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If you’re taking the PAU in Cantabria (formerly the EBAU, or selectividad), there are two things about the University of Cantabria English exam you should know from the start: you choose between two texts, and in the composition spelling counts for very little, while grammar and vocabulary are what earn you the most marks. There’s no listening.
In this guide I explain what the Cantabria PAU English exam is like, based on the UC’s official structure and marking criteria and the 2026 paper: what you have to do in each section, how much it’s worth, what loses you marks, how the composition is marked with the rubric and how to manage your time, with examples of each part. All explained from my experience preparing students for official exams. Let’s get started! 🙂
If you’re looking for an overview of the test (what the PAU is, how much English counts towards your mark or what level you need), you’ll find it in my guide to the PAU English exam.
What the Cantabria PAU English exam is like
The Lengua Extranjera II: Inglés exam lasts 90 minutes, is marked out of 10 and has two parts. In the first, you choose one of two texts (between 350 and 400 words) and answer only the questions on that text; in the second, you choose one of two composition topics:
| Section | Marks | What you have to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. True or false | 2 | Decide whether 4 statements are true or false and quote the part of the text that justifies your answer. |
| 2. Open questions | 2 | Answer 2 of 3 questions about the text in your own words. |
| 3. Vocabulary | 1.5 | Find a word or expression in the text for 4 meanings, definitions or opposites. |
| 4. Multiple choice | 1.5 | Choose the right option (A, B, C or D) in 3 questions. |
| 5. Writing | 3 | Choose one of two topics and write between 120 and 150 words. |
The first four sections make up the comprehension activity (7 marks) and the fifth is the expression activity (3 marks). The texts are articles on current topics or ones that interest young people: in 2026, one of the two was about greenwashing, when companies present themselves as greener than they really are.
If you answer more questions than required, only the first ones are marked, in the order they appear in the answer booklet. And watch your handwriting: in the true or false and the multiple choice, if it can’t be read, it doesn’t score.
Section 1: True or false (2 marks)
You get 4 statements, worth 0.5 marks each. You have to write TRUE or FALSE clearly and copy the sentence or part of the text that justifies your answer. The instructions add that the evidence must make sense and be grammatically and lexically coherent: half a sentence that doesn’t make sense on its own won’t do. Without a justification, the answer gets 0.
Here’s an example with an extract written for this guide:
Many brands use green labels and pictures of trees on their packaging, but very few of them can prove that their products are better for the environment.
Statement: Most brands with green labels can show that their products are environmentally friendly.
- ✅ FALSE. «Very few of them can prove that their products are better for the environment.»
- ❌ FALSE. «Few of them can prove.» (the extract doesn’t make full sense: 0 marks)
Section 2: Open questions (2 marks)
You get 3 questions and answer 2, worth 1 mark each:
- 0.5 for ideas: split in proportion to the number of ideas in the full answer. If the question says Give at least two reasons and you give one, you get half.
- 0.5 for expression: well written and in your own words.
Your answer can’t be copied word for word from the text, although you can use some of its words. And the question may ask you to use a specific structure or vocabulary. Using the extract above:
Question: How do some brands try to look environmentally friendly?
- ✅ They put green labels and images of nature, such as trees, on their products, although most of them cannot show that they are really greener.
- ❌ Many brands use green labels and pictures of trees on their packaging. (copied word for word: you lose the expression mark)
Section 3: Vocabulary (1.5 marks)
You’re given 4 items (a word, a short definition or an expression) and you have to find the word or expression in the text that matches its meaning, its definition or its opposite. The 1.5 marks are split between the four, so each one is worth 0.375. Sometimes you’re told which paragraph to look in.
In 2026, for example, one of the items was A formal way to say «be careful». Using the extract above:
| You’re given | Answer from the text |
|---|---|
| companies, makes (plural) | brands |
| demonstrate, show | prove |
| the opposite of «most» | very few |
| the material that covers a product you buy | packaging |
Section 4: Multiple choice (1.5 marks)
There are 3 questions with four options, worth 0.5 marks each. They can be based on reading comprehension, use of English or communicative function. Writing the letter (A, B, C or D) or the letter with the sentence is enough. Good news: the UC doesn’t include options with grammar mistakes as distractors, so every option is well written and the key is meaning.
In 2026, all three questions were on comprehension: How do companies engage in greenwashing?, for example, with a Both A and B are correct option. Read every option before choosing: when there’s one like that, it’s easy to stop at the first one that looks right.
Section 5: Writing (3 marks)
You’re given two topics and you choose one. The length is 120 to 150 words, although the 2026 paper stated that compositions of up to 200 words aren’t penalised. And a warning from the instructions: don’t sign your composition.
