Basque PAU Biology exam-day guide
Basque PAU Biology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
DNI or passport (original, valid)
Bring your official photo ID. The exact ID documents accepted and whether a photocopy is allowed vary by call and centre, so confirm the accepted list with the Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU) or your examination centre before the exam. Do not rely on a digital copy.
Exam admission/registration confirmation and call letter
Print or download whatever document your centre issues confirming your registration, assigned centre, and timetable. The format and whether it must be printed is set by the provider - confirm with the provider.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two) and a pencil with eraser
Multiple-choice answer sheets in some PAU subjects are machine-read and may require a specific pen or pencil type. Check the instructions on your admission document or with your centre. Bring spares; you cannot count on borrowing.
Wristwatch (non-smart, analogue or basic digital)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones must be switched off and stored. A simple watch lets you manage the time budget yourself. Smartwatches are almost certainly not permitted - confirm with the provider.
Clear water bottle with label removed
Staying hydrated helps concentration during a long sitting. Rules on drinks on the desk vary by centre, so treat this as optional and confirm with the provider.
No phone, smartwatch, or any electronic device on your person
Leave devices switched off and outside the exam room, or hand them in as instructed. Possession of a device during the exam may be treated as academic misconduct; the exact consequence is set by the provider's regulations.
Know your exact timetable, room, and centre location in advance
Biology may be scheduled in a specific time band on a specific day. Confirm the date, start time, and building with the provider, and plan to arrive well before the start - the required arrival margin is set by the centre.
Review the official exam structure and instructions for your call
The number of questions, optionality, and whether there is a practical/data-based section are defined by the current official model for your call. Study the official model and past papers published by the university; do not rely on second-hand summaries.
Confirm permitted materials (calculator, ruler, drawing instruments)
Biology typically does not require a calculator, but if any subject you sit that day does, the permitted model list is set by the provider. Confirm which materials are allowed in the Biology paper with the provider.
Plan food, medication, and any accessibility arrangements
If you have a medical condition, need medication during the exam, or require accessibility adjustments, arrange this in advance with the centre. The procedure and deadlines are set by the provider - confirm with the provider.
Prepare your final revision sheet, not new material
For the last day, use a one- or two-page summary of high-yield content: genetics problems, metabolic pathways, key definitions, and graph/diagram interpretation. Do not start new topics in the final 24 hours.
Check transport and backup plan the day before
Know the route, journey time, and a backup option. Arriving late can mean exclusion; the cut-off time and consequences are set by the centre - confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Switch from broad revision to targeted consolidation. Work through the official model and recent past papers for your call under timed conditions, one full paper per day if possible. For each paper, mark your own answers against the official criteria and list the specific topics behind every lost mark. Prioritise the highest-frequency, highest-mark areas: genetics and inheritance problems (monohybrid and dihybrid crosses, probability, sex-linked inheritance), molecular biology (DNA replication, transcription and translation, the genetic code), metabolism (glycolysis, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis light and dark reactions), and cell biology (membrane transport, organelles, mitosis and meiosis). Also practise interpreting data: reading graphs and tables, drawing conclusions, and explaining experimental designs, because these skills carry marks across topics. Do not attempt to memorise everything; build a short list of definitions and processes you can state precisely.
Stop doing new past papers. Review your error list and your one- or two-page summary sheet. Re-read the official instructions for the Biology paper: how many questions, whether there is a choice, and how the paper is marked. Rehearse the format you will use for answers - clear numbered sections, defined terms, and short concluding statements for explanation questions. Check your ID, admission document, pens, pencil, eraser, and watch, and put them in one bag. Confirm the exam time, room, and route. Eat a normal meal, avoid late-night cramming, and aim for a full night's sleep; sleep consolidates recall more than an extra hour of reading.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre with a comfortable margin before the start time. Leave your phone switched off and out of the exam room. Before entering, skim only your summary sheet - do not try to learn new content. Once seated, read the front-page instructions carefully: check the number of questions, any optionality, the time allowed, and how answers must be recorded. Write your identifying details as instructed before the start signal.
First, read the whole paper quickly and allocate time per question according to marks, leaving a few minutes at the end to check. Answer the questions you know best first to secure marks, then return to harder ones. For genetics problems, show your working and state the genotypes and phenotypes explicitly - method marks are often available even if the final answer is wrong. For explanation questions, use precise terminology (for example, 'semi-conservative replication', 'competitive inhibition', 'crossing over') and structure answers as cause → mechanism → consequence. For data questions, quote figures from the table or graph, describe the trend, and then explain it biologically. If a question asks for a diagram, label it fully and keep it simple. Watch the clock: if you are stuck, move on and come back. Use any remaining time to check that every required question has been attempted and that your answers are legible and correctly numbered.
Rules to check
Bring valid official photo ID. The exact list of accepted documents and whether originals only are required is set by the provider - confirm with the provider, and do not assume a photocopy or digital ID will be accepted.
Arrive before the stated start time. Late arrival may lead to exclusion from the exam; the cut-off and any discretion are set by the centre - confirm with the provider.
Electronic devices, including phones and smartwatches, must be switched off and kept out of reach or handed in as instructed. Unauthorised devices or materials may be treated as academic misconduct under the provider's regulations.
Follow the invigilators' instructions at all times, including on seating, materials on the desk, and when you may leave the room. Communication between candidates during the exam is prohibited.
Breaks, including toilet breaks, are generally restricted during the exam and may be accompanied; the exact policy is set by the centre - confirm with the provider before exam day, especially if you have a medical need.
Write only in the permitted pen or pencil and record answers exactly as the instructions require. Answers recorded incorrectly on machine-read sheets may not be marked.
Scoring and the structure of the paper (number of questions, optionality, weighting) follow the official model for your call. Read the official marking criteria and past papers published by the university rather than relying on unofficial summaries.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a problem with exam conditions, report it to the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's procedure for claims or appeals; do not attempt to resolve it informally after the exam.