Basque PAU Artistic Drawing II exam-day guide
Basque PAU Artistic Drawing II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document required for PAU access (typically DNI, passport, or equivalent). The exact accepted documents and any photo requirements are set by your autonomous community and university - confirm with the provider before the exam.
Exam admission/registration proof and seat assignment
Print or download whatever confirmation your university issues (matrícula de pruebas de acceso, seat list, or call notice). Some centers publish lists of classrooms and seats only a day or two before - check the official portal the evening before.
Graphite pencils in several hardnesses
A practical set for an Artistic Drawing paper: at least HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B, sharpened and with spares. Bring a sharpener and a sandpaper block or cutter to keep points consistent during timed work.
Erasers and blending tools
A soft putty eraser plus a harder plastic eraser, and a tortillon or paper stump if you use blended shading. Confirm with the provider whether blending materials are allowed in your center.
Drawing supports allowed by the call
Usually paper or card is supplied by the center for the exam itself, but sketch or layout paper may be permitted. Check the official instructions for the year - do not assume.
Dry media you have rehearsed with
Charcoal, conté, or coloured pencils only if the call permits them and you have practised the full time limit with them. Never debut a new medium on exam day.
Fixative and protective cover
A workable fixative spray and a rigid folder or tube to protect finished sheets. Confirm with the provider whether aerosols are permitted inside the exam room; if not, ask about using them outside.
Board, clips, and masking tape
A lightweight drawing board or rigid support, bulldog clips, and low-tack masking tape for clean borders. Check whether the center provides easels or tables and what surface you will work on.
Analogue watch or small timer
A silent, non-smart timer to pace the timed drawing. Smartphones are typically not allowed on the desk - confirm the provider's device policy.
Clear pencil case and transparent water bottle
Many centers require transparent containers and remove labels from bottles. Verify the exact rules for your venue with the provider.
Written personal time plan
A one-page sheet with your split of the allotted time (reading, thumbnails, blocking in, development, finishing) and your standard checklist for proportion, value structure, and edges. Keep it visible but confirm that notes are allowed at your desk.
Transport and arrival logistics
Know the building, entrance, and room, plus a backup route and arrival buffer. Exact call times and access rules vary by center - confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the official call for your community: paper size, allowed media, time allotted, number of options, and whether you choose between alternatives. Write a one-page summary of the constraints so you stop guessing on the day.
Do two full timed rehearsals under exam conditions using only the media you will actually bring. Time each phase and note where you overrun. Adjust your personal time plan accordingly.
Build a small visual memory bank of subject types that commonly appear (still life objects, figure or gesture, architectural or spatial forms) and rehearse a fast thumbnail routine: three to five small compositional sketches in ten minutes.
Inventory and sharpen all materials. Replace anything worn. Test your fixative on scrap paper of the type you expect to use.
Confirm room, seat, and start time on the official portal. Check transport schedules and any strike or weather warnings. Lay out clothes and a packed bag by the door.
Do light practice only: a few ten-minute warm-up sketches to keep the hand loose. Review your checklist sheet and time plan. No new techniques, no all-nighters.
Prepare food and water for the morning, set two alarms, and sleep a full night. Fatigue shows directly in fine control and value judgement.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive with a generous buffer, and locate the room and your seat before the call time. Keep materials in the required clear case.
Do a five-minute warm-up on scrap paper - circles, straight lines, quick value scales - to settle your hand before the paper is issued.
Read every option fully before choosing. Confirm paper orientation, name and labelling requirements, and how many sheets you may submit. Write your time plan on the desk sheet.
Spend the planned short block on thumbnails and composition decisions, then commit. Block in the whole image lightly: big shapes, proportion, and placement of the main masses before any detail.
Establish the value structure and the dominant light direction. Work the whole surface rather than finishing one corner. Step back physically every so often to check proportion at a distance.
Reserve the last block for finishing: sharpen key edges, deepen the darkest accents, lift highlights, clean borders, and check the sheet against the brief. Do not start a new area you cannot finish.
Check labelling, dry or fix the work as permitted, protect it in your folder, and confirm with the invigilator how sheets are collected. Note the exact rules for submission with the provider.
Rules to check
Carry the required official ID at all times in the exam room; the accepted documents and any photo conditions are set by your community and center - confirm with the provider.
Electronic devices, including smartwatches and phones, are generally restricted during the test; the exact permitted-device list and where devices must be stored vary by center - confirm with the provider.
Use only the media, supports, and tools the official call permits for Artistic Drawing II. If a material is not mentioned in the instructions, ask an invigilator before using it rather than assuming it is allowed.
Follow the call's labelling requirements: candidate details, option chosen, and sheet numbering exactly as instructed. Unlabelled or mislabelled work may not be identifiable for marking.
Do not communicate with other candidates or exchange materials during the test. Ask invigilators for permission before leaving your seat; escorted breaks and their timing are center-specific - confirm with the provider.
Late arrival, extra time, and special-access arrangements are governed by your community's regulations and must normally be requested in advance - confirm with the provider rather than relying on being admitted late.
Scoring is carried out by the examining board against the published assessment criteria for the paper; do not expect marks for elements outside the brief. Read the weighting of composition, drawing skill, and expressive use of the medium in the official criteria.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a material problem, raise it with an invigilator immediately and follow the official incident procedure for your center - confirm the procedure with the provider.