Selectividad Exam Pass Rate Drops in Seville. In 2026, 90% of candidates in Seville passed the Selectividad exams—down from last year. Universities report a decrease in average scores and fewer top grades. Authorities urge those who did not pass not to give up.
Seville has published the results of the 2026 Selectividad exams: the pass rate has dropped to 90%, which is 2.17 points lower than last year. According to the University of Seville, 8,399 of the 9,566 participants in the main session of the Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad (PAU) exams passed. The average score also decreased slightly, from 7.63 to 7.61.
This year, only 433 graduates managed to score over 13 points on the final scale. The highest result—13.966—was achieved by Pedro Abad Jiménez from CDP Tabladilla. He is followed by Elisabeth Vera Dali from IES Gonzalo Nazareno, as well as César Torres Cáceres and Noelia Besada Luna, both with a score of 13.952. In total, 12,006 people registered for the PAU exams in Seville, including 2,671 participants who took only additional entrance tests.
The exams took place smoothly at 24 University of Seville venues. Vice-Rector for Student Affairs Carmen Gallardo noted that support will be provided to everyone who did not pass, and offered special congratulations to the top achievers. She emphasized that even if unsuccessful, students have the chance to retake the exams and receive the necessary assistance.
A similar trend is observed at Pablo de Olavide University (UPO): here, 90.42% of participants passed the exams, which is almost 4% lower than last year and 6.5% less than in 2024. UPO reminded that to pass the entrance stage, an average score of at least 4 points is required, and the final grade takes bachelor's and exam results into account. The maximum score can reach 14 if the student successfully completes additional tests.
The process for reviewing results is open from June 12 to June 16, while applications to public universities in Andalusia begin on June 11 and end on June 22. The first round of admissions will take place on July 3, after which applicants can choose enrollment, reserve, or confirmation of waiting list status. The second round is scheduled for July 16, followed by additional lists. Final scores will be available for download from June 17.
The decrease in the exam pass rate in Seville and at UPO follows the overall trend of recent years, with growing competition among graduates and increasingly strict entrance requirements. By comparison, other regions of Spain are also reporting record scores and fierce competition: for example, a graduate from Bilbao recently achieved the best exam result in the Basque Country, a topic discussed in detail in the article on russpain.com.
The Selectividad exams are a crucial stage for admission to Spanish universities. The final grade is composed of school performance and PAU exam results, with the maximum score being increased by additional tests. In recent years, Andalusia and the rest of the country have seen intensified competition for places in popular fields, especially medicine and engineering. For many graduates, retaking the exams has become a real opportunity to improve their application ranking.
