The university entrance exam (Selectividad) has changed its format and has been in place for two sittings now. This isn't just a pending announcement; it's the exam that's being administered. This guide describes what it's like, the types of questions it includes, and where you can lose points you never expect to lose.
First, the name
For a few years it was called EBAU (University Access Baccalaureate Assessment). Now it has reverted to the name PAU, University Access Test , which was never abandoned in Catalonia.
If you see EBAU, EVAU, or PAU referring to the same thing, it's not a mistake: they are names for the same exam at different times and in different regions. What has truly changed is the content.
The two phases
The exam is organized into two blocks with different functions.
- The general phase is mandatory. It includes the core subjects—in Catalonia, Catalan language, Spanish language, a foreign language, and history—plus one elective subject. This is what grants you access.
- The specific, voluntary phase. You can take the exam up to three subjects, and Only the two best grades count.It's the one that raises your admission score.
That detail about the specific phase is underutilized: if you apply to three and one goes badly, it doesn't hurt your chances, because it's discarded. Applying to three instead of two is a free safety net.
What kind of questions will you encounter?
This is the fundamental change. Exams are competency-based : they measure whether you can apply what you've studied, not whether you can repeat it.
In practice, this means mostly open and semi-open questions that require you to analyze, connect, and argue about material provided in the prompt. It's a history exam with a text or graphic that needs to be interpreted, not a question that can be answered by simply memorizing information.
There is a second new development that affects the correction: there are now common correction criteria for the entire Spanish territory , designed so that the same answer is worth the same in any community.
Language exams, for example, are structured in four parts: reading comprehension, literature questions, linguistic questions, and written expression. Knowing how the exam you're going to take is graded changes how you prepare for it.
Poor spelling is a disadvantage, and it's much more detrimental than it seems.
Here is the specific fact that almost no one takes into account, and it is the one that awards the most points.
In Catalan and Spanish language exams, standard errors—spelling, grammar, and vocabulary— deduct 0,1 points each, up to a maximum of 2 points . This deduction is applied to the entire exam, after the scores for all four sections have been added together.
Two points represent 20% of the grade. Twenty mistakes, made without realizing it in a long, pressured essay, cost a fifth of the exam. It's the most silent loss of the entire test: no one points it out while you're writing.
The practical consequence is not "study spelling," which is of little use at this point. It's more concrete:
- Save the last few minutes to reread. Not for adding content: for catching errors. It's more effective than any extra paragraph.
- Know your common mistakes. Almost everyone repeats the same four or five. Identifying them and deliberately seeking them out is half an hour well spent.
- And how does it relate to the entire exam?They also count the mistakes in the short questions, not just those in the writing.
How your grade is calculated
In summary, and with the numbers that matter:
- Access grade, up to 10. It is formed with the 60% of your high school average and the 40% of the general phaseYou need at least a 4 on the test and the result must be 5 or more.
- Admission grade, up to 14. The access grade plus up to 4 points from the specific phase, depending on how much weight each subject has for your degree: 0,1 or 0,2.
Look at the 60%: your high school transcript carries more weight than the exam. It's the part that's decided over two years and that can't be retaken in June.
Once passed, the access grade is valid indefinitely . The grades for the admission subjects are not: they are valid for the year following the exam and the two subsequent years. The complete explanation, with examples, is in the guide to calculating your university entrance exam grade.
The dates of 2027
| Call | Dates |
|---|---|
| Ordinary | 1, 2 and 3 of June of 2027 |
| extraordinary | 6, 7 and 8 of July of 2027 |
Two changes compared to last year: the regular exam period is brought forward by one week, and the extraordinary exam period moves from September to July. The implications for those who have the opportunity to take the exam again are detailed in the guide for the extraordinary exam period.
How to prepare for a competency exam
If the exam requires application, studying for recognition is useless. Three things that do change the result:
- Give real exams, not summaries. The questions from previous calls for applications are published, along with their marking criteria. This is the most useful material available and it's free.
- Write complete, timed answers. Arguing well in twenty minutes is a different skill from knowing the subject, and it can only be practiced by writing.
- Read the marking criteria. They state exactly what counts. Many people lose points for not mentioning something the criteria require and that they knew perfectly well.
If you want to work on it with a plan and corrected simulations, we cover it in the Selectividad preparation courses.
This guide describes the exam. If you need to get your bearings beforehand—to know if your route is the University Entrance Exam (PAU), the PCE, or access from a Vocational Training Cycle—start with the university entrance exam guide.
FAQ
Is it called PAU, EBAU or EVAU?
All three refer to the same exam. The current official name is PAU, Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad (University Access Test), which is what it has always been called in Catalonia.
Is the new model already in effect?
Yes. It has already been held twice, so there are actual exams published with their marking criteria.
How many subjects can I take exams in during the specific phase?
You can take up to three attempts, but only the two best scores count. Taking a third attempt isn't penalized: if it goes badly, it's discarded.
How much is deducted for a spelling mistake?
In the Catalan and Spanish language exams, 0,1 points are deducted for each grammatical error, up to a maximum of 2 points out of the total exam score. This represents 20% of the grade.
How much does my high school grade weigh?
60% of the access grade. The general phase contributes the remaining 40%.
What grade do I need to pass?
At least a 4 on the test, and that the resulting access grade is 5 or more.
When are the 2027 university entrance exams?
The ordinary session is on June 1, 2 and 3, and the extraordinary session is on July 6, 7 and 8.
Does my note expire?
The entrance exam score is valid indefinitely. The grades for the admission subjects are valid for the academic year following the exam and the two subsequent academic years.
