Basque PAU Technical Drawing II exam-day guide
Basque PAU Technical Drawing II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID (DNI, passport, or equivalent)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. Invigilators check identity against the enrolment list before the paper is handed out. If you are unsure whether your specific document is accepted for the Basque PAU (EBAU) at your assigned centre, confirm with the provider (your school or the university coordinating the exam) beforehand.
Exam enrolment receipt / proof of registration
Keep the confirmation of your PAU registration (matrícula) printed or accessible. Some centres ask for it at the door or if there is a query about which subjects or which phase (general/fase general, specific/fase específica) you are sitting. Confirm the exact document required with the provider.
Pencil(s) and eraser
For construction lines and rough work. Bring at least two sharpened pencils (HB or 2H) and a soft eraser that does not smudge. Technical Drawing II is a graphical exam, so clean, light construction lines matter for the presentation of the final drawing.
Pencil sharpener and/or spare leads
A mechanical pencil with 0.5 mm HB/2H leads keeps line weight consistent. If you use a traditional pencil, a sharpener avoids a blunt point halfway through a construction.
Technical drawing instruments: ruler, set squares (45° and 30/60°), compass
Bring a rigid ruler (30 cm is practical), a pair of set squares, and a compass with a locking hinge and spare leads. These are standard for the constructions, tangencies and dihedral work in the paper. Confirm with the provider which instruments are permitted, since rules on instrument cases can vary.
Protractor
Useful for angle constructions and for checking true magnitudes in dihedral and plane work. A clear plastic protractor is usually sufficient.
Blue/black pen for labels and final answers
Use pen for written answers, labels, and any numeric results so they are clearly distinguished from construction lines. Some centres require answers in a specific medium; confirm with the provider.
Coloured pencils or fineliners (optional, for distinguishing construction vs. solution lines)
Some candidates use a second colour to separate auxiliary construction from the final result. This is a personal technique, not a requirement. Confirm with the provider whether coloured ink is allowed before relying on it.
Watch (non-smart, no connectivity)
Many exam rooms have a clock, but a plain wristwatch lets you manage the time budget for each question. Smartwatches and phones are typically not permitted at the desk; confirm the centre's device policy with the provider.
Arrive at the assigned centre well before the scheduled start
Allow time for identity checks and seating. The exact reporting time and the room assignment are set by your centre; confirm them with the provider and check the notice board on the day.
Know the paper structure and time allocation in advance
The Basque PAU Technical Drawing II paper typically offers a choice of problems/exercises covering areas such as plane geometry, tangencies, dihedral projection, and normalisation. Confirm the current structure, number of options, and time limit with the provider, and rehearse a time split so you do not overrun on one construction.
Review the drawing conventions you will be marked on
Line hierarchy (thick outlines, thin construction and dimension lines), correct dimensioning, and clean lettering are part of the presentation. Practise applying them under time pressure before the exam. Mark any convention you are unsure about for review with your teacher.
Plan the day
Do timed full-paper rehearsals rather than isolated exercises. Sit one complete paper under the real time limit with only the instruments you will actually bring. After each, mark your own work against the published criteria you have been given: accuracy of construction, correct use of line weights, dimensioning, and presentation. Keep a short list of the constructions that cost you the most time (for example tangencies, true-shape problems, or intersection of surfaces) and drill only those.
Rehearse your instrument set-up: compass radius locking, set-square alignment against the ruler, and drawing parallel and perpendicular lines accurately without a T-square. Confirm the permitted instrument list with the provider if anything is unclear, and replace any compass with a loose hinge or ruler with a worn edge.
Do a light review of formulas and standard constructions (scale, conic definitions, dihedral rotation methods, normalisation conventions). Do not start new topics. Pack your instrument case, ID, and registration proof the night before, and check the exam centre location and travel time. Get a normal night's sleep; a steady hand matters more than one more exercise.
Eat properly and arrive early. Re-check that your compass has leads, your pencils are sharpened, and your eraser is clean. Leave phones and smart devices stowed per the centre's rules. Once seated, read the whole paper before starting and choose your questions deliberately rather than taking the first that looks familiar.
First pass: read all options and mark the ones you can complete confidently. Allocate time per question and keep a reserve for final checking. Draw construction lines lightly and only darken the final solution, so a mistake can be erased without ghosting the sheet. Label results clearly. If a construction goes wrong, start it again on a clean area rather than over-drawing. Near the end, check line weights, dimensioning, and that every requested element is actually drawn and labelled.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID and be ready to show it at the door; the exact accepted documents are set by the centre, so confirm with the provider if you are unsure.
Follow the centre's rules on phones, smartwatches, and any electronic devices; typically these must be switched off and out of reach. Confirm the device policy with the provider before the exam.
Use only the drawing instruments and media the centre permits. If you plan to use coloured ink or unusual instruments, confirm with the provider in advance rather than assuming they are allowed.
Breaks and leaving the room are at the invigilator's discretion; usually you cannot leave during the paper except with permission and escort. Ask the invigilator about the centre's specific procedure.
Answers must be legible and clearly identified; label each question and keep construction lines distinguishable from final solution lines so the marker can follow your work.
Marking follows the published criteria for the paper, including accuracy of construction and presentation (line weights, dimensioning, cleanliness). Confirm the current criteria and weighting with the provider.
Academic integrity rules apply: no communication with other candidates, no unauthorised material at the desk, and no removing exam materials. The consequences for misconduct are set by the organising body; confirm details with the provider.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a problem with your materials, raise it with the invigilator immediately rather than after the paper; the centre's procedure for incidents should be confirmed with the provider.