There's a calculation that almost no one explains to a high school student until it's too late: their academic record accounts for 60% of their university entrance grade . The university entrance exam contributes the remaining 40%.
In other words, the longer half of the university entrance grade is determined over two years of classes, not in three days in June. And unlike the exam, that part cannot be retaken.
The 60% that do not recover
The asymmetry is what makes this urgent:
- The Selectividad exam can be repeated. as many times as you want, and the most favorable rating is always retained.
- The average grade in high school, no. When the course is closed, it's closed.
That's why a tenth of a point lost in a first-year subject is worth the same as a tenth of a point lost on the exam, but only one of the two can be recovered. It's exactly the opposite of how most students experience it: they're carefree in their first year and anxious in May of their second year.
And here's the most surprising detail: the first year of high school counts . The average is calculated using the grades from both years. A weak first year isn't fixed in the second, it's just diluted.
What's at stake in each course
| Course | What is at stake | A sign that support is needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1º of Bachillerato | Half the average, and the base on which the second is built | Grades that drop compared to secondary school, even if they are passed |
| 2º of Bachillerato | The other half of the average, plus exam preparation | You pass but you don't move up, or you don't finish the exams |
Look at the right-hand column for the first year: passing isn't the answer . The jump from ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) to Bachillerato (Upper Secondary Education) lowers the grades of many people who have never had problems before, and a 6 where there used to be an 8 is a warning, not an acceptable result. Two years of 6s when they could have been 8s is more than a point off your university entrance grade.
When does it make sense to ask for support, and when doesn't it?
Not everything can be fixed with more classes. Before hiring anyone, it's important to know what's wrong, because each problem requires a different solution.
The support works when the problem is:
- A gap at the base. If something from previous courses is missing, everything that comes after it falls apart. This is the case that best illustrates this point.
- The rhythm of the classroom. He understands, but not at the speed at which it is explained, and he gradually falls behind without anyone noticing.
- The exam format. He knows the subject matter, but the article isn't coming out.
This is not the way when the problem is:
- Lack of study hours. Adding classes for someone who doesn't study only adds hours. That needs to be resolved first.
- Disorganization. If the problem is not knowing what to do or when, what is needed is a method, not more content.
- A subject that is not interesting and does not count for anything. There, it's enough to approve without overspending.
The subjects that cause the most difficulty
In high school, traffic jams always occur in the same places, and they all have something in common: they are the ones that accumulate.
- MathsIn both modalities. It is the one that carries the most gaps in the ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education).
- Physics and chemistrywhich also depend on the mathematical basis.
- Languageswhere the problem is usually the written expression, not the content. It's good to know this early on: in the university entrance exams (PAU), each grammatical error deducts 0,1 points up to a maximum of 2.
What makes them different from, for example, history, is that you can't make up for it by studying more at the end: if you miss topic 3, you won't understand topic 9. That's why it's best to start early in these subjects and not wait until the next assessment.
Private lesson, small group or course: what does each one solve?
- Private lesson. For a specific, identified gap. It's the most effective when you know exactly what's missing, and the most expensive per hour.
- Small group. To follow an entire subject with more attention than in high school, during the course.
- Preparation course. For the university entrance exam, which is something else entirely: it doesn't cover the day-to-day life of the institute.
Mixing them is a common mistake. A university entrance exam preparation course won't fix a subject failed in February, and a weekly private lesson is no substitute for exam preparation.
How to tell if it's working
Don't wait for the next evaluation: that's a three-month window, and it's too long.
- After three or four weeksThe student should be able to say what they didn't understand before and why they understand it now. If they can't explain it, something isn't right.
- It should be noticeable in your daily exercises.not only in the next exam.
- And dependence should be reducednot to increase. The goal is to have more than enough, not to always need it.
You can see the schedules and subjects available for private lessons in Barcelona , or, if you prefer to learn remotely, for online private lessons . To help you decide which format suits you best, there's a guide on when private lessons are helpful and how to choose a tutor.
FAQ
How much does the Baccalaureate count towards the entrance grade?
60%. The general phase of the university entrance exam contributes the remaining 40%. It is the most heavily weighted part and the only one that cannot be repeated.
Does it count as the first year of high school?
Yes. The average is calculated using the grades from both years, so a weak first year isn't corrected in the second year: it's just diluted.
When is it a good time to start tutoring?
The problem is addressed as soon as a gap is detected, not as soon as a student fails. In mathematics, physics, and chemistry, waiting for the next assessment means accumulating topics that depend on the missing one.
What if my child passes but their grade has dropped?
It's the clearest sign, and the one most often overlooked. Passing with a 6 where there was previously an 8, for two years, subtracts more than one point from the entrance grade.
Is a private lesson or a small group better?
It depends on the problem. Private lessons are for a specific, pre-identified gap in your knowledge; small group classes are for studying an entire subject more closely throughout the course.
Does a university entrance exam preparation course help you pass high school?
Not quite: prepare for the exam, not for the day-to-day life of high school. They are different needs and it's best not to confuse them.
How do I know if it's working?
After three or four weeks, the student should be able to explain what they didn't understand before and why they understand it now, and this should be noticeable in their daily exercises. Their dependence should be decreasing, not increasing.
