Basque PAU Physics exam-day guide
Basque PAU Physics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original DNI, passport, or residence card that matches your registration. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is valid; do not rely on a digital copy on your phone.
Exam admission/session confirmation
Print or download the call/session document showing date, time, and venue if your centre issues one. Confirm with the provider whether it is required at the door.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers must be legible and in ink. Bring spares; pencils are generally only for rough work.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for graphs, free-body diagrams, and rough calculations before writing final answers in pen.
Approved scientific calculator
Bring a non-programmable, non-graphing calculator unless your centre states otherwise. Confirm with the provider the exact permitted model list and whether memory must be cleared.
Ruler and protractor
Needed for vector diagrams, ray diagrams, and reading graphs accurately.
Watch (non-smart)
Exam rooms may not show a clock. A simple wristwatch helps you manage the time; smartwatches and phones are not allowed.
Clear water bottle and light snack
Stay hydrated and keep energy up. Confirm with the provider whether drinks and food are allowed at the desk.
Know the venue and arrival time
Check the exact building and room in advance and plan to arrive with margin. Confirm with the provider the arrival time and what happens if you are late.
Review the official instructions and formula sheet policy
Confirm with the provider whether a formula sheet, data table, or periodic table is supplied, and whether constants must be memorised.
Leave phone and smart devices outside the exam room
Switch off and store them as instructed. Possession of a phone during the exam can lead to disqualification.
Physical and mental preparation the day before
Sleep well, eat a normal breakfast, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Confirm with the provider any rules on rest breaks and leaving the room.
Plan the day
Re-read the official exam structure and mark allocation. List the topics you are least confident about, then spend the remaining time on targeted practice of full past-paper-style problems under timed conditions rather than re-reading notes. Check the venue location and travel plan, and confirm with the provider the permitted calculator and any materials you may bring.
Do one full timed mock under exam conditions: no notes, approved calculator only, writing final answers in pen. Mark it strictly and identify where you lost marks, for example missing units, unlabelled axes, or unjustified steps. Build a one-page summary of key formulas and constants you tend to forget.
Light review only: go over your one-page formula summary, common unit conversions, and the structure of multi-part questions. Prepare your bag with ID, pens, pencil, calculator, ruler, protractor, and watch. Check the calculator works and has fresh batteries. Confirm the start time and set two alarms. Avoid new topics and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive at the venue with time to spare. Keep the pre-exam review short: skim your formula summary only. Switch off your phone and store it as instructed. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions and check that you have the correct paper and any supplied data sheet.
Read the whole paper or all options before starting. Note the marks per question and allocate time roughly in proportion. Start with questions you can answer confidently to build momentum, but do not spend too long on any single part.
Show your working: method marks are often available even when the final number is wrong. Write units at every final answer and check significant figures. Draw diagrams with labelled axes and arrows. If you get stuck, move on and return later. Leave the last few minutes to check that every question has an answer and that units and signs are correct.
Make sure your name and candidate details are filled in, all pages are present, and rough work is clearly separated from final answers. Stop writing immediately when instructed.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID document that matches your registration; confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and what to do if you have lost it.
Arrive at the time stated in the call. Confirm with the provider the policy on late arrival and whether you will be admitted after the exam has started.
Phones, smartwatches, and any programmable or graphing devices must be switched off and stored as instructed; possession during the exam can lead to disqualification.
Only use the calculator and materials explicitly permitted. Confirm with the provider the approved calculator list and whether a formula sheet or data table is supplied.
Write final answers in ink and keep them legible. Confirm with the provider whether pencil may be used for diagrams or graphs.
Follow invigilator instructions on seating, talking, and leaving the room. Confirm with the provider the rules on rest breaks and on leaving before the exam ends.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam or attempt to access unauthorised material; misconduct can result in the paper being annulled.
Scoring is based on the official marking criteria, with method marks for correct reasoning and units. Confirm with the provider the weighting of each part and any penalties for missing units or significant-figure errors.