SPAIN

Upper secondary school in Spain is called the Bachillerato and lasts two years, generally from 16 to 18. Students enter it after completing Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO), which ends at 16. The Bachillerato is not compulsory, but it is required for university or certain advanced vocational courses.

The Bachillerato has three main tracks:

Science and technology

Humanities and social sciences

Arts

Each track has its own set of compulsory and optional subjects, letting students specialise around their interests and future goals.

Bachillerato subjects include:

Subjects common to all tracks:

Spanish language and literature

A foreign language (usually English)

Philosophy

History of Spain

Track-specific subjects:

Science: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology

Humanities and social sciences: Latin, geography, economics, history of art

Arts: artistic disciplines, history of art, graphic techniques

Optional subjects, chosen according to each student's preferences and study plan.

The Spanish school year usually starts in mid-September and ends in mid-June. The year is divided into terms, with holidays at Christmas, Easter and in summer. Students sit exams and assessments at the end of each term.

Students are assessed through a combination of written exams, projects, oral presentations and class participation. At the end of the second Bachillerato year they sit a national exam, the Evaluación para el Acceso a la Universidad (EvAU), similar to the Italian school-leaving exam. The Bachillerato diploma is required for university entry.

Student life in Spain is generally relaxed and focused on balancing study and social life. Students have plenty of chances to join extracurricular activities such as sport, music and volunteering. The education system also encourages a collaborative relationship between students and teachers, with active participation and classroom dialogue.

Spain stands out for its inclusive approach to education. There are specific programmes for students with disabilities or learning difficulties, and many schools offer psychological and academic guidance. The Spanish system is also attentive to the needs of international students, providing language support courses to ease integration.

Compared with the Italian system, the Spanish Bachillerato is much shorter: two years against five for the Italian liceo. It is more focused on the track each student chooses, while the Italian system, with its classical, scientific, linguistic and artistic lycées, offers a longer, deeper but less flexible education. Final exams reflect these differences too: the Italian maturità is more complex and multidisciplinary, while the Spanish EvAU focuses strictly on the subjects studied during the Bachillerato.