Hello everyone! With university entrance exam results recently released back home, some are celebrating while others are feeling down. Many students hoping to use their scores to apply to Spanish universities might be feeling anxious, worrying that their results aren’t good enough for their dream schools. But don’t lose hope just yet! Today, I want to talk about a ‘second chance’ that many might overlook—the extraordinary session at Spanish universities, officially known as the Convocatoria Extraordinaria.
What Exactly is the Extraordinary Session?
Simply put, Spain’s university entrance exam system offers two opportunities each year. The one in June is called the ordinary session (convocatoria ordinaria), which is what most applications are based on. The one in July is what we call the extraordinary session. It’s primarily designed for a few types of students: 1. Students who didn’t pass the ordinary session or are unsatisfied with their grades; 2. Students who missed the ordinary session exams; 3. Students who want to retake specific subjects to improve their overall score. It’s not a ‘second-rate’ path; it’s an official, second formal opportunity.
The Timeline is Crucial, So Act Fast!
The biggest characteristic of the extraordinary session is its tight schedule and heavy workload. From registration to the exams and then to university applications, everything happens back-to-back, so you must plan ahead. Here’s a general timeline I’ve put together. The specific dates can vary slightly each year by autonomous community, but the overall structure is quite similar, so you can use this as a reference:
| Phase | Approximate Time |
|---|
| Exam Registration | Late June - Early July |
| Exam Dates | First or second week of July |
| Results Announcement | Mid-July |
| University Application | Mid to Late July |
To be honest, the extraordinary session comes with its own set of challenges. The main problem is that after the ordinary admission round, many popular programs at top universities may have very few or no spots left. So, opting for this session means you might need to make some compromises on your choice of major and school. However, it is absolutely not true, as some claim, that only undesirable majors are left. Many excellent universities and good programs still have vacancies. The key is to gather information quickly and accurately! This is a crucial strategy, much like understanding the possibility of graduating early from a Spanish university.
The Convocatoria Extraordinaria is an incredibly valuable second chance, especially for students who were well-prepared but underperformed in the ordinary session exams. If you decide to take this path, make sure to contact your study abroad advisor or the universities as soon as possible to confirm all the deadlines. You’ll also need to be more flexible with your university and major choices. Wishing everyone the best of luck in securing a spot!
¡Mucha suerte a todos
!
