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Free Practice Questions for PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques (UIB)

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Key Facts: PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques (UIB) Exam

90 min

Exam time duration for the PAU specific paper

UIB PAU Organising Commission

0–10 scale

Scoring system (minimum 4.0 in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato)

Balearic Islands PAU Regulations

4 Modules

Core curriculum: Graphic Media, Color & Painting, Printmaking, Composition & Conservation

2º Bachillerato Art Curriculum UIB

100

High-quality practice questions in this OpenExamPrep subject bank

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Master the 2026 Balearic Islands PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques exam with 100 curated practice questions covering graphic media, painting binders, printmaking, and conservation.

Sample PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques (UIB) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques (UIB) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the key difference between vine charcoal and compressed charcoal?
A.Vine charcoal consists of charred willow or vine twigs without added binders, making it soft and easily erasable
B.Vine charcoal is bound with gum arabic, making it insoluble in water
C.Compressed charcoal contains no binders and cannot produce dark tones
D.Compressed charcoal is made from burnt animal bones and leaves permanent oil stains
Explanation: Vine charcoal (carboncillo natural) is produced by burning willow or vine twigs in oxygen-deprived kilns without any added binding agents. This makes it soft, easily smudged, and simple to erase. In contrast, compressed charcoal uses a binder (like gum or clay) to yield denser, darker lines that are harder to erase.
2On the graphite pencil hardness scale (H to B), what does a high 'B' rating signify?
A.Higher proportion of clay binder, resulting in a harder pencil that makes fine light lines
B.Higher graphite-to-clay ratio, yielding a softer core that deposits darker, richer black lines
C.Addition of polymer wax, making the lead waterproof and unerasable
D.Increased core diameter designed exclusively for technical architectural drafting
Explanation: The 'B' stands for Blackness. A higher number before B (e.g., 6B or 8B) indicates a higher proportion of graphite relative to clay binder, resulting in a softer pencil lead that leaves darker, broader, and more smudgeable marks.
3Traditional Indian ink (tinta china) achieves waterproofness when dry primarily due to which component?
A.Linseed oil emulsion mixed into water
B.Sodium silicate acting as a crystalline catalyst
C.Shellac (goma laca) or acrylic resin acting as a binder
D.Gum tragacanth dissolved in ethanol
Explanation: Traditional Indian ink combines fine carbon black pigment with a binder such as shellac (goma laca) dissolved in a mild alkaline solution. Once dry, shellac forms a water-insoluble film, making the ink waterproof and ideal for watercolor washes applied over dried ink lines.
4How do oil pastels differ chemically and mechanically from soft pastels (pastel seco)?
A.Oil pastels use water-soluble gum arabic, whereas soft pastels use linseed oil
B.Soft pastels contain synthetic plasticizers that cure into an insoluble plastic film
C.Oil pastels require aerosol fixatives immediately to prevent pigment evaporation
D.Oil pastels use a non-drying mineral oil and wax binder, preventing them from hardening or powdering
Explanation: Oil pastels consist of pigment bound with non-drying mineral oils and wax. Because the oil does not dry or oxidize like linseed oil, oil pastels remain workable, soft, and un-powdered indefinitely, whereas soft pastels use minimal water-soluble binders (like gum tragacanth) and produce dry, dusty marks.
5In paper specification, what does the measurement unit 'g/m²' (grammage) indicate?
A.The weight in grams of one square meter of the paper, reflecting its thickness and mass
B.The grain roughness index of the paper surface
C.The proportion of rag cotton content relative to wood pulp
D.The light absorption percentage of archival watercolor paper
Explanation: Grammage measured in g/m² (grams per square meter) specifies the weight of paper. Heavier papers (e.g., 300 g/m²) are thicker and resist warping or buckling when exposed to wet media like watercolor or ink washes.
6Which paper surface manufacturing finish is pressed between heated iron rollers, creating a smooth, toothless surface ideal for fine pen-and-ink detail?
A.Rough (torcheón)
B.Hot pressed (satiné / satinado)
C.Cold pressed (NOT / fin)
D.Deckle edged (barbas)
Explanation: Hot pressed paper (papel satinado) is passed through heated metal rollers during manufacturing. This flattens the paper fibers to create a dense, smooth surface without tooth, making it preferred for botanical illustration, technical ink drawing, and fine detail work.
7Sanguine (sanguina) is a classical drawing medium characterized by its distinct reddish-brown earth tone. Which mineral pigment gives sanguine its characteristic color?
A.Cupric carbonate (malachite)
B.Manganese dioxide
C.Anhydrous or hydrated iron oxide (hematite)
D.Calcined bone charcoal
Explanation: Sanguine derives its warm brick-red color from iron oxide (hematite). Popularized during the Renaissance by masters like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, it is frequently combined with black chalk and white highlights in the 'trois crayons' technique.
8What optical change frequently occurs when a resin-based spray fixative is heavily applied to a soft pastel or charcoal drawing?
A.The tones lighten significantly due to light scattering by resin particles
B.The paper turns bright yellow immediately from chemical reduction
C.The pigment particles dissolve completely and turn into transparent oil
D.The drawing darkens and loses delicate light values as resin fills air voids between pigment particles
Explanation: Spray fixatives bind loose dust by coating pigment particles with resin dissolved in solvent. Over-application fills the microscopic air gaps between loose pigment granules, altering how light refracts and causing the drawing to darken significantly and lose delicate tonal subtleties.
9How does a traditional flexible steel dip pen nib create line width variation compared to a technical pen (rápido)?
A.By flexing its split tines apart under downward pressure, allowing more ink to flow
B.By varying the angle of ink flow through an internal rotary piston valve
C.By altering the chemical temperature of the ink stored inside the barrel reservoir
D.By utilizing a porous felt tip that expands when compressed against paper
Explanation: A steel dip pen nib features a central split (tines). Applying downward pressure forces the tines apart, widening the ink channel and creating a line that expands smoothly from thin to thick based on artist pressure. Technical pens use a tubular point with a wire weight, keeping line width strictly constant.
10What advantage do alcohol-based graphic markers offer over water-based markers for professional illustration?
A.They are completely lightfast and never fade when exposed to direct sunlight
B.They dry rapidly and allow smooth color blending and layering without tearing or saturating paper fibers
C.They can be erased cleanly with a standard kneaded eraser
D.They dissolve wood pulp fibers to create an embossed 3D texture
Explanation: Alcohol-based markers dry quickly because the solvent evaporates rapidly. This allows illustrators to layer and blend colors smoothly without re-wetting and weakening the paper fibers, unlike water-based markers which can cause paper cockling and fiber tearing (pilling).

