Students in Catalonia navigate gap years and exam retakes

Students in Catalonia are navigating various paths following the completion of secondary education, including taking gap years or retaking university entrance exams (PAU) during the September session.

Some students choose a gap year to explore career options, gain work experience for financial independence, or study languages abroad. This period is often used to avoid entering a degree program without certainty, which can lead to early abandonment.

Other students utilize the September exam period as a second chance to improve their grades. In Terrassa, students enrolled at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) are retaking subjects like Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry to meet the higher grade requirements for competitive degrees such as Physiotherapy or Engineering.