Basque PAU General Sciences exam-day guide
Basque PAU General Sciences · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID (DNI, passport, or equivalent)
Bring the original document, not a copy or a photo on your phone. Confirm with the provider which IDs are accepted for the Basque PAU and whether the document must be the one you registered with.
Exam admission slip / registration confirmation
Print or save the document issued when you registered for the PAU (matrícula). Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether a digital version is accepted.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Write in ink, not pencil, unless a subject explicitly requires pencil (for example, some drawing or graph work). Bring a spare in case one fails.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for rough work, diagrams, and any graphs. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is allowed for final answers in your subjects or only for drafts.
Approved calculator
Check the current PAU rules for which calculator models are permitted in each subject and whether programmable or graphing calculators are restricted. Confirm with the provider before relying on a specific model.
Ruler, set square, and protractor
Needed for physics, chemistry, mathematics, and technical drawing tasks involving graphs, vectors, or scale drawings.
Clear water bottle and a light snack
Keep the bottle label-free if the venue requires it. Eat something small between sessions; exam days are long and breaks may be short.
Watch (non-smart)
Many exam rooms have no visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch without connectivity is usually acceptable; confirm with the provider whether any watch is prohibited.
Check the venue, room, and start time the day before
Confirm the exact building and access point from your admission documents. Arrive with margin for security checks and finding your seat.
Know which subjects and options you will sit
Write down your subject list and the order of sessions so you do not mix up days or times. Confirm the timetable with the provider, as it can vary by center.
Review the official instructions for each subject
Check the number of questions, choice rules, and whether all questions are compulsory. Confirm with the provider if the instructions for your subjects are unclear.
Leave prohibited items at home
Mobile phones, smart watches, and other connected devices are normally banned from the exam room. Confirm with the provider what happens to devices brought to the venue.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your summary sheets, formula lists, and past-paper mistakes. Practise one timed section per subject to check pacing. Confirm your venue, timetable, and the exact list of subjects you are sitting. Prepare your bag with ID, admission slip, pens, calculator, and geometry tools, and check the calculator's batteries.
Do a light review only: key formulas, definitions, and the structure of each exam. Re-read the official instructions for each subject, including choice rules and question counts. Lay out clothes and your bag. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at a reasonable hour; cramming overnight costs more than it gains.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Re-check your bag against the checklist: ID, admission slip, pens, pencil, eraser, calculator, geometry tools, watch. Leave early enough to arrive with at least 20 to 30 minutes to spare. Switch your phone off and put it away before entering the building. Find your room and seat, and read the instructions on the paper before writing.
Read the whole paper first and note the marks per question. Spend the first minute planning the order: answer the questions you are most confident about first, and keep an eye on the clock for the last question. Show your working clearly, as method marks are often awarded even when the final answer is wrong. If a question blocks you, move on and return later. Leave a few minutes at the end to check units, significant figures, and that you have answered the required number of questions.
Rules to check
Bring your original photo ID and admission slip to every session. If you arrive without the required documents, you may be refused entry; confirm with the provider what to do in that case.
Arrive before the stated start time. Late entry rules vary, so confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled and whether extra time is given.
Mobile phones, smart watches, and other connected devices must be switched off and kept out of reach, or left outside the room as the venue instructs. Using one during an exam is normally treated as serious misconduct.
Write only with permitted materials. Answers written in pencil where ink is required, or on unauthorized paper, may not be marked. Confirm with the provider which materials are allowed in each subject.
Follow the invigilator's instructions about starting, stopping, and leaving the room. Do not talk to other candidates once the exam has begun, and do not take exam papers or answer sheets out of the room.
If you need to leave the room during an exam, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Confirm with the provider whether leaving is allowed and whether you can return to the exam.
Scoring and grading rules, including how the PAU score combines with your school record and how resits work, are set by the official regulations. Confirm the current rules with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with the room, tell the invigilator immediately and follow the official complaints procedure. Confirm the deadlines and process with the provider.