Basque PAU English exam-day guide
Basque PAU English · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm the exact date, start time, and venue of your English sitting
The Basque PAU (EBAU/Unibertsitateko Sarrera Probak) is organised by the university you register with, and English is one of the compulsory general-phase subjects. Dates and call times can differ between the Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Araba campuses, so check your registration receipt or the university's PAU page and write the details down the day before. If anything is unclear, confirm with the provider (your school's PAU coordinator or the university's student office).
National ID card (DNI/NAN) or passport, plus your PAU registration proof
Candidates are identified at the door before entering the room. Bring the original photo ID you registered with - a photocopy or a photo on your phone is normally not accepted. Also carry the registration or exam-session document the university issues, in case the invigilator asks for it. If you have lost your ID, contact the provider in advance rather than on the morning.
Two or more blue or black ballpoint pens
The English paper is written by hand. Bring at least two pens that you have already tested, plus a spare. Pencil is fine for rough notes but answers should be legible in ink. Check whether your centre requires a specific colour - confirm with the provider if the instructions do not say.
A transparent pencil case or clear plastic bag for your materials
Many exam rooms require materials to be visible on the desk in a clear container. Pack pens, correction tape and your ID in one so nothing is loose in your pockets.
Correction tape or fluid (optional but useful)
Cross-outs are accepted, but neat correction makes long writing tasks easier to read and avoids ambiguity for markers. Use tape rather than fluid if you write quickly, so it dries before you turn the page.
An analogue wristwatch
Some rooms have a clock, but not all, and phones must be switched off and out of reach. A simple non-smart watch lets you pace the reading, grammar and writing sections. Smart watches are normally not allowed - leave them at home.
A clear water bottle with the label removed
Hydration helps during a long sitting, but bottles must usually be transparent and label-free. Confirm the centre's rules with the provider if you are unsure.
No notes, dictionaries, phones, or smart devices in the room
The PAU is a formal invigilated exam; dictionaries and grammar reference sheets are not permitted in the English paper. Switch your phone off completely and leave it in your bag at the back of the room as instructed. Bringing unauthorised material can lead to disqualification.
Know the paper structure before you arrive
The Basque PAU English exam typically combines a reading comprehension text with questions, a short grammar/lexis or use-of-English section, and a written production task. The exact weighting and task types are set in the current official model published by the university/Euskadi PAU authorities - read that model and confirm the current format with the provider, since it has changed in recent years.
Plan your travel and arrive early
Aim to be at the venue well before the call time, allowing for traffic, public transport delays and finding the right building and room. Late arrival can mean you are not admitted once the paper has started - confirm the tolerance policy with the provider.
Breakfast, sleep and a realistic revision plan for the final days
Do not plan to learn new grammar the night before. In the last 72 hours, practise timed writing and skim your own error list. Sleep matters more than one more exercise.
Check whether other PAU papers fall the same day
The PAU runs over several consecutive days and you may have another subject before or after English. Pack once for the whole session and confirm your personal timetable with the provider so you do not confuse rooms or times.
Plan the day
Reread the official exam model and the instructions for the English paper so the task types and marks are fresh. Do one full timed run-through: reading text and questions, the grammar/use-of-English items, and the writing task, all within the official time limit. Mark it yourself against the model answers or ask your teacher for a quick check on the writing.
Build a one-page personal error sheet: the grammar points you personally get wrong (articles, verb tenses, prepositions, conditionals, word order), plus five linking phrases and five sentence openers you can use confidently in the writing task. Revise from that sheet, not from a textbook.
Practise two short writing tasks under time pressure - for example an opinion paragraph and a formal email or short essay, depending on the current model. Focus on clear paragraphing, a topic sentence, connectors and correct verb forms. Check your work for the errors on your sheet.
Do light revision only: reread your error sheet and a few model texts. Pack your bag: ID, registration proof, two or more pens, correction tape, watch, clear bottle, transparent case. Confirm the venue, room, call time and route. Set two alarms. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, dress in layers, and leave early. Do not cram new material. On the way, skim your error sheet once. At the venue, find the room list, keep your phone off and stowed, and have your ID ready for the door check.
Read the instructions on the cover page carefully, check the number of pages and the time allowed, and write your name and details exactly as instructed. Note the finish time on your watch. Skim the whole paper before starting so you can allocate time to each section.
Read the questions first, then the text. Underline where each answer comes from. Answer in your own words if the question asks you to, and keep answers to the length requested - extra length rarely earns extra marks and costs time.
Work steadily and do not get stuck on one item. If a gap puzzles you, mark it, move on, and return at the end. Check subject–verb agreement, tense consistency and word class before you leave each item.
Spend two or three minutes planning: audience, purpose, paragraph structure, and the connectors you will use. Write the task, then reserve the last few minutes to check for the errors on your error sheet - verb endings, articles, plurals, spelling of common words, and consistent register.
Make sure every question has an answer, no answer is left in the wrong box, and your name is on every sheet required. Check that you have not left rough work where an answer should be, then hand in as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification (DNI/NAN or passport) and your registration proof. You may be refused entry without them - confirm the exact ID requirement with the provider before exam day.
Phones and smart devices must be switched off and placed where the invigilator instructs. A phone that rings or is found on you during the paper can lead to your exam being annulled.
Dictionaries, grammar reference sheets, notes and unauthorised electronic aids are not allowed in the English paper. Only the materials the centre permits may be on your desk.
Follow the invigilators' instructions at all times: entering and leaving the room, asking questions, and handing in papers. If you need to leave temporarily, raise your hand and wait to be accompanied - the exact procedure is set by the centre.
Write legibly in the language of the paper and answer in the space and format indicated. Answers written outside the designated areas or in a different language from the one requested may not be marked.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper has started, and do not take question papers or answer sheets out of the room unless the invigilators explicitly allow it.
Scoring: the English paper contributes to the general phase of the PAU and is weighted according to the current official model. The exact weighting, pass requirements and how the mark combines with your other subjects are set by the Basque university/EBAU authorities - confirm the current rules with the provider rather than relying on older information.
If something goes wrong - illness, lost ID, a problem with the paper - tell an invigilator immediately and follow the centre's incident procedure. Do not try to resolve it after leaving the room; confirm the appeals or incident process with the provider.