Canary Islands University Entrance Exams Begin With New Security and Testing Reforms

University entrance exams in the Canary Islands are underway this week, featuring significant changes to how the tests are organized and secured.

This year, 5,466 students in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife are taking their exams across seven different locations in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. This is the most widespread setup to date, designed to make it easier for students to reach their testing centers. To align with the rest of Spain, the exam schedule has also been adjusted to begin on a Tuesday.

The testing style is also evolving. The exams now focus more on critical thinking and reasoning, with these skills accounting for one-third of a student's final grade, rather than relying solely on memorization. To ensure fairness, officials are testing new security measures, including the use of signal jammers and detectors to prevent the use of unauthorized technology like smartwatches or hidden earpieces.

The schedule for the coming weeks is as follows:

• June 12: Provisional results are released, and the claims period begins.
• June 16: The claims period ends.
• June 22–23: Students can request a detailed review of their exams.
• June 25–26: In-person reviews take place.
• June 30 – July 2: Extraordinary exam session for those who need it.

University pre-registration is open from June 12 to July 2. The list of admitted students will be released on July 8, followed by the first official placement results on July 13. Students who are accepted into their preferred program have until July 15 to complete their enrollment.