"I didn't get the grade" can mean three very different things, and they're constantly being confused. Each one has different outcomes, so the first thing is to figure out which one you're dealing with.
| Your situation | The real problem |
|---|---|
| I failed the university entrance exams. | You don't have an access grade |
| I passed but I didn't reach my cut-off score. | You have access; you're missing an admission grade. |
| I have not been assigned a place in any preference category. | It may not be noteworthy: sometimes it's just part of the procedure |
If you have failed
You have the extraordinary exam session , which in 2027 is on July 6, 7, and 8. And here's something important that has changed: until 2026, the resit was in September, and there was all summer to prepare for it. Now it's five weeks from the regular exam period, and part of that time is spent waiting for the June results.
If it doesn't work out, there are two royal roads:
- Apply again the following year. It's a waiting course, but also a real preparation course.
- Enroll in a Higher Level Vocational Training Cycle. It's the route that most people dismiss without even looking at it, and it deserves its own section.
If you have passed but did not reach the cut-off score
This is the most frequent case and the one with the most leeway, because your access grade has already been obtained and does not expire.
Order the eight preferences correctly.
Before considering retaking exams, check your pre-registration, because you can get free points there. You can select up to eight options , and here's a strategy that works:
- first fourYou can pursue degrees you truly want, even if the cut-off score seems high. There's no penalty for aspiring to them.
- next fourrelated degrees or that They share first-year subjects. with your goal.
That second half is the part almost no one thinks about. If you get into a degree program that shares credits with the one you wanted, you can study for a year, request a transfer of your academic record, and have some of your credits recognized. It's not the direct route, but it's a path, and it's much better than not getting in at all.
And beware of the opposite: using only three or four preferences for fear of "compromising" is the most common way to end up without a place despite having the grade for something.
Improve your grade on the extraordinary exam
You can retake the subjects in the specific phase and the most favorable grade is always retained : you cannot lose what you already had.
The question is how much you can gain. If you're three-tenths of a point short, it's worth it. If you're two points short, five weeks are unlikely to provide that. And focus on the specific phase, which is where the points are—up to 4 out of a maximum of 14—: repeating the general phase to scrape together a tenth of a point is far less effective.
A calendar reminder: with the extraordinary session in July, it overlaps with the period in which pre-registration previously ran. The 2027 calendar has not yet been published and it is very likely that it will not work like the 2026 calendar, so do not plan using last year's dates: consult the official calendar as soon as it is released.
Wait a year and do it right
Unpopular, but often the best option, especially if the difference with your cut-off score is significant. Your entrance score remains, and you only need to work on the specific phase, which consists of two or three subjects, not the entire course.
The Vocational Training Cycle pathway
It deserves serious consideration because it solves two problems at once: it gives you a professional qualification and a second door to university.
From a Higher Level Vocational Training Cycle, you gain access with your cycle's average grade , without having to pass the university entrance exam. And if that average isn't high enough for the degree you want, you can take only the specific subjects to improve your grade: two or three subjects, not the entire Baccalaureate curriculum.
In other words: you enter the system, you leave with a degree, and you have another chance with a much shorter exam.
The private university
It requires having passed the Selectividad exam, but it is not governed by a cut-off score : each center defines its own access system and some make their own tests.
If you fall into the second category—passed but not with a high enough grade—it's a real option. It's best to ask directly at the university you're interested in, as procedures and deadlines vary considerably from one institution to another.
What you keep no matter what happens
- The admission grade is valid indefinitely. Once passed, it never expires.
- The most favorable rating is always retained. Introducing yourself again can't lower it.
- The grades for the admission subjects The course following the test and the two subsequent courses are valid.
That last one is the only one with an expiration date, and it's the one you should keep in mind if you decide to wait a year.
And if you're going to try again, here are three things to keep in mind.
- Neglecting the high school transcript. It weighs 60% It's part of the entrance exam and the only part that can't be repeated. More people are left out because of the two-year average than because of the three-day exam.
- Start preparing in spring. The exam doesn't measure what you know, it measures how you apply it with the clock ticking, and that takes months of training.
- Choose specific subjects without looking at the weightings. Each one is weighted at 0,1 or 0,2 depending on the race. With the same effort, one can give you twice as much as the other.
If you want to prepare only the subjects that carry the weighting, with a structured plan, that's what we cover in our university entrance exam preparation courses . And to fully understand your ranking, we offer a guide to calculating your entrance exam score and your university pre-registration score.
And if, upon reviewing it, you see that the problem is fundamental—you don't know exactly which test you are taking or how the grade is calculated—it's best to go back to the beginning with the university entrance exam guide.
FAQ
What do I do if I fail the university entrance exams?
Apply for the extraordinary exam session, which in 2027 is on July 6, 7, and 8. If you are unsuccessful, you can repeat the following year or enter through a Higher Level Vocational Training Cycle.
Is there still a call for applications in September?
Not in Catalonia. Since 2027, the extraordinary session has been held in July, so there isn't the whole summer left to prepare for a second chance.
Can I get into university without passing the university entrance exam?
Yes, from a Higher Level Vocational Training Cycle: you gain access with your average grade from the cycle. If your grade isn't high enough, you can take the specific subjects only to improve your score.
Can my grade go down if I retake the exam?
No. The most favorable rating is always retained.
How many preferences should I list in the pre-registration form?
The eight. The first four, whatever you really want; the next four, related degrees or those that share first-year subjects, so you can later request a transfer of records.
Does my university entrance exam score expire?
The entrance exam score does not expire. The grades for the admission subjects are valid for the year following the exam and the two subsequent years.
Is it worth taking the resit exam to improve your grade?
It depends on the distance. For three tenths, yes; for two points, five weeks is hardly enough. And it's best to focus on the specific phase, which is where the points are.
And what about private universities?
It requires passing the university entrance exam (Selectividad) but there's no cut-off score: each center sets its own admissions criteria, and some have their own entrance exam. You should check with the center you're interested in.
