Having recently moved to Spain, my child is enrolled in a private school, and I’ve been researching the local university entrance exam—known as Selectividad or EBAU. The information can be a bit scattered, especially for international families like ours, and school notifications about private school application deadlines aren’t always timely. I’ve taken the time to compile this year’s exam dates for students in private schools across various autonomous communities, considering the general private school admissions timeline. I’m sharing this to help other parents in the same situation.
What is Selectividad / EBAU?
Simply put, this is Spain’s university entrance exam, officially named Evaluación de Bachillerato para el Acceso a la Universidad. Graduates from both public and private high schools who wish to attend a public university generally must pass this exam. The final university admission score, out of a maximum of 14 points, is calculated based on a weighted combination of the exam results and the student’s high school grade point average. My child is aiming for a university in Madrid, so I’ve been paying close attention to information regarding this process, including private school enrollment.
2024 Exam Schedule for Major Autonomous Communities
It’s important to note that the Spanish university entrance exam has two sessions: the ordinary session and the extraordinary session (resit). Most students take the ordinary exams in June. If their results aren’t as expected or if they miss the session, there’s another chance in July or September. I’ve created a table for a few major autonomous communities, but please remember: you must always confirm the final dates with the official announcements from your region’s education department and your school
!
| Autonomous Community | Ordinary Session | Extraordinary Session |
|---|
| Madrid | June 3, 4, 5, 6 | July 2, 3, 4 |
| Catalonia | June 4, 5, 6 | September 3, 4, 5 |
| Andalusia | June 4, 5, 6 | July 2, 3, 4 |
| Valencian Community | June 4, 5, 6 | July 2, 3, 4 |
| Basque Country | June 5, 6, 7 | July 3, 4, 5 |
For students in private schools, especially international schools, the curriculum may differ. However, if they plan to apply to public universities in Spain, many will still need to take specific subjects in this exam to boost their admission score or go through a grade conversion process. It is essential to clarify this with your school’s university guidance counselor. My child is in a regular private school, so they will be taking the EBAU as usual. Wishing all students the best of luck on their exams and success in getting into their dream universities! Feel free to share your experiences in the comments!