About the PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques (UIB) Exam

Comprehensive 100-question practice test bank for the Balearic Islands (UIB) PAU exam in Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques (Tècniques d'Expressió Graficoplàstica). Covers traditional and modern drawing media, color theory and painting binders, relief and intaglio printmaking, screen printing, composition principles, artwork conservation, and studio safety.

Exam sponsor: PAU Organising Commission of the Balearic Islands / UIB. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

The PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques exam (UIB) consists of theoretical and practical evaluation components lasting 90 minutes. Candidates answer structured questions on drawing media, painting chemistry, printmaking processes, visual composition, and art conservation principles. Local practice items are an English-language MCQ study adaptation of the official open/semi-constructed Balearic Islands PAU paper, not an official translation or format simulation.

Time Limit

90 minutes (1.5 hours)

Passing Score

Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% PAU >= 5.0 to pass).

Exam / Certification Fees

EUR 69.21 ordinary registration fee (Access Phase); EUR 13.85 per additional Admission Phase subject paper (UIB 2026)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

Drawing & Graphic Media

Charcoal, graphite, Indian ink, dry and oil pastels, markers, paper substrates, tooth, sizing, and fixatives.

25%

Color & Painting Techniques

Watercolor, gouache, acrylics, oil painting, binders, drying mechanisms, fat-over-lean rule, color mixing, and pigment chemistry.

25%

Printmaking & Graphic Reproduction

Relief printing (linocut, woodcut), intaglio (etching, drypoint, aquatint, burin), planographic lithography, screen printing, monotype, and editioning.

25%

Composition, Conservation & Safety

Rule of thirds, golden section, linear/atmospheric perspective, chiaroscuro, archival matting, UV protection, reversibility, and studio safety.

Preparing for the PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques (UIB) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% PAU >= 5.0 to pass).
  • Assessment: The PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques exam (UIB) consists of theoretical and practical evaluation components lasting 90 minutes. Candidates answer structured questions on drawing media, painting chemistry, printmaking processes, visual composition, and art conservation principles. Local practice items are an English-language MCQ study adaptation of the official open/semi-constructed Balearic Islands PAU paper, not an official translation or format simulation.
  • Time limit: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
  • Exam / certification fees: EUR 69.21 ordinary registration fee (Access Phase); EUR 13.85 per additional Admission Phase subject paper (UIB 2026) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PAU Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques (UIB): Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorize the binder, solvent, and drying mechanisms for all major painting media (gum arabic for watercolor/gouache, drying oils for oil paint, acrylic polymer emulsion for acrylics).
2Understand the key distinctions between relief printing (surface ink), intaglio printing (recessed groove ink), planographic lithography (grease/water repulsion), and stencil screen printing.
3Review historical paper properties including grammage (g/m²), sizing (absorbency control), and acid-free archival standards (cotton rag, pH 8.5 buffer).
4Master composition fundamentals: Rule of Thirds grid, Golden Ratio ($\phi \approx 1.618$), one/two-point perspective vanishing points, and atmospheric light scattering.
5Practice health and safety principles: solvent ventilation, N95/P100 particulate masks for dry media, and water safety cans for oil-soaked rags to prevent spontaneous combustion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these official Balearic Islands PAU exam questions?

Local practice items are an English-language MCQ study adaptation of the official open/semi-constructed Balearic Islands PAU paper, not an official translation or format simulation. Use official UIB past papers and subject matrices for open-response, listening, graphic, and performance practice.

What is the official subject title for this PAU exam in the Balearic Islands?

The official subject title is Tècniques d'Expressió Graficoplàstica (Técnicas de Expresión Graficoplástica) in the 2º Bachillerato Art modality syllabus under UIB regulations.

How is the final PAU mark calculated for university admission in Spain?

The overall admission grade combines Bachillerato GPA (60%) and the PAU Access Phase mark (40%). Specific subject papers like Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques can add up to 2.0 extra points each in the Admission Phase.

What printmaking processes are tested on the UIB PAU examination?

The syllabus covers relief processes (linocut, woodcut), intaglio processes (etching, drypoint, aquatint, engraving), planographic lithography, screen printing, monotype, and editioning conventions.

In what languages is the UIB PAU examination offered?

In the Balearic Islands, official PAU examination papers are provided in Catalan (ca) and Spanish (es).

What safety and conservation rules are included in the syllabus?

Topics include solvent volatility, studio ventilation, heavy metal pigment toxicity (lead, cadmium), spontaneous rag combustion, archival acid-free matting, UV glazing, and humidity control.