The worst math grade of the decade: "We are encouraging them not to take this subject"

BarcelonaMajor setback in this year's university entrance exam mathematics test. This Tuesday, the average scores for all subjects were announced, and in the case of scientific mathematics, the average was 4.18: a failing average and, moreover, the lowest average since 2014, when it was a flat 4. In fact, in the last twelve years, the average for this subject has only been a failure on three occasions: this year (4.18), 2024 (4.87), and 2014 (4). Therefore, mathematics continues to be one of the PAU's nightmares, after the average score dropped by almost two points compared to last year (6.12).

"It was to be expected," lamented the high school mathematics teacher and president of the Federation of Entities for the Teaching of Mathematics in Catalonia (FEEMCAT), Raül Fernández. Just as many students had already warned – some of them left the exam in tears – Fernández denounces that this year's exam was "excessively long, with more sections than it should have and some poorly worded questions." The president of FEEMCAT does not consider that what was asked in the exam was not part of the syllabus, but he does warn that as it was structured, "one exercise this year was like two exercises from the previous year." "If you add to this that there were a couple of sections that aimed for excellence – 'which should always be sought,' he clarifies – you end up with this: the exam with the lowest average of the decade," criticizes Fernández. Furthermore, he also explains that some examiners already complained about the difficulty of the test.

However, this Tuesday, the Minister of Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, defended that "the exam model adjusts to the curriculum" and that "the structure was no different from the previous year." In response to the criticism of the exam, the minister insisted that the models "are prepared by experts" and that it is done "with academic rigor." She also admitted, however, that this year's mathematics grade "is not satisfactory," and added that this subject poses a "challenge" for students.

In fact, precisely because of this "challenge" it poses, the president of FEEMCAT warns that it is increasingly recommended that students in the scientific baccalaureate take the social mathematics exam (5.64) to avoid the excessive difficulty of scientific mathematics. "We are condemning them or encouraging them not to take this subject. It is true that the average for social mathematics is not stellar, but at least the exam is rational," he argues.

On the other hand, after presenting this year's PAU results, Montserrat also explained that a questionnaire process has been initiated with the examiners "to get first-hand and objective information" about the exams, but that this procedure will not only be done in the case of mathematics, but generally for all tests.

Small comeback in languages

On the other hand, and unlike what happened with mathematics, there has been a slight upturn in languages. In Catalan language and literature, the average grade was 6.46, a result 0.13 points higher than last year, which also represents a halt in the decline of Catalan grades in recent years. Regarding Spanish language and literature, in this year's PAU the average grade was almost a seven (6.96), half a point more than last year (6.4). On the other hand, the average grade for English has fallen slightly compared to last year, going from 6.82 to 6.71.

Although the pass rate for this year's university entrance exams has slightly increased from 94.97% to 95.68%, the average score for the general phase of the PAU is not improving. Last year it was 6.440 and this year it is 6.403. In fact, it is the lowest average score in the last nine years–. Regarding the university access average, this year it has been 7.167.

The highest averages

Despite the blow in mathematics, there are several subjects in which the average grades have reached quite outstanding levels, especially electives. The highest average was for choir and vocal technique (8.47), followed by German (8.32), French (7.44), and performing arts (7.22). However, none of these subjects have reached 500 students out of a total of 33,145 students who have passed the PAU.