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PAES Historia y Ciencias Sociales: The First World War (1914-1918) was triggered immediately by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in:

Paris

Berlin

Vienna

Sarajevo

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Key Facts: PAES Exam

Chile's university entrance exam: five multiple-choice tests (Lectora, M1, M2, Ciencias, Historia y Ciencias Sociales) scored 100-1,000, with no penalty for wrong answers, administered by DEMRE.

Sample PAES Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PAES exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In the PAES Competencia Lectora, a question asks you to identify the 'propósito comunicativo' (communicative purpose) of a text that lists steps for assembling a bicycle. What is the most likely communicative purpose?

A.To instruct the reader on how to perform a task

B.To persuade the reader to buy a particular bicycle brand

C.To narrate a personal story about cycling

D.To argue that cycling is better than driving

Explanation: A text that lists ordered steps for completing a procedure is instructional (instructivo); its purpose is to guide the reader through a task. Recognizing text type and purpose is a core 'localizar' and 'interpretar' skill in Competencia Lectora.

2Read: 'A pesar de la lluvia incesante, los voluntarios continuaron limpiando la playa hasta el anochecer.' The connector 'A pesar de' signals which logical relationship?

A.Concession (contrast despite an obstacle)

B.Cause and effect

C.Temporal sequence

D.Addition of similar ideas

Explanation: 'A pesar de' (despite) introduces a concessive relationship: an obstacle exists, yet the action continues anyway. Identifying the function of connectors is a key Competencia Lectora skill for interpreting how ideas relate within a text.

3A reading passage states: 'El narrador observa los hechos sin participar en ellos y conoce los pensamientos de todos los personajes.' Which narrative point of view is described?

A.Omniscient third-person narrator

B.First-person protagonist narrator

C.Witness narrator with limited knowledge

D.Second-person narrator

Explanation: A narrator who does not participate but knows the thoughts of all characters is the omniscient third-person narrator (narrador omnisciente). Recognizing narrator type supports literary analysis in Competencia Lectora.

4In an argumentative text, an author writes: 'Según un estudio de la Universidad de Chile, el 70% de los encuestados apoya la medida.' This sentence functions mainly as:

A.Evidence supporting a claim

B.The thesis (main claim) of the text

C.A counterargument

D.An emotional appeal unrelated to data

Explanation: Citing a study with statistics provides empirical evidence that backs up a claim. Distinguishing thesis, evidence, and counterargument is central to evaluating argumentative texts in the PAES.

5Which word is a synonym for 'efímero' as used in the sentence 'El éxito fue efímero y pronto fue olvidado'?

A.Fleeting

B.Permanent

C.Glorious

D.Expensive

Explanation: 'Efímero' means short-lived or fleeting, which fits a success that was soon forgotten. Vocabulary-in-context questions require choosing the meaning that preserves the sentence's sense.

6A passage describes deforestation, then asks for the best title. The text discusses causes, consequences, and possible solutions to forest loss. Which title best captures the GLOBAL sense of the text?

A.Deforestation: causes, effects, and responses

B.A single rainy day in the forest

C.How to plant a tree at home

D.The history of the Chilean flag

Explanation: A title must reflect the whole text. Since the passage covers causes, consequences, and solutions of deforestation, the title naming all three captures the global meaning. Synthesizing the main idea is a higher-order Competencia Lectora skill.

7Read: 'El protagonista, harto de las normas de la ciudad, decide partir hacia el sur en busca de libertad.' What can be inferred about the protagonist's motivation?

A.He seeks freedom away from constraints he rejects

B.He wants to obey the city's rules more strictly

C.He is travelling north for business

D.He dislikes the southern landscape

Explanation: The phrase 'harto de las normas' (fed up with the rules) plus 'en busca de libertad' lets us infer he leaves to escape constraints and find freedom. Inference requires combining textual cues that are not stated literally.

8An author uses the phrase 'la ciudad respiraba con dificultad bajo el smog'. This is an example of which figure of speech?

A.Personification

B.Hyperbole

C.Onomatopoeia

D.Synecdoche

Explanation: Attributing the human action of breathing ('respiraba') to a city is personification (personificacion), giving human qualities to a non-human entity. Identifying literary devices supports interpretation of figurative meaning.

9In the PAES, after reading two texts on the same topic (one favorable, one critical), a question asks you to compare them. This task primarily evaluates which reading skill level?

A.Localizar (locate explicit information)

B.Relacionar e interpretar information

C.Evaluar (reflect on and assess texts)

D.Decoding individual letters

Explanation: Comparing the stances of two texts and judging their perspectives requires the highest PAES reading skill, 'evaluar' (evaluate/reflect). The three levels are locate, interpret-relate, and evaluate.

