Madrid PAU Technical Drawing Applied to Arts and Design II
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Dibujo Técnico Aplicado a las Artes y al Diseño II is the second-year technical drawing subject in the Madrid Bachillerato arts pathway, and its PAU/EVAU exam is the one candidates sit when they need this subject in their university access phase. It is aimed at students heading toward design, architecture-related foundations, illustration, scenography or product development, and at anyone who wants a drawing-based subject to raise or secure their access mark. The paper is graphical rather than essayistic: you choose between two options and solve construction problems on paper with instruments, so accuracy, line quality and correct labelling carry as much weight as the idea. Content runs from plane geometry, transformations, tangencies and conics through descriptive geometry, polyhedra, orthographic projection with dimensioning and standardisation, axonometric and perspective representation, and design-project sketching. Preparation is best built as a weekly routine: redraw classic constructions from memory until the steps are automatic, keep a clean instrument kit, practise timing whole options under exam conditions, and get your work marked against the official criteria rather than by eye. The Comunidad de Madrid publishes the current syllabus, model papers and scoring guidance, so always check its site for the exact structure and conditions of your sitting.
What you'll study
About Madrid PAU Technical Drawing Applied to Arts and Design II preparation
What exactly does the exam ask me to do?
You pick option A or B and then solve graphical problems on paper: constructions, tangencies, conics, descriptive-geometry exercises, volume representation and standardised views. Answers are judged on construction accuracy, correct use of instruments, line hierarchy and labelling, so a right result drawn sloppily still loses marks.
How long is the exam and how many questions are there?
The Comunidad de Madrid sets and publishes the current structure, duration and scoring for each sitting, and these can change between years. Do not rely on what an older student tells you. Download the model paper and criteria for your year from the official Madrid education site.
How hard is it compared with the first-year subject?
It is noticeably harder because descriptive geometry and perspective demand spatial reasoning rather than flat construction. Most candidates find dihedral projection and shadow or intersection problems the steepest part. The plane-geometry block is largely consolidation, so it is where you can bank reliable marks early.
Can I retake it if I do badly?
Yes, the PAU/EVAU can be sat again in later calls, and the subject can also be used in the specific phase to improve your access mark. The number of calls, deadlines and any rules about using the best grade are set by the official bodies, so confirm the current conditions on their sites before planning.
What should I study first?
Start with plane geometry and tangencies, because the same construction habits recur everywhere. Then move to conics, then descriptive geometry, then polyhedra and standardised views, and finish with axonometry and perspective. Practise design sketching throughout rather than leaving it to the last weeks.
Why do candidates lose marks even when the answer looks right?
Common causes are faint or doubled lines, missing auxiliary constructions, unmarked tangency points, no lettering on projections, wrong line thickness between visible and hidden edges, and constructions that are geometrically approximate rather than exact. Examiners reward a traceable, clean construction process, not just a final shape.
Do I need special equipment?
A good compass with a fine lead, two set squares, a rigid ruler, a 2H or HB pencil, a soft eraser and a sharpener are the basics. Bring spare leads and a second pencil. Some candidates use a fine-liner for final lines; check that whatever you use scans and photographs clearly if your centre requires that.
How should I practise in the final weeks?
Work in timed blocks on complete options rather than isolated exercises, so you learn to allocate minutes and decide when to abandon a construction. Keep an error log of every mark you lose and its cause. Redraw the same exercise a week later without looking at the solution to confirm it has stuck.
Is this subject useful for my degree plans?
It suits design, interior or product design, architecture-adjacent studies, illustration and scenography, and it signals graphical competence on a portfolio or interview. Check each university's weighting for the subject in the specific phase, since the admissible subjects and coefficients vary by degree and campus.