Structure of the PAU (university entrance examinations)
Grading of exams
Exams questions and rules for marking (PAU)

Structure of the PAU (university entrance examinations)

All students will complete the university entrance examination over a period of three days, with a maximum of 4.5 hours of exams each day. The examination will consist of two parts:

The first part of the examination is intended to evaluate the student's academic maturity. The common Batxillerat (secondary school diploma-level) subjects will be covered, and the following tests will be included:

• Catalan language and literature
• Spanish language and literature
• Foreign language exercise (English, French, German, Italian)
• History or Philosophy
  

The second part of the examination will cover specific content relating to the subjects in the subject area.
It is obligatory that students be examined in the basic subjects relating to the entrance pathway (indicated in bold); and they will be required to choose a third subject from among those in which they have completed studies.

Students who wish to sit the examination for two entrance pathways must be examined in the four obligatory subjects for the two pathways.

Grading of exams

Uuniversity entrance examinations (PAU) Grade

• Each of the exercises included in the two parts of the exam will be graded on a scale from 0 to 10 points.
• The University entrance examinations grade will be the average of the grades obtained on the two parts.
• The grade for the first part of the exam will be the average of the four exercises.
• The grade for the second part will be calculated by adding 40% of the grades obtained in each of the obligatory subjects relating to the entrance pathway and 20% of the grade for the optional subjects chosen by the student.
• When a student seeks admission via two entrance pathways, the grade for the first part will be calculated as indicated above. For the second part, there will be two grades: one for each of the pathways. 40% of the mark for each of the two obligatory subjects relating to the entrance pathway will then be added to 20% of the highest mark for the subjects corresponding to the other pathway.

Entrance Grade

• For calculation of the Entrance grade for admission to university studies, the weighting of the University entrance examinations mark is 40%, and the other 60% corresponds to the student's average Batxillerat (secondary school diploma) mark as indicated on his or her school record.
• In order to obtain a grade of "pass" for an entrance pathway, it is necessary to obtain at least four points in the Univerasity entrance examination grade for that pathway.
• When a student seeks admission via two entrance pathways, two entrance grades will be provided, one for each of the pathways.
• To pass the university entrance exam for a particular entrance pathway, it will be necessary to obtain a score of five or higher in the Entrance exam for that pathway.

Exam questions and rules for marking (PAU)
Information on the exams can be found in the Catalan and Castilian text of the web site.