Publication: Inter-subject comparability of the Spanish university entrance examinations
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Date
2025-10-27
Authors
Veas Iniesta, Alejandro ; Govorova, Elena
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Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia
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Publisher
Taylor and Francis Group, Routledge
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2025.2574432
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
The Spanish University Entrance Examination (PAU) has been a crucial topic of political and social debates regarding intersubject comparability. In this area, most empirical reports have relied on traditional mean score comparisons or qualitative analyses of the scoring system, usually in specific autonomous communities (Spanish regions). This study aims to expand the scientific knowledge of this field by applying psychometric analysis to a large dataset of nationwide PAU examinations in exam series from 2017 to 2021. Overall, the results of Rasch measurement indicate notable differences in difficulty parameters of the same subjects within and between academic courses for the same region and for different regions of the country. We detect a lack of comparability in difficulty levels between subjects associated with the humanities and social sciences (e.g. Latin and geography), which are easier compared with those related to health or technological sciences (e.g. chemistry and biology). Additionally, score categories (1–10 points) are inappropriately distributed on the latent scale, implying a lack of student discrimination of their performance level. Given these results, this paper provides evidence-based recommendations for improving the setting of performance standards and the equity of the university access system for all Spanish students.
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Citation
Oxford Review of Education, 2025
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1-ene-2999
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