Before choosing: understand your PCE pathway

If you are considering taking the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE) and would like to study at a Spanish university, choosing the right subjects is essential. Here, we explain which subjects to choose and how they may affect your university admission score.

Before selecting your subjects, you need to understand your PCE pathway. The number of exams you must take as part of the PCE university entrance process depends on three factors:

• The university degree you want to study.
• The Autonomous Community where you intend to study.
• Your educational background as an international student, including whether your education system has an admission agreement with Spain.

If this is new to you, we recommend reading our pages about the structure of the PCE exams and our PCE frequently asked questions first.

Which PCE subjects should I choose?

Here you can find the full list of subjects available for the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE) offered by UNEDasiss: German, Biology, Technical Drawing, Design, Business Economics, Physics, French, Foundations of Art, Geography, Geology, History of Spain, History of Philosophy, History of Art, English, Italian, Latin, Spanish Language and Literature, Mathematics, Mathematics Applied to Social Sciences, Portuguese and Chemistry.

👉Remember to consider the degree you want to study and check the relevant subject weighting table so that you can choose the subjects that will give you the best possible PCE score.

For more information about the syllabus for each subject, visit the UNEDasiss website, where you will find a detailed breakdown of the content. You can also visit our exam resources page to see worked exam examples in PDF and video format and access useful materials to support your preparation.

Why you should choose subjects with a weighting of 0.2

When choosing which PCE subjects to take, it is essential to know which subjects carry the highest weighting at the university you want to attend, usually 0.2.

Let us look at an example involving a degree that combines different subject areas:

Imagine that you want to study Business Administration at the University of Valencia. The following image shows the subjects and their weightings for two very similar degrees offered by different universities. Please note that the image relates to a previous academic year, so you should always check the current weighting table.

According to this table, at least two of the subjects you choose should carry a weighting of 0.2. Choosing more than two is even better, as it gives you more opportunities to improve your score. At the very least, however, two of your chosen subjects should be marked as 0.2 in the table above.

Bear in mind that your chosen PCE pathway determines how your university admission score is calculated. This article explains the calculation specifically for Valencia. If you intend to study in a city where the flexible PCE pathway is not accepted, we recommend reading our guide to calculating your score for each PCE pathway, which provides detailed information for the different possible cases.

How your university admission score is calculated

Here is a reminder of how your university admission score is calculated in Valencia. The infographic below provides a clear overview.

Your score out of 10 is calculated as follows:

• 60% – Your upper secondary school average, once your previous studies have been officially recognised.
• 40% – Your results in the PCE subjects you have taken.

Your score out of 14 is calculated as follows:

The two highest-scoring subjects carrying a weighting of 0.2 are selected, and each grade is multiplied by 0.2. The resulting points are then added to your score out of 10.

A step-by-step worked example

For example, a student could take English, History of Philosophy, which carries a weighting of 0.2, Business Economics, which also carries a weighting of 0.2, and Geography, which carries a weighting of 0.2. When UNEDasiss calculates the initial score, each subject contributes with a weighting of 0.1. Together, the four subjects account for 40% of the score added to the student’s upper secondary school grade. Once the combined score has been calculated out of 10, the university selects the two highest grades from the subjects carrying a weighting of 0.2 and adds the corresponding points, producing the final score out of 14.

Imagine that the student receives the following grades out of 10:

• English: 8
• History of Philosophy: 6 — weighting of 0.2
• Business Economics: 9.5 — weighting of 0.2
• Geography: 8.5 — weighting of 0.2
• Average upper secondary school grade: 7

Latest PCE changes

One important change introduced under the new LOMLOE framework is that students taking the PCE EBAU pathway may now choose between History of Spain and History of Philosophy. According to annual PCE performance statistics, History of Philosophy has historically produced stronger results, so it may be the more advantageous option. You can view the results here.

There is also an important change for students preparing for science and technology degrees. For the core pathway subject, students may now choose between Mathematics II and Mathematics Applied to Social Sciences. Statistical data suggests that students tend to achieve better results in Mathematics Applied to Social Sciences. Therefore, when both subjects carry the same weighting of 0.2, choosing Mathematics Applied to Social Sciences may be advisable. However, when only Mathematics II carries the required weighting, you should assess your individual circumstances. Students with strong mathematical ability may still benefit from choosing Mathematics II to maximise their score alongside the other two specialist subjects they select.

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