Is your child taking the PAU, Spain’s university entrance exam (formerly selectividad)? The English PAU exam can raise their entrance grade a lot. The good news: it is a very predictable exam. Knowing its structure and practising with a plan makes a high mark realistic.
What the English PAU exam looks like in the Valencian Community
According to the structure published for the 2026 PAU, the exam lasts 90 minutes, is marked out of 10 and has two parts. There is no listening test.
| Part | What students do | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reading: true or false | 4 statements about the text, each justified with a quote | 2 |
| Reading: open questions | 2 questions answered in their own words | 2.5 |
| Vocabulary | 4 vocabulary items | 1 |
| Multiple choice | 3 questions with 4 options | 1.5 |
| Writing | A text of about 130–150 words on one of two topics | 3 |
The reading text is 350 to 400 words long. The writing can be an opinion essay, a for-and-against text or a narrative. Always check the official information for each school year, as details can change.
The mistakes that cost the most marks
- Not justifying true or false. Without a quote from the text, the answer scores 0.
- Copying sentences from the text in the open questions.
- Writing too little or too much in the writing task.
- No clear structure: introduction, body and conclusion, with linking words.
- Repeated basic grammar mistakes (third person, verb tenses).
How to prepare, step by step
- Do past papers under timed conditions from the first term.
- Learn writing templates for opinion, for-and-against and narrative texts.
- Build a list of linking words (however, moreover, on the other hand…).
- Write one text a week and get it corrected.
- Read short English articles on current topics: typical PAU themes.
- Keep a mistakes notebook and review it before the exam.
In the English PAU, the winner is not who knows most, but who knows the exam best.
The expected level is around B1–B2. See what each level means in English levels A1–C2. For an official certificate on top, read [[b1|How to pass the B1 English exam]] or [[b2|How long does it take to get a B2?]].
English classes for teenagers in Mislata
At Koyot Academy we offer English classes for teenagers in small groups, with native teachers and study strategies. We practise the PAU format, correct writing tasks and work on reading so students arrive at the exam calm and prepared.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a listening part in the English PAU?
In the structure published for the 2026 PAU in the Valencian Community there is no listening: the exam tests reading and writing.
How much time is there?
90 minutes for the whole exam. It is wise to keep about 30–35 minutes for the writing task.
When should preparation start?
Ideally in the first year of Bachillerato, or at the latest at the start of the second year.
Want to arrive at the PAU fully prepared? Come and see the school: the first trial class is free and without obligation.
