Madrid PAU German (Alemán II) (Spain Madrid PAU) exam-day guide
Madrid PAU German (Alemán II) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport
Bring the original photo ID you used when registering. The exact ID document accepted is set by the university administering the PAU; confirm with the provider which documents are valid and whether a copy is acceptable.
Exam admission slip / registration confirmation
Print or download whatever proof of registration your university or the Madrid PAU portal issues. The exact name and format of this document varies by convocatoria; confirm with the provider what you must show at the door.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Write the whole paper in ink. Bring spares; a failing pen mid-essay costs time you cannot recover.
Pencil and eraser
Useful for rough notes, planning essay outlines and marking multiple-choice answers before committing them in ink.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A plain analogue or digital watch without connectivity is the safe choice; smartwatches are normally prohibited.
Clear water bottle, label removed
Staying hydrated helps in a long sitting. Removing the label avoids any accusation of concealed notes.
Know the exact room and building
Madrid PAU venues are large faculties with several entrances and multiple exam rooms. Check your assigned seat/room the day before and plan the route to the correct door, not just the campus.
Confirm the start time and arrival margin
Arrival cut-offs and whether late candidates are admitted are set by the administering centre. Confirm with the provider how early you must be there and what happens if you are delayed.
Check which dictionary, if any, is allowed
Monolingual and bilingual dictionary policies for the German paper differ between autonomous communities and can change between years. Confirm with the provider before assuming you may bring one.
Leave phone and smart devices at home or switched off in your bag
Any device that can connect or store information is a risk. If you must carry a phone, keep it powered off and out of reach for the whole session.
Review the official paper structure and mark allocation
Know the sections (typically reading comprehension, lexis/grammar use, and written production), how many marks each carries and whether there are optional questions. Confirm the current structure with the provider.
Plan your transport and a backup
Madrid traffic and Metro incidents are real risks in June and September. Identify an alternative route and aim to arrive well before the doors open.
Plan the day
Do one full timed simulation of the German paper under exam conditions: no dictionary unless you have confirmed it is allowed, no phone, strict timing. Then mark it honestly and list the three task types where you lost the most marks.
Re-read the official instructions and mark scheme for the written production task. Note the expected word count, the register required (formal letter, informal email, opinion text, etc.) and the criteria usually rewarded: task achievement, coherence, range and accuracy.
Build a one-page revision sheet: connectors (jedoch, obwohl, deshalb, einerseits/andererseits), subordinate-clause word order, passive and Konjunktiv II forms for polite requests, and 15-20 topic vocabulary items you keep getting wrong.
Confirm logistics: exact venue, room, start time, ID requirements and dictionary policy with the provider. Do not leave this to the last day.
Do light revision only: read your one-page sheet, skim two model written responses for structure, and practise two short reading passages to keep the language active. No new grammar topics.
Prepare your bag: ID, admission document, two pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water. Lay clothes out. Charge nothing you are not allowed to bring; leave the phone plan to the morning.
Check the route and travel time, including the walk from the Metro or car park to the correct building. Set two alarms. Sleep a full night; a rested brain outperforms a last-hour cram.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive early, and avoid group discussions about content right before the doors open; last-minute panic rarely adds marks. Keep your notes in your bag, not in your hands, once inside the building.
Read the whole paper before writing. Identify the optional questions, note the marks per section and allocate time proportionally, reserving a fixed block (usually the largest single block) for the written production and a few minutes to proofread.
Answer the questions you are sure of first, then return to the harder items. For gap-fill and transformation items, check the grammatical context (case, tense, agreement) rather than relying on meaning alone.
Spend two to three minutes planning: recipient, register, three or four content points, and the connectors you will use. Write to the required length, then reread specifically for verb position in subordinate clauses, adjective endings and capitalization of nouns.
Proofread the written task and check that every answer is transferred to the official answer sheet in the required format (ink, correct box, no stray marks). Make sure your name and identifying details are filled in as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID document you registered with and keep it on the desk if instructed. The list of accepted documents and whether expired ID is valid is set by the administering body; confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on when you may open the paper, write, and leave. Do not start writing before the signal, and stop immediately when time is called; continuing to write can be treated as misconduct.
Phones and any smart or connected devices must be switched off and stored out of reach as the centre directs. A device sounding or being visible during the session can lead to annulment of your paper; confirm the centre's specific policy with the provider.
Only materials expressly permitted for the German paper may be on your desk. Whether a dictionary is allowed, and of what type, is a policy you must confirm with the provider before exam day.
Write your answers in the format and place the paper requires (usually ink on the official answer sheet). Answers written in pencil or in the wrong section may not be marked.
If you need to leave the room (toilet, illness), raise your hand and wait to be accompanied. Leaving without permission, or taking any exam material out of the room, is normally prohibited; the exact rules are set by the centre.
Scoring is anonymous and based only on what is written on your answer sheet. Do not write your name or any identifying mark inside the answer space unless the paper explicitly instructs it.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a disturbance in the room, report it to the invigilator immediately and note the time; complaints raised after the session are harder to uphold. The formal appeals procedure should be confirmed with the provider.