La PAU 2026 It arrives loaded with changes and with a fairly coordinated schedule between autonomous communities. Thousands of high school and advanced vocational training students are finalizing their preparations for an exam that, this year, takes another step towards a common assessment model across the country, with exams focused more on reasoning than mere memory.
The general framework is set by Royal Decree 534 / 2024which regulates the basic characteristics of the new university entrance exams for the coming years. Based on this, the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) has promoted a harmonization process that more than a dozen autonomous communities have joined. This will result in very similar exam formats, changes in marking methods, and a greater presence of competency-based exercises.
A more homogeneous and competency-based PAU 2026 model
State guidelines and recommendations from FLOOD They aim to make university access as similar as possible across different regions. In practice, this means that in the 2026 university entrance exams there will be a single exam model per subject and that the tests will share the same philosophy: to evaluate the ability to reason, understand and apply knowledge more than the simple recall of facts.
The exercises will be structured in closed, semi-open, and open questionsHowever, there is one important condition: at least 70% of the score for each test must come from open-ended or semi-open-ended questions. Furthermore, some optionality will be maintained within the sections, allowing students to choose from several options without compromising the level of rigor in key competencies.
The design of the exams also introduces a greater emphasis on competency assessmentAccording to guidelines from university rectors and the Ministry of Education, in subjects such as Spanish Language and Literature, this type of task may account for up to 70% of the exam. In History of Spain, a minimum of 50% is set, while in Art History the proportion will range between 80% and 100%. In subjects such as Geography or Applied Mathematics, the competency-based content cannot fall below 50% of the total.
This idea of āāa more practical test is reinforced by the requirement that at least 20% of the questions will be of a competency-based nature in the various exercises, so that students have to interpret, relate and apply what they have learned to diverse situations, beyond simply repeating theories verbatim.
General dates for the 2026 University Entrance Exams by region
Within that homogenization, the communities have made an effort to bring the calendars closer togetheralthough there are still nuances depending on the territory. The general plan places the ordinary call of the PAU 2026 around the first days of June, and the extraordinary call between the end of June and the beginning of July.
In much of Spain it has been agreed that the regular exams will take place June 2, 3 and 4However, some regions are slightly bringing these dates forward or back. The Community of Madrid, for example, is leading the way, starting the tests with its own calendar beginning on June 1st, while regions like Catalonia are setting the regular start for the second week of June.
Something similar is happening with the extraordinary call for applications, which in many autonomous communities has been concentrated around the June 30, July 1 and 2Even so, there are university systems that choose to bring forward or postpone exams depending on their organizational needs, and even communities that maintain an extraordinary exam in September, as is the case in Catalonia.
Along with the calendar, another aspect that is being gradually harmonized is the exam schedule. Some regions, such as La RiojaThey have already announced small adjustments, for example by bringing forward the morning shifts to avoid the hottest central hours, especially on those days in June when temperatures can be higher.
University entrance exams (PAU) 2026 in Madrid: calendar, registration and new marking criteria
La Region of Madrid Madrid faces the 2026 university entrance exams (PAU) with a finalized schedule and a new decree that will update the exam regulations to adapt them to national changes. Madrid is among the regions that have made the most progress in implementing the common models promoted by the CRUE (Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities), with nearly 70% alignment with national guidelines.
In ordinary callThe exams will be held on the following days: June 1, 2, 3 and 4, reserving the 5 June to resolve any potential issues or test mismatches. The centers must process the Registration between May 13th and 19thusually until early afternoon. Grades will be published on June 11 at 12:00 a.m. and students will be able to request a review on June 12, 15 and 16.
La university pre-registration For those taking the exam in this first round, registration will be open from 5 al 26 de junioAfterwards, the lists of accepted applicants will be published on July 10thwith a claims period scheduled for the 10th, 13th, and 14th of that month. In the extraordinary call, the registration will be formalized from 18 al 24 de junio and the exams will take place on June 30th and July 1st and 2ndJuly 3rd will be reserved for any issues. Grades will be released on July 9th at noon.
Regarding the structure, Madrid maintains the two traditional phases of the PAU. The access phaseThe required curriculum for high school students includes Spanish Language and Literature II, History of Spain or History of Philosophy, First Foreign Language II, and the specific subject required for the chosen specialization in the second year. This last subject may be, among others, Musical Analysis II, Performing Arts II, General Sciences, Artistic Drawing II, Latin II, Mathematics II, or Applied Mathematics for Social Sciences II.
