Tarragona has started the 2026 university entrance exams, known as the PAU, with a record 4,435 students taking part. The first paper, Spanish Language and Literature, began on Tuesday at 9am, opening three days of exams for students across Catalonia.
Across Catalonia, 45,821 students are sitting the PAU at 223 examination boards, the highest number registered for the fifth year in a row. That is up from 44,238 candidates in 2025. Of this year’s total, 35,052 come from bachillerato, 5,965 from higher-level training cycles, and 4,804 are free-entry candidates.
In the Tarragona area, 3,924 of the students are from bachillerato and 511 are from higher-level training cycles. The figures show the same upward trend seen across the rest of the territory.
A new pilot scheme is being used this year to detect electronic communication devices. All examination boards have detectors that can locate mobile phones, smartwatches, headphones, or digital pens, and they can be used at random or when there is suspicion, according to Pere Milán, coordinator for Rovira i Virgili University (URV).
Milán said the exams started without incident and that a teachers’ strike is not affecting the process. The rules say these devices must be switched off and kept inside rucksacks. Using one during an exam can lead to immediate expulsion, a zero mark for that paper, and the possibility of the organisation cancelling the student’s other exams.
The exam structure remains the same as last year. Students must complete a compulsory phase of five papers, plus an optional phase to improve their admission score. Correction rules also remain strict on language, with up to two points deducted in language and literature subjects for spelling, grammar, or vocabulary errors.
Students will be able to check their results on 23 June through the university access portal. For more Catalonia-wide education coverage, see our news page.
