Choose the PCE exams for your degree
The PCE are UNED subject exams that help Spanish universities assess your foreign school record. Your score matters, as does choosing the subjects that carry the most weight for the degree you want.
- Live online classes
- Exam marking criteria
- Subjects for your degree
The exam itself
What the PCE exams are
PCE exams are subject exams run by UNED for students with a foreign secondary education. You choose the subjects you take. Each is marked out of 10, and the results form the grade you use to apply for a university place.
Passing is only part of it. Each degree gives different weights to different subjects, so two students with the same marks can end up more than a point apart in their admission grade.
Who has to take the PCE
Students whose education system requires homologation to enter a Spanish university take the PCE as part of their access route.
How many subjects you need
The homologation route usually requires four passed subjects, though some universities require six. Check the requirement for your destination before you register.
How the papers are marked
Each subject is marked out of 10, and you need a 5 to pass. Marks below 5 do not count towards your access grade or for weighting.
When you can sit them
UNED holds two PCE sessions each year: an ordinary session in late spring and an extraordinary session in summer. You register through UNEDasiss, rather than the university.
Where you sit them
You can take the PCE at UNED centres in Spain or associated centres abroad. Your registration determines your exam centre, so check the list for your country before registering.
How many times you can repeat
You can retake a subject in a later session to improve your mark, and your best result counts.
Subjects you can prepare with us
Choose for the degree and university you want to attend. Your subjects need to meet your route's minimum requirements and include two weighted at 0.2 for that degree.
Sciences
For medicine, engineering, biotechnology, and related degrees.
- Mathematics II
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Technical Drawing
Social sciences
For business, economics, marketing, and related degrees.
- Applied Mathematics
- Geography
- Economics
- History of Art
- History of Philosophy
Humanities
For law, history, philology, and related degrees.
- Latin
- History of Art
- History of Philosophy
Arts
For fine arts, design, and audiovisual degrees.
- Artistic Fundamentals
- History of Art
Languages
Required subjects and additional options.
- Spanish Language and Literature
- English
- Latin
- Catalan / Valencian
Core subjects
Subjects required for most student profiles.
- Spanish Language
- Foreign Language
- History of Spain or Philosophy
Before you register
- You need four to six subjects, depending on your route and university.
- Subjects weighted at 0.2 for your degree will raise your grade.
- We can work out exactly which subjects you need before you register.
What our Students say about Atlas
Discover the experience of students who already prepared their university entrance exams with Atlas.
See testimonialsBefore you register, read these two guides
Understanding your grade
How your grade is converted
See how your four best PCE results can make up almost half of your access grade and how homologation affects your school record.
Read moreThe full process
Your path to studying in Spain
See where the PCE fit into the seven steps, alongside language study, homologation, university applications, a student visa, and enrolment.
Read more
Frequently asked questions
What are PCE exams?
PCE stands for Pruebas de Competencias Específicas. They are official subject exams run by UNED through UNEDasiss for students with a foreign secondary education who want to attend a Spanish university. The results turn your school record into a grade that Spanish universities can compare. You use that grade to apply for a place.
Who needs to take the PCE?
Students applying to a Spanish university through homologation must take the PCE. If your education system uses the accreditation route, the exams are optional and can raise your admission grade above 10. They can still be useful if you are applying for a degree with a high cut-off mark, such as Medicine, Business, Architecture, or Psychology.
How many subjects should I take?
To homologate your school grade you need to pass at least four subjects, though some universities require six. On the accreditation route, two subjects weighted well for your degree will usually take you to the maximum grade of 14. More exams are not always better. Take enough subjects to meet the minimum requirement, including two weighted at 0.2 for your degree.
Which subjects can raise my grade the most?
The subjects your chosen university weights at 0.2 for your degree. Universities publish their own weighting tables, and the weight can vary by degree and institution. A lower mark in a subject weighted at 0.2 can add more to your grade. A 6 adds 1.2 points, while a 9 weighted at 0.1 adds 0.9.
How do PCE exams differ from Selectividad?
Selectividad, also known as PAU, EBAU, or EVAU, is for students who finish secondary school in Spain. The PCE are the equivalent route for students educated abroad. Both routes lead to Spanish university. Which one you use depends on where you studied, not where you live now.
When and where can I take the exams?
UNED holds two sessions each year: an ordinary session in late spring and an extraordinary session in summer. You can take the exams at UNED centres in Spain or associated centres abroad. You register through UNEDasiss, rather than the university. Your registration determines your exam centre.
What if I fail a subject?
A mark below 5 does not count towards your access grade or weighting. You can retake the subject in a later session, and your best result will count.
How will you help me prepare for the PCE?
You will attend live online classes with teachers who specialise in each PCE paper, practise with past exams marked using the real criteria, and follow a study plan for your exam session. We also help you choose subjects using the weighting table for the degree you want.