La voluntary admission phase This allows students to improve their final grade. In this section, students can take up to three additional subjectsThe two highest scores will be considered after applying the weighting factors established by the universities for each degree. It is also possible to take an exam in a second foreign language during this phase.
One of the main new developments in Madrid has to do with the correction systemFrom 2026 onwards, ratings will be expressed in multiples of 0,1 instead of 0,25The intention is to refine the assessment and offer a better grading of each student's performance. This modification is in addition to the requirement that, in all subjects, at least 70% of the score be derived from open or semi-open questions and that at least 50% of the grade in the different sections of the exam be guaranteed to be optional.
Andalusia: Enrollment, exams and specific details by university
En AndalucĆaPublic universities have already opened or are about to open registration deadlines for the PAU 2026. Each of the nine institutions that offer undergraduate studies manages its own schedule, but all adhere to the dates set by the Interuniversity Coordinating Commission of Andalusia for the performance of the tests.
La ordinary call It will be celebrated throughout the community on the days 2, 3 4 y de JunioWhile Call is scheduled between 30 for June and the 2 for JulyIn the previous course, both calls for applications brought together more than 65.000 studentsThis represents more than 20% of all students who took the exam in Spain. Those eligible to take the exam are students in their second year of Bachillerato (pre-university studies), students in Higher Level Vocational Training programs (in their case, only for the admissions phase), and those who wish to retake the exam to improve their score.
La Registration is done online through each university's website. The procedure usually includes three steps: prior registration to obtain a virtual campus user account, selection of subjects (for both the access and admissions phases), and payment of fees. High school students taking the exam for the first time must choose all four subjects in the access phase, while those only taking the optional part choose only the subjects with which they want to improve their score.
The registration form requests the personal and contact information (email address and mobile phone number), in addition to the information necessary to apply for possible fee exemptions. These include those related to large families, disability, or the status of victim of gender violence or terrorism. The form also asks if the candidate needs an adaptation of the test due to specific educational support needs. tax payment It is done electronically, through a link enabled by each campus, using a bank card, without needing to go to the bank.
As for specific deadlinesThere are differences among Andalusian universities. The University of AlmerĆa has set the regular registration period between May 14 and 26; the University of CĆ”diz, from May 18 to 26; the University of CĆ³rdoba, from May 19 to 27; the University of Granada allows registration from May 18 to 22; the University of Huelva, from May 18 to 26; the University of JaĆ©n, from May 11 to 26; the University of MĆ”laga, from May 15 to 26; the University of Pablo de Olavide opens its registration period from May 12 to 25; and the University of Seville maintains its registration period from May 4 to 25. All of them will follow a similar approach for the extraordinary registration period, with registration windows adapted to their respective calendars.
For preparation, Andalusian students have at their disposal the Andalusian Single District (DUA) portalwhere you can consult sample exams and guidance documents from previous years. Through the Degrees section and the From High School subsection, you can access guidance materials and past exams, which detail the required content, the exam structure, and the minimum common marking criteria being implemented in all autonomous communities.
The 2026 University Entrance Exams in JaƩn: procedures, deadlines and publication of grades
Within the Andalusian system, the University of JaƩn (UJA) It has provided precise details on how the 2026 university entrance exams will operate in its university district. The regular exams will be held on the following days: 2, 3 and 4 of June of 2026, and the extraordinary the June 30, July 1 and 2Students in their second year of Baccalaureate and Higher Level Vocational Training Cycles in the district may apply, as well as those who have already passed the access phase in previous years and are now only attending the admission phase to improve their grade.
Before enrolling, those who do not have a UJA ICT account must complete the registration form in the entrance exams. This process was open from March 1 to April 30, 2026, and involves filling out a form and providing a valid email address, preferably personal and not linked to the institute, to avoid future problems with password recovery. The university itself reminds students that they create their ICT account through the website; the UJA does not automatically send passwords by email.
La registration for the ordinary session Registration takes place between 10:00 AM on May 11th and 11:59 PM on May 26th, 2026. Students must then pay their tuition fees between 23:00 AM on May 27th and 23:59 PM on May 29th through the Virtual University platform using a POS terminal (credit card payment). Bank transfers are not accepted, and if fees are not paid within the deadline, registration will be cancelled, meaning the student will not be able to attend the course, or if they do, their grades will also be cancelled.
