary. Check transport to the UR campus and add at least 30 minutes of buffer.
Plan the day
Do timed full rehearsals under exam conditions: one complete practical in the likely format (for example, a still life or a composition from a stated brief) using only the materials you will bring. Time yourself against the official duration and stop exactly at the limit. Afterwards, mark your own work against the published criteria and list the two weakest areas.
Prepare your kit physically: sharpen pencils, test erasers and blending tools, cut paper to the required size if you supply it, and pack everything in one bag. Replace anything that fails. Do not introduce new media or a new technique at this stage.
Reread the official exam instructions and the UR calendar. Note the start time, room, permitted techniques, and any material restrictions. Write a one-page summary of the brief format you expect so you can recall it quickly.
Practise two or three short composition thumbnails (10-15 minutes each) so you can plan a layout fast on the day. Decide in advance how you will allocate time: reading the brief, thumbnails, blocking in, developing, and finishing.
Do a light session only: one or two 20-minute sketches to keep your hand warm. Stop early. Review your checklist of materials and lay everything out by the door.
Confirm transport and the room assignment, set an alarm with a backup, and eat and sleep normally. Avoid cramming new theory or a new medium the night before.
Eat a proper breakfast, pack the bag from the checklist, and leave with a buffer. Carry your ID and registration proof where you can reach them immediately.
On arrival, find the room and check the seating and any posted instructions. Set out your materials before the start so no time is lost once the paper begins.
First 5-10 minutes: read the brief fully, note what is required (subject, technique, format, any mandatory elements), and decide your composition. Do not start drawing before you understand the constraints.
Next 10-15 minutes: make two or three small thumbnails and choose one. Fix the main masses and the focal point before adding detail.
Middle block: block in the whole composition, then develop the focal area and the values or colour relationships. Keep stepping back to check proportion and balance.
Final 15-20 minutes: stop adding new elements. Refine edges, strengthen contrast where needed, clean up smudges, and check the work against the brief. Reserve time to label or sign the work if the instructions require it, and to hand it in correctly.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID and your registration proof; without them you may be refused entry. The exact ID rule for UR should be confirmed with the provider before the day.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on phones and smart devices. Assume phones must be switched off and stored away; using one during the paper is normally treated as a serious irregularity.
Work only with the techniques and materials the paper permits. If you are unsure whether a medium or a pre-prepared support is allowed, ask the invigilator before the start rather than risk disqualification.
Do not bring finished work, traced references, or notes into the room. The practical must be produced during the session; presenting pre-made work is an irregularity.
Respect the time limit. Work is collected at the stated end time; continuing to draw after the stop instruction can invalidate your paper.
Breaks and leaving the room are at the invigilator's discretion; confirm the venue's policy, as some sessions do not allow exit during the paper.
Scoring is based on the published criteria for Expresión Gráfico-Plástica, typically covering composition, technical execution, expressive use of the medium, and originality. Read the official descriptors so you know what is rewarded.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with materials, raise it with the invigilator immediately and follow the official incident procedure; confirm the appeal route with the provider afterwards.