Basque PAU Latin II exam-day guide
Basque PAU Latin II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document (DNI, passport, or equivalent) that matches your registration data. The exact document accepted is set by the administering university or the Basque education authority, so confirm with the provider which forms of ID are valid before the day.
Exam admission/registration slip
Print or download whatever proof of registration (matrícula, resguardo, or similar) your centre issues. Whether it must be presented at the door varies by call; confirm with your centre. Keep it with your ID.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Latin II is a written exam: translation, morphology/syntax, and literary/cultural questions. Bring spare pens and check they write cleanly; some providers specify ink colour for answer sheets, so confirm with the provider if unsure.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for drafting a translation, marking case endings, or sketching a syntax tree before writing the final version. Pencil work is normally not accepted as the final answer, so transfer everything to pen.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many exam halls require transparent containers so invigilators can check contents quickly. If in doubt, keep items loose in a clear bag.
Analogue watch (no smart features)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A simple wristwatch lets you manage the 90-minute timing. Smartwatches and phones are usually prohibited at the desk, so leave them in the designated area.
Water in a transparent bottle
Label removed or neutral bottle. Check whether drinks are allowed at the desk in your venue; some halls restrict them.
No notes, dictionaries, or electronic devices at the desk
Latin II is normally taken without a dictionary or grammar reference. Assume nothing is allowed unless the official instructions for your call say otherwise, and confirm with the provider.
Know the exact venue, room, and start time
Check the official timetable and the assigned building/room for your centre. Arrive with margin for finding the room and for ID checks.
Review the official exam structure and scoring
Re-read the official instructions for your call: sections, optional choices, and mark allocation. This shapes how you divide your time. Confirm the current structure with the provider, as it can change between calls.
Plan the day
Consolidate, do not expand. Re-read your own summary sheets: the five declensions, the four/five conjugations including the passive, the main irregular verbs (esse, posse, ferre, ire, velle, nolle, malle), pronouns, and the core syntax (ablative absolute, accusative-with-infinitive, cum clauses, indirect questions, purpose and result clauses, gerund/gerundive). Do one full past-paper translation under timed conditions and mark it honestly against the official criteria for your call.
Build a personal 'trap list' from the errors you made: confusions between similar endings (e.g. -ae as genitive/dative singular and nominative plural; -is as genitive singular and accusative plural), deponent verbs, and words whose meaning you keep missing. Review only this list in the last 24 hours.
Do a light, timed run-through of one short passage and a set of morphology/syntax items. Stop heavy study in the evening. Prepare your materials the night before: ID, admission slip, pens, pencil, watch, water. Confirm the venue and start time once more on the official channel.
Rehearse your translation routine so it is automatic: (1) read the whole passage once without writing; (2) identify the main verb of each clause; (3) mark subjects and objects by case; (4) note connectives and subordinate markers; (5) translate clause by clause; (6) re-read your version against the Latin for sense and completeness.
Eat normally and arrive early. Do not try to learn new vocabulary or grammar; skim only your trap list and your routine. Keep phones off and stored as instructed. Have your ID and admission slip ready for inspection.
Read the full paper before writing. Note which questions are compulsory and which offer a choice, and check the mark allocation. Decide your time budget from the marks: typically the translation carries the largest share, so protect that time and do not let a short question eat it.
Draft the translation in pencil or on rough paper if permitted, then write the final version in pen. Translate into correct, natural target-language prose; do not leave Latin word order in the Spanish/Basque. If a word is unknown, use context, word formation, and cognates to infer it, and keep going rather than stalling. Leave a small margin to return to uncertain phrases.
For each form, state the lemma, the morphological analysis (case, number, gender, or person, number, tense, mood, voice), and its function in the sentence. For syntax questions, name the construction and justify it with the specific markers in the text. Precision in terminology earns marks; vague answers do not.
Answer in complete, organised sentences. Name authors, works, genres, and periods accurately; if you are unsure of a date or detail, give what you know confidently and avoid inventing specifics. Structure longer answers with a short opening claim, evidence, and a closing link to the question.
Check that every required question is answered and that no answer is left only in pencil. Re-read the translation once for missing clauses, untranslated words, and agreement errors. Verify that your name and identifying details are filled in as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identity document required for your call. The accepted forms are set by the administering institution; confirm with the provider what is valid, and make sure your name matches your registration.
Electronic devices, including phones and smartwatches, must be switched off and stored where the invigilators instruct. Do not keep them at your desk.
Assume no dictionaries, grammars, or notes are permitted during Latin II unless the official instructions for your call explicitly allow them. Confirm with the provider if anything is unclear.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on start and finish times, filling in answer sheets, and leaving the room. Do not begin writing before you are told, and stop immediately when time is called.
If you need to leave the room (for example, for the toilet), raise your hand and wait for an invigilator. Whether and how this is permitted, and whether you are accompanied or the time is compensated, is set by the venue; confirm with the provider.
Answer in the language in which the exam is delivered and in which you are registered, using the required format for each section. If a question offers a choice, answer only the number of options requested; extra answers are normally not credited.
Scoring follows the official marking criteria for your call, which weight translation accuracy, morphological and syntactic analysis, and literary/cultural knowledge. Check the current weightings and any penalties for length or format with the provider before the exam.
Academic honesty applies throughout: no communication with other candidates, no unauthorised materials, and no attempt to access outside help. Suspected irregularities are handled under the official procedure for your call.