Four out of ten university students do not get into the degree program and institution they chose as their first choice. This proportion, which would be alarming in educational stages such as vocational training (VT), is a trend repeated in the Catalan university system. In 2025, in the July pre-registration period, only 58% (27,927) of the students assigned a place obtained a seat at the degree program and university they had chosen as their first preference. In the July pre-registration period of last year, 62% of university students were able to study where they wanted, the same percentage as those who did so in 2023.

"We've been living on a path toward discrediting the humanities for some time now. With constant warnings that students can't read complex texts or don't understand the problems, how is it possible that anyone would think of removing required readings or reducing literature in the curriculum?" laments the literature professor at the University of Barcelona (UB). The fact that this week has been put on the table (and later retired) The decision to make Catalan and Castilian literature optional in the humanities baccalaureate has once again raised alarm bells about a clear problem in Catalonia: the humanities are losing importance at the educational and social levels.

The procedure for calling for selectivity – short and shallow – is flawed everywhere. In this year's tests, First, it was said that spelling mistakes would only deduct marks on Catalan language and literature exams; then, seeing that these mistakes would inevitably also be present on history exams or any other subject, perhaps even math, they said they would lower the mark. in any subject; and then, seeing that it would all end in disaster, they said they wouldn't count for much anywhere, or not at all, because...

Mathematics and physics, aerospace and computer engineering, and medical degrees continue to lead the ranking of the highest university entrance exams in Catalonia for another year. The highest grade of all was once again that of the simultaneous degree in mathematics and physics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), which rose to 13.370 points out of a total of 14. The same degree, from the University of Barcelona (UB), followed closely behind, with a entrance exam grade of 13.170 points. These degrees offer very few places (20 at two different universities, 40 in total), which is why access to them is so difficult.

A few days ago, Espanyol tweeted to congratulate Eloi Tost for achieving a 12.908 on the university entrance exams, the highest score of the seven players from their youth academy, all of whom passed, who took the university entrance exams (PAU). The Reus-born U19 B forward, who resides at the club's residence, needed a high score to enter the aerospace engineering degree, and Espanyol has given him every opportunity to obtain it. as in La MasíaDani Jarque, too, is given a lot of emphasis on his studies.

The fact that almost all students (95%) who took the university entrance exams passed doesn't mean that Catalonia's university entrance exam results are good. In fact, according to data released Wednesday by the Department of Research and Universities, the pass rate in the first edition of the new university entrance exam dropped by two points compared to the 2024 and 2023 tests, when the pass rate was 97%, and by one point compared to the 2022 and 2023 results.

She didn't need it because she had been awarded a scholarship to study at university and passing the entrance exams was enough for her, but Catalina Goytisolo from Canigó School in Barcelona was the student who obtained the highest grade in this entrance exam. With a 9.9 in the general phase, she shared the podium with two other students, all girls: Berta García from Vilanova del Vallès High School and Raquel Giménez from La Vall School in Bellaterra.

Now that the university entrance exams are over, here's a comment from a teacher who accompanied her students to the test yesterday: "The victim exam was a tragedy; half of them came out crying. Not to mention the fact that they've been sleeping poorly for days and living on coffee, but from monsters."

Gentrification, lobbying, and the inability to afford rent. The housing crisis was undoubtedly the focus of the first Catalan language exam without required reading for the university entrance exam. The test, which some students admitted was "affordable," like most of this year's entrance exams, began with a reading comprehension exercise based on an excerpt from the article. Green gentrification, the ignored danger, by Josep Maria Boronat i Pujals –and not Joan Maria, as it appeared by mistake in the exam–.

The history of professional football is full of players who have dropped out of school to focus on sports. And not just those at big clubs like Barça, Espanyol, Girona, or Real Madrid. Early contracts, even for modest amounts, cause many teenagers—and, unfortunately, some families—to lose sight of the world and consider going to school a waste of time; that it's better to train to climb the leagues and earn more and more money. Those who think this way barely finish high school. Over the years, the minority of footballers who are successful and make a career in the First or Second Division earn enough money to make up for it. But the vast majority fall by the wayside or end up retiring in their thirties without any academic training or the possibility of saving. That's when the real problems begin.