10Choose the option that correctly fills the blanks: 'No solo llegó tarde, ____ tampoco trajo los documentos ____ se le habían solicitado.'

A.sino que / que

B.pero / que

C.aunque / cuando

D.porque / donde

Explanation: 'No solo... sino que tambien/tampoco' is the correct correlative construction for adding a contrasting element, and 'que' introduces the relative clause about the documents. PAES tests command of cohesive connectors and grammar in context.

About the PAES Exam

The PAES (Prueba de Acceso a la Educacion Superior) is Chile's standardized university entrance examination, administered by DEMRE of the Universidad de Chile and used by institutions in the Sistema de Acceso. It replaced the PSU starting with the 2022 application process (Admision 2023). The battery comprises two mandatory tests (Competencia Lectora and Competencia Matematica 1) plus electives in Ciencias and Historia y Ciencias Sociales, with Competencia Matematica 2 (M2) required for many programs. All tests are multiple-choice, scores range from 100 to 1,000 points, and wrong answers carry no penalty. For Admision 2027, the tests are applied on 30 November, 1 December, and 2 December 2026.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Per test: Competencia Lectora 2h30m, M1 2h20m, M2 2h, Historia y Ciencias Sociales 2h, Ciencias 2h40m, taken across three days.

Passing Score

Standardized scale of 100 to 1,000 points; no universal pass mark, as each university and program sets its own weightings and cutoff scores.

Exam Fee

CLP $17,500 (1 test), $32,000 (2 tests), $46,500 (3+ tests); fourth-year secondary students CLP $46,500, with Beca PAES exemptions; M2 free when M1 is registered. (DEMRE (Universidad de Chile) for the Subsecretaria de Educacion Superior, Chile)

PAES Exam Content Outline

24%

Competencia Lectora

Reading comprehension: locating, interpreting, and evaluating continuous and discontinuous texts, connectors, and literary analysis.

26%

Competencia Matematica 1 (M1)

Numbers, algebra and functions, geometry, and probability and statistics in everyday and mathematical contexts.

14%

Competencia Matematica 2 (M2)

Advanced math: trigonometry, logarithms, complex numbers, sequences, and advanced functions for selected programs.

20%

Ciencias

Elective in Biology, Physics, and Chemistry plus a Tecnico-Profesional module and scientific-method reasoning.

16%

Historia y Ciencias Sociales

Elective covering Chilean and world history, geography, economics, source analysis, and Formacion Ciudadana.

How to Pass the PAES Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Standardized scale of 100 to 1,000 points; no universal pass mark, as each university and program sets its own weightings and cutoff scores.
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Per test: Competencia Lectora 2h30m, M1 2h20m, M2 2h, Historia y Ciencias Sociales 2h, Ciencias 2h40m, taken across three days.
Exam fee: CLP $17,500 (1 test), $32,000 (2 tests), $46,500 (3+ tests); fourth-year secondary students CLP $46,500, with Beca PAES exemptions; M2 free when M1 is registered.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PAES Study Tips from Top Performers

1Download and study the official DEMRE temarios for each test you will take; they define exactly which content and skills are assessed.

2Practice with the official released questions (selecciones de preguntas) and clavijeros published by DEMRE after each application.

3Since wrong answers carry no penalty, train yourself to answer every question and to use educated elimination when unsure.

4For Competencia Lectora, practice the three skill levels: locating information, interpreting and relating ideas, and evaluating texts.

5Decide early whether your target program requires M2, and if so include trigonometry, logarithms, and complex numbers in your study plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PAES and how does it differ from the PSU?

The PAES (Prueba de Acceso a la Educacion Superior) is Chile's university entrance exam administered by DEMRE. It replaced the PSU starting with the 2022 application process and emphasizes skills and applied reasoning rather than rote memorization.

Which PAES tests are mandatory?

Competencia Lectora and Competencia Matematica 1 (M1) are mandatory for all applicants, plus at least one elective (Ciencias or Historia y Ciencias Sociales). Competencia Matematica 2 (M2) is required for many technical and professional programs.

How is the PAES scored?

Each test is reported on a standardized scale from 100 to 1,000 points. There is no universal passing score; universities set their own weightings and cutoffs. Wrong answers do not subtract points, so it is best to answer every question.

How many questions and how long is each PAES test?

Competencia Lectora has 65 questions (2h30m), M1 has 65 (2h20m), M2 has 55 (2h), Historia y Ciencias Sociales has 65 (2h), and Ciencias has 80 (2h40m). All are multiple-choice and taken across three application days.

How much does it cost to register for the PAES?

Registration costs CLP $17,500 for one test, $32,000 for two, and $46,500 for three or more. Fourth-year secondary students pay CLP $46,500 unless exempt through the Beca PAES, and M2 is free when M1 is registered.