What are PCEs?
The PCE or Specific Competence Tests are exams that aim to evaluate the level of a student for access to a Spanish university. This evaluation is made based on previously published criteria and content, the result of which is graded numerically in order to form an admission grade. This grade will be used to apply for places at universities. The higher it is, the more guarantees of being able to enter the desired study.
Who organizes them?
The PCEs are managed by the UNED, the National University of Distance Education. Through your program UNEDasiss organizes the tests, grades the exams and forms a final admission grade, which is sent to the university(s) that the student has chosen so that it can be evaluated in the application processes.
Is it necessary to present this evidence?
As we mentioned in the introduction, It is necessary that the student and family know in advance the requirements to access the study and university they want.. LegalSpain recommends that a be organized personalized advice to know all the steps to follow and ask any questions that this process may generate.
To know if it is necessary to present the PCE, you must evaluate, among other things:
- Country where high school has been completed. Countries with a reciprocity agreement (EU and China) and IB (International Baccalaureate) studies can benefit from not taking subjects or taking fewer exams than high school graduates who complete their studies in non-EU countries.
- Destination university. All public universities accept the PCE (some also the EBAU, the Spanish Selectivity) and many private universities as well. In the case of these, it is possible that it can be accessed with its own evidence, unrelated to the PCE.
- Degree of access. In some cases, degrees are offered whose places are not filled. It is possible to access these studies without presenting the PCE, managing only the high school approval and UNEDasiss credential. However, there are not many degrees to this condition, so it is not usually a generality.
When are the exams?
Throughout the year there are two calls to present the tests:
- An ordinary call, whose dates are usually at the end of May in Spain and the beginning of June in the rest of the countries. The registration date is usually from the end of February to the beginning of May.
- An extraordinary call, whose exams are held at the beginning of September in all countries. Registration dates range from the end of June to mid-July.
Where are the exams taken?
Specific Skills Tests can be taken at UNED headquarters. The validity and validity of the tests, as well as the difficulty, are the same, so it is advisable to take the exams where it best suits the student. There are offices in all cities in Spain and in many countries:
- America: Bogotá, Mexico City, Caracas, Lima, New York, Seattle, Buenos Aires, Quito, Havana, Santiago de Chile….
- Africa: Rabat, Bata, Casablanca, Malabo…
- Europe: Paris, Berlin, Bern, Brussels, London, Munich, Rome…
- Asia: Moscow, Tehran…
New locations are published every year. In some cases, in cities where there is no headquarters, it can be presented at the Spanish embassies (upon confirmation with the UNED).
What subjects do I have to present?
If you have to present them, it is very important to know how many subjects are necessary to achieve the highest grade and meet the requirements of each university. As we have indicated before, it requires personalization, since not all students must take the same tests for the same university and degree. In general:
- If you have an EU, IB or Chinese baccalaureate: you can achieve the highest grade by preparing 2 subjects (there can be 4, of which the 2 highest grades will count)
- If you have a baccalaureate issued in a different country or system: you can achieve the maximum qualification with 2, 4 or 6 subjects, depending on the Spanish region. Some examples:
- Madrid: 4 subjects and Modality criteria.
- Catalonia: 6 subjects and EBAU formation.
- Valencia: 4 subjects.
- Andalusia: 6 subjects and EBAU formation.
- Galicia: 2 subjects.
How can I prepare for these tests?
The PCE have a similar level to the 2nd year of high school in Spain. If it is necessary to present the PCE, the best option is to prepare them with a specialized academy. There is a lot of content on the Internet, videos on different platforms... but none with the necessary focus to obtain the highest grade. Every year, the characteristics and evaluable syllabus are subject to change, so you have to be careful not to study too much (more syllabus than necessary) or too little (less than evaluable). In short, if you want to have guarantees of success, obtain all the necessary resources, practice the tests and know how to answer the exams, the only option is to hire an educational service. LegalSpain has a collaboration agreement with PCE School, a leading academy in online preparation for these exams (from home, without having to travel to Spain), to be able to form test preparation packs and document and procedure management. Ask us and we will inform you.
Conclusion
University entrance exams are a wall that must be overcome to achieve the dream of studying at a Spanish university. The PCE are the tests that most students take. They are tests of a medium level, but they require minimal preparation to guarantee a good grade. If we don't, we will be losing time (study) and money (exam fees). As to whether it is better to do them, in almost all cases it is yes. Only in a few can you avoid presenting them. Furthermore, avoiding travel and stay costs, they can be prepared online and presented in the student's country of origin.
