Madrid PAU Portuguese
Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad (PAU) - Portugués
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Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad (PAU) in Portuguese is the university-access examination taken by students in the Comunidad de Madrid who choose Portuguese as their second foreign language. It is aimed at baccalaureate students seeking admission to Spanish universities and at candidates improving their grade in the specific phase. The paper is built around a Portuguese-language text: you read it, answer comprehension questions, work on vocabulary and idiomatic expressions in context, complete morphosyntax tasks (verb tenses, pronouns, agreement, connectors) and write a guided composition with attention to coherence, cohesion and register. Orthography, accentuation and punctuation are assessed throughout rather than in isolation. You normally choose between two text-based options, so exam technique matters as much as knowledge. Preparation works best in layers: build reading stamina with authentic Portuguese and Brazilian press and short fiction; keep a vocabulary log of expressions rather than isolated words; review the verb system and pronoun placement systematically; and practise timed guided writing with a clear structure and formal register. Because the paper rewards accuracy under time pressure, do past-style tasks regularly and have someone correct your writing. Logistical details such as dates, structure and scoring are set by the official body each year; check its website for the current call rather than relying on second-hand summaries. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with any official examining body.
What you'll study
About Madrid PAU Portuguese preparation
What exactly does the Portuguese PAU paper test?
It tests comprehension of a Portuguese-language text, vocabulary and idiomatic expressions in context, grammar (verb system, pronouns, agreement, connectors), guided written production with attention to coherence and register, and orthography, accentuation and punctuation. These strands are assessed through tasks built on the reading text, not as separate exams.
Do I choose between two options?
The paper is structured around a choice between two text-based options, so you select one and complete all its tasks. Read both texts quickly before deciding: pick the one whose topic and vocabulary you can handle confidently, not simply the shorter one, because comprehension questions reward understanding.
How long is the exam and how many questions are there?
Those details are fixed in the official call for each session, so they are not stated here. The competent regional education authority publishes the current structure, timing and scoring on its website. Check that official source before planning your timing strategy, and confirm it again shortly before your sitting.
How difficult is it for a Spanish speaker?
Comprehension comes quickly because of lexical overlap, but the paper punishes false friends, Portuguese pronoun placement, the personal infinitive, the future subjunctive and contrastive accentuation. Candidates who rely on Spanish intuition without studying Portuguese norms typically lose marks in grammar and writing rather than in reading.
Can I retake it, and does the grade stay valid?
Retake rules and grade validity are set by the official body and can change between calls, so confirm them on its website. Do not assume that a previous result remains valid indefinitely or that every session offers the same conditions.
In what order should I study?
Start with reading volume, since comprehension underpins every task. Then systematise grammar: tenses, subjunctive, pronoun placement, agreement and connectors. Add vocabulary in expressions, not isolated words. Finish with timed guided writing and punctuation practice, corrected by someone who knows the marking criteria.
What are the most common failure modes?
Running out of time on the writing, writing an informal or unstructured composition, translating Spanish structures literally, missing accents that change meaning, and answering comprehension questions with lifted text instead of reformulation. Weak pronoun placement and uncontrolled verb tenses also cost marks repeatedly in the grammar section.
How should I practise the guided writing?
Write to a clear plan: brief opening, developed body with connectors, short conclusion, consistent formal register. Practise under time pressure, then revise specifically for agreement, accents and pronoun position. Keep a personal error list and check it before each new piece; recurring errors are where the marks are.
Which Portuguese variety should I use?
Use one variety consistently and be aware of the other. European and Brazilian Portuguese differ in pronoun placement, verbal constructions and vocabulary, and the reading text may come from either. Consistency in your own writing matters more than the variety you choose.
Is this page official?
No. This is independent study material written for candidates searching for the exam; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by or produced by any official examining body or university. Always verify structure, dates, scoring and regulations against the official call published by the competent authority.