Former Spanish Minister of Education Juan del Val said the national university entrance exam is a failure during a recent television appearance.
The criticism targets the Selectividad exam, which serves as the primary gateway for students entering higher education in Spain. Del Val's comments highlight a growing debate over whether the current assessment model effectively identifies student merit or simply validates a flawed system.
Speaking on the program "La Roca" on the network La Sexta, del Val said the testing process lacks efficacy. He said the exam fails to adequately differentiate between students because the vast majority of candidates succeed regardless of their actual academic standing [1].
"Un examen en el que aprueba el 99% es una mierda," del Val said [1].
Translated from Spanish, the former minister described the test as "shitty" because of the high success rate [1]. He said that a test where 99% of candidates pass [1] does not serve its purpose as a rigorous academic filter.
Del Val's critique focuses on the statistical outcome of the Selectividad. He said that when nearly every student passes, the exam loses its value as a tool for academic selection, making it an ineffective measure of a student's readiness for the rigors of university study.
This critique comes from a figure who previously held the highest education office in the country, adding weight to the argument that the Spanish education system requires structural reform to ensure academic standards are maintained.
“"Un examen en el que aprueba el 99% es una mierda"”
The criticism by a former Minister of Education suggests a systemic failure in Spain's academic benchmarking. If the Selectividad exam has a pass rate of 99%, it ceases to function as a competitive filter for university admissions, potentially leading to grade inflation and a disconnect between secondary school certification and the actual skills required for higher education.
