es-vc-pau-artistic-drawing-ii exam-day guide
es-vc-pau-artistic-drawing-ii · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the same government-issued photo ID used at registration. Name and spelling must match your registration record exactly; ask the provider in advance what to do if your name differs or your ID is expired.
Admission or appointment confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, session time, and venue or submission link. Confirm with the provider whether printed copies are required or a digital copy is accepted.
Required drawing media and surfaces
Pack the graphite grades, paper or board, erasers, blending tools, and supports listed in the current syllabus or materials list. Do not assume unfamiliar media are permitted; confirm the allowed list with the provider.
Easel, board, or drawing support
Check whether the venue supplies easels and drawing boards or whether you must bring your own. If bringing your own, test that it folds, locks, and fits the venue's space constraints.
Reference material rules
Confirm whether reference photographs, objects, or a still-life setup are provided by the exam and whether you may bring your own references. Bring only what the current rules explicitly allow.
Timer or watch
A simple non-smart watch helps you pace timed sections. Smart devices are usually prohibited at the drawing station; confirm what timekeeping is allowed.
Fixative and protective materials
If fixative is permitted, use it only in a ventilated area designated by staff. Bring a portfolio, glassine, or tissue to protect finished work during transport.
Layered clothing and a cloth
Venues vary in temperature and lighting. Dress in layers, avoid loose sleeves that smudge work, and bring a clean rag or paper towel for hands and tools.
Water, snack, and any permitted medication
Long practical sessions are physically demanding. Confirm the venue's policy on drinks, food, and personal medication at the desk before the session starts.
Labeling supplies
Bring a pencil or pen for completing name, candidate number, and any required labels on the back of each sheet. Follow the labeling instructions exactly; mislabeled work may not be assessed.
Route and arrival plan
Rehearse the journey to the venue and plan to arrive with buffer time for registration, ID checks, and setting up your station before the clock starts.
Pre-session logistics check
Confirm the start time, door-closing policy, permitted materials, and submission or collection procedure with the provider, since these details vary by center and session.
Plan the day
Re-read the current syllabus and materials list and compare it line by line with what you plan to bring. Remove anything not clearly permitted and note open questions to ask the provider. Do timed full-length rehearsals under realistic conditions, including setup and cleanup, rather than isolated sketches. Practice your standard compositions, value plans, and proportion checks so the process is automatic on the day. Prepare and pack your kit, then test every tool: sharpen pencils, check erasers and blending tools, confirm paper size and surface. Rest and eat normally; do not attempt to learn an entirely new technique this late.
Lay out everything on the checklist and pack it in one bag so nothing is forgotten. Confirm the venue address, travel route, and arrival time, and check transport disruptions. Charge any permitted device and prepare your ID and confirmation in a single accessible place. Do a short, low-stress warm-up of line control and value scales, then stop. Review only your own process notes: proportion checks, composition thumbnails, and time allocation per section. Set an early alarm and avoid all-night practice, since fatigue visibly degrades drawing control.
Eat a proper meal and hydrate moderately. Arrive early enough to complete ID checks and registration without rushing. Set up your station methodically: secure your support, arrange tools in a consistent order, and check lighting and viewing distance. Confirm any labeling requirements with staff before you begin. Take a few minutes for loose warm-up marks on scrap or a spare sheet if permitted, then read all instructions and section timings carefully before making the first mark.
Read the full brief and note the marks and time for each section. Start with light construction: establish placement, proportion, and the overall composition before committing to detail. Work from large shapes to small, checking proportions at arm's length and periodically stepping back. Protect your time budget: set mental checkpoints for blocking in, developing values, and refining, and leave a few minutes for cleanup and labeling. Do not restart a piece late in the session unless the current attempt is clearly failing; salvage and refine instead. Keep your hands and tools clean to avoid smudging, and finish labeling exactly as instructed before time is called.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID required by the provider and keep it visible at your station. If your ID details do not match your registration, resolve this with the provider before exam day rather than at the door.
Follow the permitted-materials list strictly. Do not bring notes, pre-drawn references, electronic devices, or any aid not explicitly allowed; if you are unsure whether an item is permitted, ask the provider in advance.
Work only on the materials and surfaces specified, and complete all required labeling, including candidate number and sheet identification, exactly as instructed. Unlabeled or mislabeled work may not be assessed.
Breaks and movement during the session are governed by venue rules. Ask staff before the session about toilet breaks, leaving the room, and whether the clock stops; do not assume extra time is granted.
Keep your workspace and the venue clean. Use fixative, sprays, or messy materials only where and if staff permit, and dispose of waste as directed.
Stop drawing immediately when time is called and follow staff instructions for collecting, securing, or submitting work. Continuing to mark work after time is called can be treated as misconduct.
Scoring is based on the published assessment criteria for the current syllabus, such as observation, proportion, composition, tonal control, and use of media. Review the current criteria from the provider rather than relying on secondhand descriptions.
If illness, equipment failure, or another problem affects your performance, report it to the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's procedure for documenting it. Confirm that procedure with the provider beforehand.