La Rioja PAU Tech & Engineering II (UR) exam-day guide
La Rioja PAU Tech & Engineering II (UR) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document (DNI, passport, or equivalent) that you used when registering. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is valid, since invigilators can bar entry without valid ID.
Exam admission slip / registration proof
If the Universidad de La Rioja or the coordinating body issues a personalized summons or proof of registration, print it and keep it with your ID. Confirm with the provider whether it is mandatory and whether a digital copy is accepted.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers must be legible and in ink. Carry two working pens plus a spare refill so a failure mid-exam does not cost time.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for diagrams, free-body sketches, graphs, and any multiple-choice answer sheet that requires pencil. Keep them in a clear case.
Approved scientific calculator
Check the current UR/PAU rules on permitted calculator models before the exam. Programmable or graphing models may be restricted; confirm with the provider which models are allowed and whether memory must be cleared.
Geometric drawing set
Ruler, set square, protractor, and compass are commonly needed for graphics, vectors, and mechanics diagrams. Verify the exact list against the official instructions for your subject.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms may not display a visible clock. A plain analogue or digital watch helps you allocate time across sections without relying on a phone, which is not allowed at your desk.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Stay hydrated during a long paper. Confirm with the provider whether bottles are permitted and whether labels must be removed.
Transparent pencil case or bag
Many venues require see-through storage so invigilators can check materials quickly. Pack only permitted items.
Printed summary of formulas if permitted
Some engineering subjects allow a formula sheet supplied by the exam board, not your own notes. Confirm with the provider whether any personal material is allowed; assume it is not unless stated.
Know your room, seat, and arrival time
Check the venue and call time on the official summons the day before. Arrive with margin for security checks and finding the room; confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled.
Plan for phone storage
Phones must be switched off and stored away from your desk, often in a bag at the front or in a designated area. Confirm with the provider the exact rule so a ringing device does not invalidate your paper.
Plan the day
Re-read the official instructions for your subject: duration, structure, permitted materials, and calculator policy. Confirm anything unclear with the provider rather than guessing. Build a one-page list of the formulas and procedures you most often get wrong, and practise reproducing them from memory.
Do one full timed paper under exam conditions, including diagrams and units. Mark it strictly against the official criteria, then spend more time on your two weakest topics than on revising what you already know.
Review worked solutions for the problem types that recur in the engineering paper: kinematics, dynamics, energy, electrical circuits, and materials or systems questions as applicable to your syllabus. Write out the standard solution steps so you can start any problem methodically.
Check your calculator's battery and functions, test your drawing instruments, and buy spare pens. Practise the calculator operations you will need, such as angle modes, scientific notation, and statistical functions.
Confirm the venue, room, and call time, and plan the route and transport. Prepare your bag with ID, admission slip, pens, pencil, calculator, and drawing set. Lay out clothes and anything else you need.
Do light revision only: skim your formula sheet and error log. Avoid new material and avoid staying up late. Set two alarms and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, re-check your bag against the checklist, and leave earlier than the route requires. Switch your phone off before entering the building and store it as instructed.
Locate your room and seat, keep your ID and admission slip accessible for checking, and use the remaining time to settle rather than to cram new content.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note the marks per question and identify which optional questions you will answer. Write your name and candidate details exactly as instructed.
Allocate time in proportion to marks and keep to it. Start with questions you can do confidently, show every step because method marks are often awarded, and always state units and the direction of vectors.
Check that every required question is answered, that units and significant figures are consistent, and that diagrams are labelled. Correct obvious arithmetic slips, then stop writing when instructed.
Rules to check
Bring valid official photo ID and your admission slip if one is issued. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted; without acceptable ID you may be refused entry or your paper may not be identified correctly.
Phones, smartwatches, and any other electronic devices must be switched off and stored away from your desk as instructed. Confirm with the provider the exact storage rule and the consequences of a device being found on you.
Only materials explicitly permitted for your subject may be on the desk. Confirm with the provider whether a calculator, formula sheet, or drawing instruments are allowed and in what form.
Write in the language and format the paper requires, show your working, and give units. Answers without working may receive little credit even when the final value is correct.
Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need to leave the room, need more paper, or have a problem with your materials. Do not communicate with other candidates at any point during the paper.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on start and finish times exactly. Writing after the final instruction, or before the start signal, can lead to penalties; confirm with the provider how such incidents are handled.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a serious disturbance occurs, report it to the invigilator immediately and note it afterwards. Confirm with the provider the official procedure for lodging a complaint or appeal.