The UC includes four text types: opinion essay, for and against essay, narrative and interaction text, in which you reply to a message giving your opinion. In 2026, the two options were replying to an email from a friend, Anouk, who was coming to visit you in Santander, and giving your opinion on whether schools and universities should ban artificial intelligence. Whatever the type, a mixed structure is accepted as long as it has an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
How the composition is marked
With a rubric of six criteria, in two blocks of 1.5 marks. The examiner marks the level for each criterion (excellent, very good, satisfactory or poor attempt) and adds them up:
| Block | Criterion | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Suitability and cohesion | Task achievement (full content, register, word count) | 0.6 |
| Suitability and cohesion | Presentation and organisation of ideas (paragraphs, range of ideas, no repetition) | 0.6 |
| Suitability and cohesion | Cohesion and coherence (linkers and referencing) | 0.3 |
| Expression | Grammatical range (variety, accuracy, complex structures) | 0.675 |
| Expression | Vocabulary (range, variety, synonyms, word formation…) | 0.675 |
| Expression | Spelling and punctuation | 0.15 |
What matters most about this rubric:
- Grammar and vocabulary are worth 1.35 marks between them, almost half the composition. Use complex structures (conditionals, passives, relative clauses) and varied vocabulary.
- Spelling is worth only 0.15. Don’t freeze for fear of a spelling mistake: it’s far more worthwhile to take a risk with a richer structure.
- The word count is part of the first criterion: writing below the minimum drops you to the lowest level.
You’ll find worked examples of all four types in my other guides: an opinion essay in the Andalusia guide, a for and against essay in the Canary Islands guide, a narrative in the Valencian Community guide and an interaction text in the Balearic Islands guide.
Vocabulary for the most common topics
The texts and compositions revolve around the environment, technology, travel and society: greenwashing, artificial intelligence, visits and plans with friends. Prepare vocabulary for these topics:
| Topic | For example | Vocabulary on KSE |
|---|---|---|
| The environment and consumerism | recycling, greenwashing, money | The environment · Money |
| Technology | artificial intelligence, social media | Technology and AI · Social media and the internet |
| Travel and free time | visits, the weather, sport | Travel · The weather · Sports |
| Education and work | school, university, jobs | School · Work |
| People and relationships | friendship, personality, food | 100 personality adjectives · Food |
How to manage the 90 minutes
| Part | Time |
|---|---|
| Skim both texts and their questions, and choose one | 8 minutes |
| Read the chosen text carefully | 7 minutes |
| Section 1: true or false with quotations | 10 minutes |
| Section 2: the two open questions | 13 minutes |
| Sections 3 and 4: vocabulary and multiple choice | 10 minutes |
| Section 5: plan and write the composition | 32 minutes |
| Count your words and check the whole exam | 10 minutes |
When choosing the text, don’t just look at the topic: look at the questions too. Sometimes the text that looks harder has the easier questions.
How it differs from other regions
If you’ve seen papers from other regions (or my guides to Castile and León, the Balearic Islands and Asturias), these are the differences that affect you most:
| Cantabria | Castile and León | Balearic Islands | Asturias | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choice of text | Yes, one of two | No | No | Yes, one of two |
| True or false | Yes, 4 | Yes, 4 | Yes, 4 | No |
| Open questions | 2 of 3 | 2 | 2 of 3 | 4 |
| Multiple choice | 3, no negative marking | 3, no negative marking | 3, wrong answers lose marks | No |
| Composition length | 120-150 (up to 200 not penalised) | 120-150 | 140-160 | 100-120 |
The Cantabria exam is very similar to the Castile and León and Balearic Islands ones, so their papers are useful practice. The big difference is that here you choose the text.
Common mistakes in the Cantabria PAU English exam
- Answering questions on both texts: only the ones on the text you choose count.
- Not justifying the true or false, or copying a piece of a sentence that doesn’t make sense on its own.
- Copying from the text word for word in the open questions.
- Giving only one reason when the question asks for at least two.
- Unclear handwriting: in the true or false and the multiple choice, if it can’t be read, it doesn’t score.
- Writing fewer than 120 words in the composition, or signing it.
- Forgetting the introduction or conclusion of the composition.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Cantabria PAU in 2027?
The University of Cantabria hasn’t published the 2027 dates yet. As soon as the calendar comes out, I’ll add it here.
Is the English exam changing in 2027?
At the time of writing, the UC hasn’t published a new structure for 2026-2027, so this guide follows the current one and the 2026 paper. If anything changes, I’ll update this guide.
Is there a listening test in the Cantabria PAU English exam?
No. The whole exam is written: reading comprehension and a composition.
What happens if I write more than 150 words?
According to the 2026 paper, compositions of up to 200 words aren’t penalised. Even so, my advice is to stay close to the range, between 130 and 160: writing much more only increases the risk of mistakes.
How much do spelling mistakes count?
In the composition rubric, spelling and punctuation are worth 0.15 marks at most. Grammar and vocabulary carry far more weight (0.675 each).
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Good luck with the PAU and, until then, don’t forget to keep smiling! 🙂
