Valencian Community PAU Business and Business Model Design (Empresa y Diseño de Modelos de Negocio) exam-day guide
Valencian Community PAU Business and Business Model Design (Empresa y Diseño de Modelos de Negocio) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the original DNI/NIE or passport (not a photocopy). Confirm with your centre which document they accept and whether expired documents are rejected.
Exam admission/registration proof
Print or download the PAU registration confirmation or receipt showing your assigned centre and subjects. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Know your assigned venue and room
Check the official PAU call (convocatòria) for your centre, building, and room assignment. Arrive early because rooms are often published only shortly before the call.
Blue or black pens (at least two)
Write legibly in ink. Bring spare pens of the same colour; some centres do not allow pencil for the final answer.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for drafts, tables, and calculations before transferring final answers to ink.
Simple calculator
Bring a non-programmable, non-graphing calculator. Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted for your exam.
Ruler and basic drawing tools
A ruler helps with tables, break-even charts, and neat layout of business-model canvases or graphs.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
A simple watch helps you manage time if the room clock is not visible. Smartwatches and phones must be off and stored away.
Clear water bottle and light snack
Stay hydrated and keep energy up between sessions. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the exam room.
Review the official exam structure
Re-read the official instructions for the subject: number of questions, options, and whether there is a choice. Confirm with the provider the exact format for this year.
Prepare formula and concept sheet
Make a one-page summary of key formulas (break-even, profitability ratios, productivity, financial ratios) and business-model concepts to review in the final hours.
Plan transport and backup
Check routes and travel time to the centre, and have a backup plan (earlier bus/train or a lift) in case of delays.
Plan the day
Do a full timed mock under exam conditions using an official-style paper. Mark it strictly, list your three weakest topics, and spend the remaining days only on those.
Rebuild your one-page formula sheet from memory, then check it against your notes. Focus on break-even point, contribution margin, profitability and liquidity ratios, productivity, and the elements of a business model (value proposition, customer segments, channels, revenue streams, costs).
Practise written justification: for each calculation, write the formula, substitute values, give the result with units, and add one sentence interpreting it. Examiners award marks for method and interpretation, not only the final number.
Review a business-model design task: practise sketching a canvas for a given company and justifying each block with evidence from the statement.
Do a light review only: formula sheet, common traps (units, percentages vs decimals, sign errors, forgetting to state the decision criterion), and the structure of the exam. Stop studying early enough to sleep well.
Pack your bag: ID, registration proof, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, approved calculator, watch, water. Check the venue address and travel time one more time.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive at the centre well before the call, and keep your phone switched off and stored away. Re-read only your formula sheet; do not start new topics.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note the marks per question and choose your options deliberately. Allocate roughly one minute per mark and keep a few minutes at the end to check.
Answer in the order that suits you, but write the question number clearly. Show all working, state formulas, give units, and add a short interpretation for each result. If a question is unclear, write your assumptions explicitly.
Check that every chosen question is answered, that units and signs are correct, and that your name and details are filled in. Do not leave blank spaces where partial working could earn marks.
Rules to check
Bring original identification and place it on the desk if instructed; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if you forget them.
Electronic devices, including phones and smartwatches, must be switched off and stored out of reach. Confirm with the provider the exact policy on devices and permitted calculators.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on start and finish times, leaving the room, and handing in papers. Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam.
Write in the language and format required by the paper, and clearly label each answer with its question number and chosen option.
Show your working: marks are usually awarded for method, correct formulas, and interpretation, so an unsupported final number may lose credit.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator; confirm with the provider whether toilet breaks are allowed and whether you are accompanied.
Scoring and appeal procedures are set by the official PAU regulations; confirm with the provider the marking scheme, review period, and how to request a re-mark.