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Free Practice Questions for PAU Geography (Andalusia)

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Exam Review

Key Facts: PAU Geography (Andalusia) Exam

90

Minutes

Distrito Único Andaluz PAU guidelines

0–10

Grading Scale

Comisión Interuniversitaria de Andalucía

EUR 58.70

Access Phase Base Fee

Junta de Andalucía

4.0

Min. Access Phase Mark

Spanish University Admission Regulation

100

Practice Questions

English Study Adaptation

The Andalusia PAU Geography exam lasts 90 minutes and is graded on a 0-10 scale (minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase). The base registration fee set by Junta de Andalucía is EUR 58.70 for the Access Phase. Note that local practice questions on this platform are an English-language MCQ study adaptation based on the official 2026 2nd Bachillerato curriculum of the Distrito Único Andaluz.

Sample PAU Geography (Andalusia) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PAU Geography (Andalusia) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following morphostructural units forms the ancient geological core of the Iberian Peninsula?
A.The Baetic System
B.The Central Iberian Meseta
C.The Ebro Depression
D.The Pyrenean Chain
Explanation: The Central Iberian Meseta (Meseta Central) is the oldest morphostructural unit of the peninsula, formed during the Hercynian (Variscan) orogeny in the Paleozoic era. It consists of a rigid basement of granites, schists, and slates that was eroded into a peneplain and later tilted westward during the Alpine orogeny. The other choices are alpine folded chains or tertiary sedimentary basins.
2Which mountain range physically separates the Guadalquivir Depression from the northern Meseta?
A.Sierra Morena
B.Cordillera Penibética
C.Sistema Central
D.Montes de Toledo
Explanation: Sierra Morena forms the natural southern boundary of the Meseta Central, separating it from the Guadalquivir Depression in Andalusia. Geologically, it represents the flexed southern border of the Paleozoic Hercynian basement rather than a true folded mountain chain. Its steep southern escarpment creates a major natural barrier between Andalusia and the interior plateau.
3Mulhacén, the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula (3,479 meters), is located in which mountain range?
A.Cordillera Subbética
B.Sierra Nevada (Cordillera Penibética)
C.Sierra de Cazorla
D.Sierra Morena
Explanation: Mulhacén is situated in the Sierra Nevada range within the Cordillera Penibética in the province of Granada. Reaching 3,479 meters, it is the highest mountain in mainland Spain and the entire Iberian Peninsula. Sierra Nevada exhibits alpine glacial landforms such as cirques and glacial lakes (lagunas).
4Which major air mass action center is primarily responsible for summer drought across most of southern Spain and Andalusia?
A.The Icelandic Low
B.The Azores High
C.The Siberian Anticyclone
D.The Polar Front Low
Explanation: The Azores High (Anticiclón de las Azores) shifts northward during the summer season, blocking Atlantic frontal systems and bringing warm, stable, and dry air over the Iberian Peninsula. This subtropical high-pressure system is the primary driver of the prolonged summer drought characteristic of Mediterranean climates in Andalusia and southern Spain.
5The Guadalquivir River empties into which body of water?
A.The Mediterranean Sea
B.The Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Cádiz)
C.The Cantabrian Sea
D.The Strait of Gibraltar
Explanation: The Guadalquivir River flows southwest across Andalusia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Sanlúcar de Barrameda in the Gulf of Cádiz. Its mouth forms an extensive wetland delta area known as the Las Marismas, which constitutes a major part of Doñana National Park.
6Which tree species forms the traditional 'dehesa' agro-silvo-pastoral ecosystem characteristic of western Andalusia and Extremadura?
A.Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
B.Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)
C.Spanish Fir (Abies pinsapo)
D.Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Explanation: The Holm Oak (encina / Quercus ilex), alongside the Cork Oak (alcornoque / Quercus suber), forms the dominant tree layer of the dehesa landscape. Dehesas are human-modified Mediterranean open woodlands used for grazing (Iberian pigs, cattle), cork harvesting, and timber, representing a sustainable traditional land-use system in Sierra Morena and Extremadura.
7What geomorphological feature characterizes the inner depression separating the Cordillera Penibética from the Cordillera Subbética?
A.The Ebro Delta
B.The Intrabaetic Basin (Hoya de Ronda, Antequera, Guadix, Baza)
C.The Central Meseta Tablelands
D.The Cantabrian Coastal Rias
Explanation: The Intrabaetic Basin (Surco Intrabético) is a series of interconnected interior basins (hoyas) such as Ronda, Antequera, Granada, Guadix, and Baza. Located between the outer Subbaetic and inner Penibaetic zones, these basins were filled with tertiary and quaternary continental sediments, creating fertile agricultural plains surrounded by high mountains.
8Which atmospheric phenomenon involves a detached cold upper-level low-pressure pocket that often causes intense localized torrential rainfall along the Mediterranean coast of Spain?
A.Thermal Low (Depresión Térmica)
B.Isolated Depression at High Levels (DANA / Gota Fría)
C.Atlantic Anticyclone
D.Fohn Wind Effect
Explanation: A DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos), historically known as 'gota fría', occurs when a cold air mass detaches from the jet stream aloft and moves over the warm Mediterranean Sea in autumn. The extreme contrast between cold upper air and warm, humid coastal surface air triggers severe atmospheric instability, leading to catastrophic torrential downpours and flash flooding in eastern and southern Spain.
9Why do Atlantic slope rivers in Spain (such as the Duero, Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir) tend to be significantly longer than Mediterranean slope rivers?
A.Because the Mediterranean coast is flat while the Atlantic coast has high cliffs
B.Because the Iberian Peninsula is tilted westward toward the Atlantic due to Alpine tectonic movements
C.Because rainfall is higher on the Atlantic coast than in the interior
D.Because Mediterranean rivers are artificially shortened by dams
Explanation: During the Alpine tectonic phase in the Cenozoic era, the ancient Paleozoic Hercynian block (Meseta) was tilted gently toward the west/southwest. As a result, the main drainage systems origin in eastern mountain ranges (Iberian System) flow across the entire width of the peninsula to discharge into the Atlantic Ocean. Conversely, Mediterranean rivers originate close to the sea and must descend steep gradients over short distances.
10Which area of Andalusia exhibits a semi-arid / Mediterranean dry climate with annual rainfall often below 300 mm due to the rain shadow of the Baetic System?
A.Sierra de Grazalema (Cádiz)
B.The Tabernas Desert and Cabo de Gata (Almería)
C.The Guadalquivir Valley (Seville)
D.The Vega of Granada
Explanation: Southeast Andalusia, particularly the province of Almería (including the Tabernas Desert and Cabo de Gata), receives the lowest precipitation in mainland Europe (<300 mm/year). This semi-arid climate is caused by the rain shadow effect of the high Cordillera Penibética, which blocks rain-bearing Atlantic moisture fronts.

