Madrid PAU Mathematics II exam-day guide
Madrid PAU Mathematics II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original DNI/NIE or passport you registered with; a photocopy is usually not accepted. Confirm with your school or the Universidad Complutense/your assigned university whether a specific document is required for your call.
Exam call (citación) and seat assignment
Print or save the notice showing your assigned building, room, and reporting time. Access to the classroom is typically closed once the exam begins, so arrive ahead of the stated call time. Confirm the exact reporting time with your centre.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (two or more)
Answers are handwritten. Carry spares; pencil is generally only for rough work, and work in pencil may not be marked. Confirm any pen-colour instruction with the invigilator.
Pencil, eraser, and a small sharpener
Useful for graphs, sketches, and corrections. Keep rough work clearly separated from final answers.
Ruler and, if permitted, a set square/compass
Geometry and graphing questions benefit from a ruler. Confirm with the provider whether drawing instruments and a compass are allowed in your room.
Approved calculator
The permitted model depends on the regulations in force for your call and the Comunidad de Madrid/your university. Confirm with the provider which calculators are allowed; do not assume a graphical or programmable model is accepted.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Phones must be off and stored away, so a simple watch helps you manage time. Smart watches are normally prohibited.
Clear water bottle, no label
Stay hydrated during a long paper. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk in your room.
Know the syllabus structure and weighting
Mathematics II is organised into blocks (algebra/matrices, geometry, analysis, probability/statistics). Know which options your exam offers and which questions you plan to attempt.
One-page formula and method sheet
Prepare your own summary: derivative and integral rules, matrix operations, distances and angles, normal/binomial distributions. Review it, then leave it at home - notes are not allowed in the exam.
Practise full papers under timed conditions
Do at least two complete past-paper-style sittings of the full duration with no notes, so you know your pace and which questions to skip.
Travel and contingency plan
Check the route, transport disruptions, and the building entrance the day before. Carry a charged phone for logistics only, kept switched off during the exam.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your formula sheet and go through your error log, redoing the types of question you got wrong. Confirm the exam venue, room, reporting time, and permitted calculator with your centre.
Do one full timed paper under exam conditions, then mark it strictly against the official marking criteria. Note where you lost method marks (missing justification, units, concluding sentence) rather than only wrong answers.
Light review only: skim the formula sheet and the structure of each block. Prepare your ID, pens, calculator, and printed call notice in one bag. Check transport times. Sleep at your normal hour; do not cram past midnight.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive at the venue well before the call time, allowing a margin for queues and ID checks. Leave notes at home. Switch your phone off before entering the room.
Read the whole paper before writing. Identify the optional questions and choose your set deliberately, favouring questions you can finish fully over ones you merely recognise.
Allocate time per question in proportion to its marks, and keep a reserve of about 10-15 minutes. If a question stalls, leave space, move on, and return. Write clearly and number answers to match the paper.
Show method: set up the equation, state the theorem or criterion used, and finish with a clear concluding sentence. In geometry, state the vectors/points you use; in probability, define the variable and distribution. Watch signs, units, and rounding.
Check that every chosen question is answered, that no answer is left in pencil-only rough form, and that arithmetic in the final line is correct. Correct obvious slips rather than starting new work.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID you registered with and place it on the desk if asked. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted for your call.
Phones and smart devices must be switched off and stored out of reach. A device found on you during the exam may lead to disqualification; confirm the exact rule with the invigilator.
Write in the language of instruction of your exam and follow the paper's instructions on which questions are compulsory and which are optional. Confirm with the provider whether answering extra optional questions affects scoring.
Only permitted calculators and instruments may be used. Confirm with the provider the approved calculator list and whether any memory must be cleared.
Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need to leave the room; exam time is generally not extended. Confirm the break and toilet policy with the provider.
Scoring follows the official marking criteria: method and justification earn marks even when the final number is wrong, so show your working and state conclusions explicitly.
Do not communicate with other candidates or share materials during the exam. Suspected irregularity is handled under the university's examination regulations.
If you believe there is an error in a question, answer it as best you can and note your reasoning; ask the invigilator about the procedure for raising an incident. Confirm the appeals process with the provider.