Bilbao Graduate Achieves Top Exam Results in the Basque Country. Ayala Martínez from Bilbao scored record-high points in the Selectividad exams, securing her a place at the EHU medical faculty. This year, competition among prospective students was especially intense.
The results of the Selectividad exams, which determine admission to universities in the Basque Country, have been published. This year, the biggest resonance was caused by the success of Ayala Martínez, a graduate from Bilbao: her final score of 13.6 out of a possible 14 was the highest in the autonomous region. Such a result virtually guarantees her a place at the EHU medical faculty, where competition is traditionally intense.
Ayala Martínez, who graduated from Escolapios school, scored 9.8 out of 10 on the main part of the exam and made full use of the extra points. As reported by EL CORREO, she learned about her success while on holiday in Malta, where she went with friends immediately after the exams. According to her, the tension of the past months was replaced by relief and pride in the work she had done.
Ayala's interest in medicine did not develop immediately: the turning point came through studying specialized subjects in the upper grades. In her final year, she changed her approach to studying, spent more time in the library, and prepared for exams with friends. This format, she says, helped her concentrate better and made exam preparation less exhausting.
Ayala is now spending a week in Malta, where she plans not only to visit local attractions, but also to celebrate her success with friends. Evening walks and group celebrations have become her way of marking the end of a challenging period.
Joanes Plazaola from Urretxu-Zumarraga Ikastola also achieved high scores: his result—13.83 out of 14—allows him to consider applying for a double major in physics and mathematics. However, this program is not offered at EHU, so Joanes is considering studying in Madrid or Barcelona while also applying to the University of the Basque Country.
Joanes notes that this year the exam structure changed: the tasks became more practice-oriented and required a different solving strategy. According to him, it was important to quickly identify key data and not get confused by complex wording.
In recent years, interest in medical and technical specialties in Spain has been steadily rising. Competition for medical faculties remains among the highest in the country, and the passing scores increase each year. For comparison, last year a similar achievement by a graduate from Madrid sparked a discussion about the role of family and personal motivation in choosing a profession—this was covered in detail in the story about the daughter of journalist Julia Otero, who, after a long struggle with illness, became a vascular surgeon: the success story of a medical school graduate.
Around 13,000 graduates in the Basque Country take the Selectividad exams every year, including graduates from high school and vocational colleges. The final scores determine not only the chance of admission to the desired program, but also the future educational path. In 2026, according to regional authorities, the number of applications for medical and engineering fields once again set a new record.