About the PAU Geography (Andalusia) Exam

The PAU Geography examination in Andalusia evaluates 2nd Bachillerato students on physical, human, economic, and regional geography of Spain and Andalusia. Note: The official university entrance examination consists of essay questions, map interpretation, and graphic analysis. The practice questions provided on this platform represent an English-language multiple-choice question (MCQ) study adaptation designed for self-assessment and conceptual revision.

Exam sponsor: Distrito Único Andaluz / Comisión Interuniversitaria de Andalucía. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

90 minutes (1.5 hours)

Passing Score

Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% PAU >= 5.0 to pass).

Exam / Certification Fees

EUR 58.70 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase (or ~14.70 € per subject in voluntary admission phase) set by Junta de Andalucía.

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: 92-95% overall PAU pass rate. Subject-specific averages vary by university district across Andalusia. This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

35%

Physical Environment of Spain and Andalusia

Morphostructural units, relief formation, Hercynian meseta, Alpine chains, sedimentary basins, coastal relief, climate zones (Mediterranean, Atlantic, Mountain, Canary), hydrographic systems, river regimes, soils, and biogeography.

30%

Demography and Urban Space

Population distribution, natural increase, aging trends, internal and international migration, rural depopulation, urban hierarchy, metropolitan areas, and urban planning models in Spain and Andalusia.

25%

Economic Activity and Spatial Organization

Agricultural transformations, intensive irrigation in Andalusia (greenhouse agriculture, olive groves), industrial restructuring, energy transition, tourism dynamics (Costa del Sol), transportation infrastructure, and spatial imbalances.

10%

Territorial Organization and Regional Geography

Autonomous state structure, regional disparities, European Union territorial cohesion policies, and the territorial organization of Andalusia (comarcas, provinces, regional development).

Preparing for the PAU Geography (Andalusia) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% PAU >= 5.0 to pass).
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
  • Exam / certification fees: EUR 58.70 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase (or ~14.70 € per subject in voluntary admission phase) set by Junta de Andalucía. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PAU Geography (Andalusia): Suggested Study Strategy

1Master the distinction between the Hercynian basement (Macizo Ibérico) and Alpine alpine folding (Cordilleras Béticas, Pyrenees).
2Understand the key climate drivers in Spain: the Azores High, polar front, continentality of the Meseta, and Mediterranean thermal contrast.
3Memorize main river basins (Duero, Ebro, Tajo, Guadiana, Guadalquivir) and their flow regimes (pluvial, nival, mixed).
4Study Andalusian spatial dynamics: intensive coastal/valley economic hubs versus inland rural depopulation.
5Practice identifying geographical terminology, map features, and spatial patterns using multiple-choice revision items.

Frequently Asked Questions

What format does the practice test on this platform use?

This practice test provides an English-language multiple-choice question (MCQ) study adaptation of the 2nd Bachillerato Geography curriculum for Andalusia. The official PAU exam administered by Distrito Único Andaluz is a written pen-and-paper exam featuring open questions, definitions, map commentary, and statistical chart analysis.

What is the passing score for PAU Geography in Andalusia?

The exam is graded on a 0 to 10 scale. If taken as part of the mandatory Access Phase (Fase de Acceso), a minimum mark of 4.0 is required to calculate the final university admission mark (60% Bachillerato GPA + 40% PAU Access Phase mark >= 5.0). If taken in the Admission Phase (Fase de Admisión), a mark of 5.0 or higher is required to weigh for university admission.

How much does the PAU exam cost in Andalusia?

The Junta de Andalucía sets the fee annually. The base registration fee for the Access Phase is EUR 58.70, with an additional ~EUR 14.70 per subject entered in the voluntary Admission Phase (with fee reductions for large families or scholarship recipients).

What key topics in Andalusian geography are covered?

The exam emphasizes Andalusian relief (Baetic System, Guadalquivir Depression), Mediterranean climate nuances, Guadalquivir hydrography, intensive agricultural systems (Almería greenhouses, Jaén olive landscapes, Huelva berries), coastal urban development (Costa del Sol), demographic trends, and territorial organization across Andalusian provinces.