After decades of university entrance exams, in 2025, for the first time, a woman appeared on the philosophy exam. Philosopher Martha Nussbaum, with a reflection on the need to make education compulsory, was the protagonist of the philosophy test alongside René Descartes and his Metaphysical Meditations. Almost half of the students took the exam, unlike last year when less than a third chose it, and which some have criticized as "very easy."

The more than 44,000 Catalan students taking the university entrance exam this Wednesday have already passed the first test: the Spanish language and literature exam. A test that, despite the fear of themess about how much spelling mistakes could be penalized, most students described it as "simple and accessible." "I'm not right to say this, but I think I did really well," said Lucas, who is taking the University Entrance Exam (PAU) exam at Pompeu Fabra University.

Now it's time. After years of proposals and drafts, this Wednesday more than 44,000 students across Catalonia will be taking the new selectivity model for the first time. These new PAU exams aim to be more competency-based—and therefore less rote—and have already generated controversy before they even begin.

These days, students in some areas of Spain who have already taken the university entrance exams are posting videos online in which they say what grades they think they got. One friend records it, the other has the results on her phone, and she, the victim, who doesn't know them, guesses the grade.

The 44,200 students who, starting Wednesday, will be playing a part of their future in the university entrance exams have been preparing for this moment for months, in one way or another. At the same time, the wheels have also been turning for weeks to make the university entrance exams run like clockwork—or at least try to. This network includes everyone from the university entrance exam coordinator and the head of the University Admissions Office in Catalonia to 221 examining boards that organize 35 tests and, of course, the more than 2,400 teachers involved in the university entrance exams.

The mess around Whether or not spelling mistakes should be penalized in all selectivity exams has revived the debate about the level of students entering university today. Although on Wednesday one of the arguments used by the test coordinator, Pilar Gómez, to justify the corrections to the PAU exams was that students, "after 15 years of schooling, shouldn't be worried about spelling mistakes" [because they shouldn't], the reality is very different if you ask the teachers who receive them: "satisfactory" to "very disappointing."

Finally, spelling mistakes will deduct points on university entrance exams where writing is a major focus. The Catalan government has backtracked on a fiasco that had simultaneously generated alarm and confusion among students, teachers, and families. The Department of Universities announced on Wednesday that spelling would only deduct points on language and literature exams, but the following day, Thursday, following a public reaction, they quickly hid behind confusion and went back to square one. With less than a week until the university entrance exams, such a spectacle is lamentable. So, from the outset, the ones who fail are the university entrance exam itself: those responsible for its organization. A mistake like this does nothing to enhance the prestige of the exam and, above all, creates insecurity among both students and examiners.

Spelling mistakes will deduct points from any university entrance exams on June 11, 12, and 13 that include writing exercises, the Department of Research and Universities announced Thursday. Minister Núria Montserrat has had to rectify In an appearance on 3/24, she and her team publicly revealed the information she and her team gave on Wednesday in a working session with journalists about the new features of the University Entrance Exams (PAU), which highlighted that spelling errors would only be included in language and literature subjects and, therefore, would not be penalized in any of the 25 subjects, both compulsory and optional.

A major twist in the university entrance exams that 44,200 students will take in Catalonia next week. Unlike what It had been hinted at the beginning of the course, in this year's PAU exams, spelling mistakes will only be included in language and literature subjects. That is, spelling will not be taken into account (and will not be penalized) in any of the 25 compulsory and optional subjects that do not directly assess a language or literature.

The UNPORTAL platform and the ARA (Argentine University of Catalonia) offer you the cut-off marks for the first allocation of places for the 2025-2026 academic year, which you can consult along with the updated offer of university courses to be taught at the 12 Catalan universities (the 8 participating in the pre-registration system and the 4 not).