The easiest (and most difficult) Selectivity subjects

Statistical data of PCEs in 2024

There are numerous the PCE subjects offered to take the selectivity and enter a Spanish university. Each of them has its own difficulty, where it is evident that obtaining more or less grade depends on the content, the base level and what is studied. In the following image we have summarized the percentage of passes by subject, the average grade of those who manage to pass and the average grade of all those who appear. These data are those collected by UNED in 2023, but each year the same pattern is repeated with minimal variations. Chance? We don't believe it. The explanation may be that, assuming the same level for all students and freedom of choice, Indeed, there are subjects and/or exams that are easier than others.

Data provided by UNEDasiss at the meeting held in November 2024.

Simpler PCE subjects

As we can see, the subjects where the highest grades are obtained are, above the rest, English, Philosophy, Biology and Art History. These four subjects are between 60% and 80% passed.

• English It is a general core subject. For many students, their native language and for all, the language they study at school. It is not surprising, therefore, that it is a highly requested exam with high success rates.
• Philosophy It is, since 2024, a general subject, and cannot be chosen as an elective. This has generated a lot of controversy, and it is common to choose her to obtain a great grade in the tests.
• The only science subject that sneaks into those that most pass is Biology. This subject is long and complex in many parts of its syllabus, but its exams are usually easy and coherent., with multiple choice questions and at least one question on genetics, one of the most visual and easy to learn units. Another important fact to keep in mind is that the students who pass also do so with a great grade, just a few tenths away from being the first subject in terms of grades.
• If we look at the first four, two of them are core, and it is normal that they have such percentages, given that the students who usually take these subjects usually have a good level. For this reason, the average grades and percentage of passes that the student has have become especially relevant. History of art, being the optional social and humanities subject that stands out the most among those that are not languages. Its syllabus is extensive, but its exams are usually very affordable, making it one of the favorites for those who are pursuing an arts or humanities itinerary.

More difficult PCE subjects

For a few years now, History of Spain has had the dubious honor of being the subject that accumulates the most failures. Almost 8 out of every 10 students who take this subject fail to pass. Following closely are Mathematics II, Spanish Language and Physics.

• History of Spain It is a complicated subject for all non-Spanish high school graduates. Since it requires Spanish culture and a certain geographical and political knowledge to be able to understand the entire historical line and dates, not many understand it (those who do are Spaniards with a foreign bachelor's degree). For this reason, we recommend not doing it unless it is mandatory, as is the case in many regions of Spain. Starting in 2024, this subject can be replaced by Philosophy. If you don't know which one to choose, we recommend this post about Philosophy or History of Spain.
• Spanish Language and Literature It is a mandatory subject for many regions, so only in some universities will we be able to get rid of it and choose to present a language.
• Moreover, Physics It is the most complicated subject by itself, that is, by syllabus. This subject is the same in all countries in the world, and its content has been seen and studied by high school graduates from all countries who follow a science or engineering path. However, the exam is complex and will require an excellent level to obtain a great grade.
• The Maths They are the great "bogeyman" of the PCE. A headache and a source of tears for a large part of those opposed to entering a Spanish university. To date, the subject that has the most exam requests. Until this year, it was mandatory to pass it for universities that required the Modality criterion, such as Madrid. Fortunately, the criteria have been changed and it is no longer necessary. Hated by many, the agenda is dense, sometimes being incomprehensible, given that they tend to ask many parts of it, without being able to cut it down. In addition, multiple choice questions are also small problems, in which we can fall into the trap and waste a lot of time to later ask long questions.

Wildcard subjects

Within this classification they would be at an interface between easy and difficult, the subjects of Geography, Economics (currently Business and Business Model Design), Chemicals y CCSS Mathematics. With passing percentages between 40 and 50%, they are mostly Social Sciences subjects. They are "honest" subjects, that is, they usually reflect the student's real level. The exams are of a medium level, so the student usually gets, in general terms, a good grade if he studies and a bad one if he doesn't, something that does not apply to those mentioned above.

Conclusion for choosing subjects

The most complicated subjects are those in which no effort, tenacity, or study is put. The PCE UNEDasiss exams are quite balanced and fair, but without a doubt, easy to pass for those who have a minimum of perseverance. Getting a good grade will only depend on us. If we want to study Medicine, it will not be enough for us to pass; We will have to think that we cannot go below a 9 in each subject we take. On the other hand, if we want some Philology or a degree in Social Sciences, it will be easier for us, since with a lower grade we will be able to achieve the objective.

For all this, the difficulty itself depends on several factors:

• Our previous base.
• Our work in the study of PCEs.
• Our choice of subjects (if we choose well)
• Our exam performance
• Our need to obtain a qualification to be able to enter the degree we want.

It's not just studying. It's much more. It is knowing our possibilities and believing in it. It is doing organizational and information work and knowing what we want to study in order to be what we would like to be in the future.

If you have any questions about which are your best option, ask us at the PCE personalized advice and we tell you.