The public prices The fees for the University Entrance Exams (PAU) at the University of JaĆ©n (UJA) are set by Decree 142/2025. The entrance exam costs ā¬58,70, while the admissions test costs ā¬14,70 per subject. There are discounts of 50% for large families (general category) and 100% for large families (special category) or for those who can prove a disability of 33% or more. If the large family card has expired, it must be renewed to receive the discount.
grades from the ordinary session Grades will be published on June 11, 2026, between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m., both on the UJA website and via corporate emails and SMS messages. From that moment, grade reports with digital signatures will begin to be generated; these are considered provisional until the review period ends. Review requests may be submitted from June 11 to 16, and on June 22, at 14:00 p.m., the final grades will be published, at which time the final digitally signed grade reports will be generated.
In extraordinary callRegistration will be open from June 8 to 23, 2026, fees will be due between June 24 and 26, and exams will take place between June 30 and July 2. Grades will be published on July 9, with a review period until July 14 and final grades published on July 20. In both cases, the university emphasizes the importance of completing the exams. pre-registration for Andalusian degrees, even if at first the PAU appears to be suspended, as the situation may change after the reviews.
Extremadura: venues and organization of the PAU 2026
En EstremaduraThe University of Extremadura (UEx) and the PAU Organizing Committee have also confirmed that the ordinary call It will take place on the days 2, 3 and 4 of June of 2026While extraordinary call took place on June 30th and July 1st and 2ndFor second-year high school students from Extremadura, these dates mark a turning point, as a large part of their university future will depend on the results obtained during these days.
The University of Extremadura is working on the final distribution of students and classroomsThis information will be made public at the end of May through the Undergraduate Studies Access and Management Service. The aim is for students to be able to take their exams at venues distributed throughout the region, as close as possible to their home schools, to minimize travel and facilitate logistics.
Each student will be assigned a specific location depending on your educational center. The exact location of the classroom and the final distribution lists will not be known until a few days before the start of the exams, which is normal in this type of test to adapt the venues to the actual number of registered students.
As in other regions, the university entrance exam in Extremadura distinguishes between a access phase, compulsory for those coming from Baccalaureate, and a admission phaseThis is a voluntary exam aimed at improving grades. Students in Higher Level Vocational Training programs only take this optional part, with the goal of improving their score for admission to degrees where the chosen subjects contribute the most weight.
Enhanced surveillance and use of technology to combat fraud
Beyond dates and procedures, several communities have announced specific measures for strengthen surveillance During the 2026 University Entrance Exams (PAU), the easy access to increasingly discreet electronic devices and artificial intelligence tools has led organizers to take extra precautions in the examination boards.
Among the planned initiatives, the incorporation of frequency detectors In some regions, such as Galicia, Murcia, Catalonia, and Aragon, the aim is to detect possible earpieces, smartwatches, connected glasses, or other unauthorized devices. These systems are in addition to the usual checks on mobile phones and permitted materials, seeking to ensure equal conditions for all students.
At the same time, emphasis is placed on the need to scrupulously follow the instructions of each examination board and to review in advance the rules governing what can and cannot be brought into the examination room. Universities remind students that any attempt to cheat or use prohibited devices may result in disciplinary action. annulment of the test, with the resulting consequences for university admission that same academic year. For further information on the composition and management of the examination boards, please consult the register of members of the PAU tribunal.
Another relevant development, although more pedagogical than disciplinary, is the consolidation of the common correction criteria between regions. In mathematics subjects, for example, it has been agreed that spelling mistakes will not penalize the grade, while in language subjects (Spanish, co-official languages, and foreign languages) up to two points may be deducted if they are repeated. In the other subjects, these deductions will not, in principle, exceed one point.
With the new competency-based approach, there are numerous recommendations for students to practice with past exams, carefully read the questions, and manage their time well for each test. The 2026 University Entrance Exams (PAU) maintain the specific weight of the Baccalaureate grade and the Selectividad exam in calculating the access grade, but introduce nuances in how performance is assessed, which may make slight differences in the final grade. For specific techniques and practice exercises, it is recommended to consult resources such as practice with past exams and other guidance materials.
This whole set of changesāfrom the unification of models and calendars From adjustments to grading and increased monitoring, the changes shape the 2026 university entrance exams (PAU) to ensure they are fairer, comparable across regions, and focused on what students can actually do with what they have learned. With a schedule already set in regions like Madrid, Andalusia, Extremadura, and JaĆ©n, and with digital tools and guidance materials available, the coming months will be crucial in preparing each student for the exams and giving them a clear understanding of what to expect on test day.
