How Selectividad Will Be in 2026: Everything You Need to Know About the Exams, Grades, and Frequency Detectors

El País provides a comprehensive guide to Spain's upcoming university entrance exams, known as the Selectividad or PAU, for 2026. With the exams set to begin in early June across most autonomous communities, approximately 300,000 students are preparing to take them. While the overall pass rate is high, the challenge lies in achieving the specific cut-off grades required for competitive degree programs, particularly in scientific and technological fields.

A significant development this year is the implementation of frequency detectors in several regions, including Galicia, Murcia, and Catalonia. This measure aims to combat the increasing sophistication of cheating methods, which involve devices like nanoring-earpieces, smartwatches, and internet-connected glasses, often amplified by AI's ability to solve complex problems. The penalty for being caught is severe, typically resulting in a zero score for the entire examination.

The exams will assess students in core subjects such as Spanish Language and Literature, a choice between History of Philosophy or History of Spain, a foreign language, and a modality-specific subject tied to their high school specialization. For students in Science and Technology, this will likely be Mathematics, while Humanities and Social Sciences students might face Mathematics applied to Social Sciences or Latin. The article details the specific requirements for each track, ensuring students are fully informed about the examination structure and content.