Grades, exam sittings (convocatorias) and resits

Terms used

• Convocatoria — A convocatoria is one official attempt to pass a subject, using up one of your limited exam attempts.
• Suspenso — Suspenso is a failing mark, below 5.0.
• Aprobado — Aprobado is a pass mark from 5.0 to 6.9.
• Notable — Notable is a mark from 7.0 to 8.9.
• Sobresaliente — Sobresaliente is a mark from 9.0 to 10.
• No presentado — No presentado means you did not sit the exam. It is neither a pass nor a fail mark.
• Matrícula de honor — Matrícula de honor is a top distinction given to a few students with 9.0 or higher in a subject.
• Evaluación por compensación — The evaluación por compensación lets a university pass you in a last failed subject if you meet its conditions.

Key rules

• Pass mark: You pass a subject with 5.0 or more out of 10.
• Attempts: Most universities give you six convocatorias per subject, so find out your own university's limit.
• Skipped exams: Whether a No presentado uses up an attempt depends on your university's regulations.
• Compensation: Compensation of a last failed subject exists only at some universities, and you must apply to your faculty.

How marks work

Marks run from 0 to 10, with one decimal. Each range has a name you will see on your transcript:

• suspenso: below 5.0. You failed.
• aprobado: 5.0 to 6.9.
• notable: 7.0 to 8.9.
• sobresaliente: 9.0 to 10.

If you do not sit the exam, the subject is recorded as No presentado. It is not a fail mark, but it does not pass you either.

A matrícula de honor is a top distinction on top of a sobresaliente. You need 9.0 or higher, and it is capped at 5% of the students in that subject group. In groups with fewer than 20 students, only one can be given.

How many attempts you get

Most universities allow six convocatorias per subject. A convocatoria is one official attempt at the exam. You normally get two sittings per academic year: the ordinary one and the extraordinary one. The number varies by university, and some allow only four.

Using up all your attempts in a subject can bar you from continuing that degree at that university. Some universities offer one last request, such as a convocatoria de gracia or an exam before a tribunal, once the normal ones are gone. Ask your faculty's secretaría whether yours does.

When the sittings happen

The ordinary sitting comes right after each semester. First-semester subjects are examined in January and February, and second-semester ones in May and June.

The extraordinary sitting, for resits, is usually from late June to July. Some universities hold it in early September instead. Each university sets its own calendar, so check yours when you enrol. The timeline below shows the order.

Does skipping an exam burn an attempt?

It depends on your university. In many, a No presentado does not use up a convocatoria. In others, being enrolled in the subject is enough for the attempt to count, whether or not you turn up. Some let you waive the convocatoria.

Before you skip an exam, read your university's evaluation or permanence regulations, or ask the secretaría. The decision block below helps you weigh sitting, skipping or asking for compensation.

Compensation for a last failed subject

Many universities have an evaluación por compensación. It lets a pass be awarded for one or a few failed subjects when you have finished the rest of the degree. Typical conditions are:

• You have already failed the subject in a minimum number of convocatorias.
• The failed subject is not the final project (TFG) or work placements.
• Your subject mark and overall average are above a threshold, often around 4.

You apply to your faculty within a set deadline, and a tribunal decides. Not every university offers this. Some offer a tribunal-based extraordinary exam instead. Ask your faculty whether it exists and what the conditions are.

Choosing between options

Should you sit a resit, skip it, or ask for compensation?

• Sit the exam: You want to pass the subject and have convocatorias left, or your university counts a skipped exam as an attempt anyway.

• Skip the exam (No presentado): You are not ready and your university does not count a No presentado as an attempt, so you keep your convocatoria for later.

• Ask for compensation: You have one or few failed subjects left, have finished the rest of the degree, the subject is not the final project or work placement, and your university offers compensation.

Check your university's regulations first: if a skipped exam still counts as one of your six convocatorias, treat skipping as a failed attempt.

Timeline and deadlines

• Sit the ordinary exam for a first-semester subject: January to February

• Sit the ordinary exam for a second-semester subject: May to June

• Sit the extraordinary resit for subjects you failed: late June to July, or early September at some universities

• Apply to your faculty for compensation of a last failed subject, if your university offers it: within the deadline your faculty sets, once you have met the conditions

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I use up all my convocatorias in a subject?

You can be barred from continuing that degree at that university once your convocatorias are used up. Many universities let you ask, after the ordinary ones, for an extra convocatoria de gracia or an extraordinary one before a tribunal. The permanence rules of your university say what applies.

Does a No presentado use up one of my six convocatorias?

It depends on your university: in many, a No presentado does not count as an attempt, but some count the convocatoria whenever you are enrolled, even if you skip the exam. Some let you waive it.

When are the extraordinary resit exams held?

The extraordinary sitting is usually late June to July, and some universities use early September instead. Ordinary sittings follow each semester, in January-February and May-June. Each university sets its own calendar.

Can I get a last failed subject compensated instead of resitting?

Some universities offer an evaluación por compensación for a last failed subject, but not every university has it. Typical conditions are that you have failed it in several convocatorias, finished the rest of the degree, and it is not the final project or work placement.