Madrid PAU Applied Mathematics for Social Sciences II exam-day guide
Madrid PAU Applied Mathematics for Social Sciences II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original national ID card, passport, or the document the call/convocation specifies. Photocopies are normally not accepted. Confirm with your school or the Universidad Complutense/Comunidad de Madrid coordination which document is valid for your case, since rules for candidates without DNI can differ.
Exam call document (resguardo/citación)
Print or download the individual convocation showing your name, exam site, date, time, and the subjects you are registered for. You usually need it to find your assigned classroom and to check in. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Blue or black pens (two or more)
Write with blue or black ink. Bring at least two working pens plus a spare; pencil is normally for scratch work or graphs only. Confirm with the provider whether a specific ink colour is mandated.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Needed for graphs, sketches, and rough work. Keep them in a clear pencil case.
Ruler and, if allowed, set square/protractor
Useful for drawing axes and geometric figures neatly. Confirm with the provider which drawing instruments are permitted in the exam room.
Approved calculator
The Madrid PAU for Applied Mathematics to Social Sciences generally permits a non-programmable, non-graphing scientific calculator, but the exact model restrictions are set each year by the coordinating commission. Check the official instructions and confirm with the provider; bring a model you have practised with and fresh batteries.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Many rooms have a clock, but not always visible from every seat. Smartwatches and phones are not allowed as timekeepers. Confirm with the provider whether any watch is restricted.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Some centres require transparent containers so invigilators can check contents quickly. Confirm with the provider.
Water in a clear bottle, labels removed
Stay hydrated during a long exam. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at your site.
No phone or smart devices at your desk
Leave phones switched off and stored as instructed, ideally not brought at all. Possession at the desk can lead to annulment of the exam. Confirm with the provider the exact storage rule.
Know your exam site and route
Locate the faculty or school building, the entrance, and the room assignment in advance. Arrive with margin for transport delays; late-entry rules are set by the centre, so confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled.
Review the official exam structure and scoring
Re-read the current-year instructions for Applied Mathematics II: number of questions, choice options, and how each block is scored. Confirm with the provider or your teacher that you are using the current model, since the format can change between years.
Plan the day
Stop learning new theory. Do one full past paper under timed conditions (the official duration for your exam), then mark it strictly against the official solutions. List every error by topic: matrices and systems, determinants, linear programming, limits and continuity, derivatives, integrals, probability, and statistics. Spend the remaining time only on your three weakest topics.
Write a one-page formula and method sheet in your own hand: inverse of a 2x2 and 3x3 matrix, Rouché–Capelli criteria for systems, determinant properties, the simplex/vertex method for linear programming, derivative rules, integration by parts and substitution, the fundamental theorem of calculus, area between curves, conditional probability, Bayes, binomial and normal distributions, and standardisation z = (x - μ)/σ. Use it for revision, not in the exam room.
Do a second timed paper, focusing on the question types you will choose. Practise deciding quickly which optional questions to answer, and rehearse writing full solutions with clear notation, since method marks depend on visible steps, not just final answers.
Light review only: reread your formula sheet and the worked errors from your two papers. Do not start a new topic. Check your calculator works, has fresh batteries, and that you know how to use its statistical and matrix functions if it has them.
Prepare your bag: ID, convocation, pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, approved calculator, watch, clear pencil case, water. Set out clothes and confirm the exam site, room, and start time. Sleep a full night; do not study past late evening.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the site with generous margin, typically well before the call time, because check-in and room-finding take time. Keep your phone off and stored. Skim only your formula sheet; do not attempt new problems.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note how many questions are compulsory and how many you may choose, and the marks per block. Plan roughly one to two minutes per mark and reserve the last ten to fifteen minutes for checking.
Start with the questions you are most confident in to bank marks. Show every step: set up systems, state the method, and give the final answer clearly, e.g. boxed or underlined. In linear programming, identify the feasible region, evaluate the objective at each vertex, and state the optimum with its coordinates. In probability, define events and state the formula before substituting.
Check that every chosen question is answered, that units and signs are correct, that integrals include the constant or the evaluation limits as required, and that you have not left answers only in rough work. Make sure your name and details are on every sheet as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring original identification and your convocation; follow the check-in instructions of the invigilators. If you lack the usual ID, ask in advance what alternative is accepted - confirm with the provider.
Phones and smart devices must be switched off and stored as directed, never at your desk. Unauthorised devices or materials can lead to the exam being annulled; confirm with the provider the exact consequences and storage rules.
Only permitted material may be on your desk: pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, approved calculator, and your ID/convocation. Anything else, including notes or a phone, is prohibited. Confirm with the provider the permitted calculator models and instruments.
Once the exam starts, you generally may not leave the room during the early part of the session, and leaving may end your exam. Ask invigilators before the start if you need to leave; confirm with the provider the exact rules on leaving and re-entry.
Follow the paper's instructions on compulsory and optional questions and on how answers must be presented. Answers without working may receive little credit, and answering more questions than allowed may not earn extra marks. Confirm with the provider the current scoring rules.
Write legibly and identify every sheet as instructed. Work in the language the exam is delivered in, keeping standard technical terms in English where normal.
Any suspected irregularity is handled under the official PAU regulations, and results and review/appeal procedures follow the published calendar. Confirm with the provider the deadlines and the procedure for requesting a review of your marks.