Valencian Community PAU Geology and Environmental Sciences exam-day guide
Valencian Community PAU Geology and Environmental Sciences · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document
Bring the identity document (DNI, NIE, or passport) required by the Universitat de València or the assigned examining board. The name must match the enrolment record exactly. If you have any doubt about which document is accepted for your call, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Exam enrolment receipt / proof of registration
Print or download the PAU registration confirmation (matrícula) showing your assigned venue, call (ordinària/extraordinària), and subjects. Some venues ask to see it at access control. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is accepted.
Know your assigned venue and access time
The PAU is held at faculties and secondary schools assigned by the university; you cannot choose. Check the venue on your registration document and plan the route. Arrive well before the call time, since access is usually closed once the exam begins. Confirm the exact access window with the provider.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (several)
Bring at least two pens of the same colour plus a spare. Answers written in pencil may not be corrected or may be invalidated depending on the board. Confirm with the provider which colours are permitted for your call.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for rough work, sketches, and multiple-choice answer sheets if your exam includes them. Keep rough work clearly separated from the final answer.
Approved calculator
Geology and Environmental Sciences questions may require numerical work (gradients, densities, concentrations, half-lives). Use a calculator that does not store or transmit data and does not have programmable or graphing capability unless expressly allowed. Confirm with the provider which models are permitted.
Ruler, protractor, and set square
Needed for reading maps, drawing cross-sections, measuring strike and dip, and interpreting graphs. A transparent ruler is the most practical choice.
Analog watch
Many venues do not allow mobile phones at the desk, so a simple wristwatch lets you manage time across the exam blocks. Do not rely on a phone as your clock.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Hydration matters in long exam sessions. Bottles usually must be transparent and unlabelled. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed in your venue.
No phone, smartwatch, or notes at the desk
Leave devices switched off and stored as instructed, ideally outside the exam room. Possession of an unauthorised device at the desk can lead to expulsion regardless of whether it was used.
Review the exam structure and instructions the day before
Re-read the instructions for each part: number of questions, optional sections, and how answers must be presented. Knowing the format saves minutes that matter in a timed practical.
Sleep, food, and transport plan
Confirm transport times, especially if the venue is outside your town. Eat before arriving and carry a light snack for between-session breaks. Confirm with the provider whether you may leave the room between parts of the exam.
Plan the day
Consolidate rather than expand. Re-work the practical skills most likely to appear: interpreting geological maps and cross-sections, ordering stratigraphic events, reading block diagrams, calculating gradients and densities, interpreting climatic and hydrological graphs, and analysing environmental impact data. Practise writing short structured answers with correct terminology in Valencian or Spanish, whichever language your exam is delivered in. Check that your calculator works and that you know its functions without instructions.
Confirm logistics: venue address, access time, transport, and whether any special arrangement (accessibility, medical) has been approved. Re-read the official instructions for your call. If anything is unclear about permitted materials, contact the provider now rather than on the morning.
Do a light review only: formula sheet, key vocabulary, and the structure of each exam part. Prepare your bag with ID, registration proof, pens, pencil, ruler, calculator, watch, and water. Charge nothing you cannot bring; leave the phone out of the exam kit. Set an alarm and plan to arrive early. Sleep at a normal time.
Eat a proper breakfast, check you have your ID and registration document, and travel with margin for delays. On arrival, locate the room and the notice boards showing your name and seat. Keep calm and avoid last-minute discussions with other candidates that could unsettle you.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note the marks per question and any choice between options. Identify which practical tasks are quick wins and which need more time. Write your name and identification details exactly as instructed.
Answer the questions you know best first, then return to the harder ones. For map and cross-section tasks, show your working: label axes, units, and scale. For numerical answers, state the formula, substitute, and give the result with units and sensible significant figures. For environmental questions, structure answers as cause, process, consequence, and possible measure. Keep handwriting legible and leave space between answers.
Check that every required question has been attempted, that units are present, and that no answer is left in pencil where pen is required. Verify your identification details and that all pages are submitted. Do not erase or rewrite large sections at the last moment.
Do not attempt to reconstruct answers with others in a way that affects your next session. Note any question you found unclear and, if the official procedure allows, raise it through the channel indicated by the provider rather than informally.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identity document required for your call. If the name or document type differs from your enrolment record, resolve it with the provider before the exam day; do not assume an alternative document will be accepted.
Electronic devices, including mobile phones and smartwatches, must be switched off and stored as instructed, normally outside the exam room. Possession of an unauthorised device at the desk may lead to expulsion from the exam.
Only materials expressly permitted for the subject may be used. Confirm with the provider which calculator models, dictionaries, or reference sheets are allowed for Geology and Environmental Sciences in your call.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on seating, timing, and submission. Do not begin writing before the signal or continue after the final signal; both are commonly treated as serious irregularities.
Communication between candidates during the exam is prohibited, including borrowing materials. Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need anything.
Leaving the room before the permitted time or without authorisation may be treated as abandoning the exam. Confirm with the provider the rules on breaks and early exit for your venue.
Scoring and eligibility rules, including how the Geology and Environmental Sciences grade combines with your other PAU results and any subject weighting for university admission, are set by the official regulations. Confirm the current weightings and pass requirements with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
Any incident, illness, or irregularity should be reported immediately to the invigilators and, where applicable, through the official claims procedure. Confirm the deadline and channel for claims with the provider.