A total of 3,870 students have formalized their registration in Asturias to take the University Entrance Exam (PAU), of which the ordinary phase takes place on June 4, 5 and 6, and the extraordinary phase on July 2, 3 and 4. The amount of students has slightly decreased from last year, when 3,887 students took their exams in June.

The exams are conducted in different sities in Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés, Mieres, Ribadesella, Cangas del Narcea y Tapia de Casariego. Asturias is the first Autonomous Community to start with the PAU exams, alongside Madrid.

The PAU examination is divided into two phases: a general phase, compulsory for every student, which evaluates their maturity and dexterity. Any student who passes receives clearance to access the University, a certification that does not expire. The second phase is specific: it is voluntary and it evaluates the knowledge and the capacity for reasoning of the students in disciplines related to the Degrees they aspire to start. It also allows students to improve their grades from the general phase, since this specific phase it aimed at those students who want to start a Degree with limited places.

The exams of this first period of the 2013 PAU have started with the exam of Spanish Language and Literature, with the exam of Spanish History or History of Philosphy afterwards. The general phase will end on June 5 with the exams of Foreign Language at 9:30 and the exam of the subject of the modality chosen during the second year of the Baccalaureate at noon.

The specific phase of the PAU, in which students will be evaluated in a minimum of two subjects and a maximum of 4, will start on June 5 at 15:45 with the exams of Physics, Universal Literature, Drawing II or Musical Analysis. At 18:00, the exams of Technical Drawing II, Business Economy, Greek II or Drama will take place.

On Thursday, June 6, at 9:30, the exams of Chemistry, Mathematics Applied to Social Sciences II, Graphic-Plastic Expression Techniques or History of Music and Dance will take place. The exams of Mathematics II, Art History or Electrotechnics will start at 11:45.

During the afternoon, starting at 15:45, students will take the exams of Biology, Industrial Technology II or Geography, and at 18:00, they will start the exams of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Latin II and Design.