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Exam pass rate: About 95% of Bachillerato candidates passed the Aragón PAU Access Phase in the June 2025 ordinary sitting (regional reported results).

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Key Facts: es-ar-pau-history-of-art Exam

90 min

Exam Duration

UNIZAR PAU

0–10

Grading Scale

UNIZAR PAU

Min 4.0

Access Phase Threshold

PAU Organising Commission

60 / 40

GPA vs PAU Weighting

Spanish Education Ministry

EUR 75.00

Ordinary Registration Fee

UNIZAR PAU inscription page 2026

7 Domains

Syllabus Modules

Aragón Curriculum

The Aragón PAU Historia del Arte exam is a 90-minute written test graded on a 0–10 scale administered by UNIZAR. Passing requires a score of at least 4.0 in the Access Phase to combine with the 2º Bachillerato GPA (60/40 weighting). Content spans Greek and Roman antiquity, Hispano-Muslim architecture, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque (Velázquez), Francisco de Goya, and 20th-century Avant-garde movements.

Sample es-ar-pau-history-of-art Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the es-ar-pau-history-of-art exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which classical Greek architectural order is primarily used for the exterior colonnade of the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis?

A.Doric order

B.Ionic order

C.Corinthian order

D.Tuscan order

Explanation: The Parthenon, designed by Iktinos and Kallikrates under the supervision of Phidias (447–432 BCE), is primarily a Doric peripteral temple. It features fluted Doric columns without bases resting directly on the stylobate, topped by simple cushion-like capitals. Although it incorporates an interior Ionic frieze around the cella, its exterior perimeter colonnade is quintessential Classical Doric.

2The ancient Greek sculptor Polykleitos formulated a famous theoretical treatise and sculpture establishing ideal 1:7 body proportions and contrapposto. Which masterpiece exemplifies this canon?

A.Apoxyomenos (Scraper)

B.Discobolus (Discus Thrower)

C.Doryphoros (Spear-Bearer)

D.Hermes and the Infant Dionysus

Explanation: Polykleitos of Argos sculpted the Doryphoros (Spear-Bearer) around 440 BCE as a physical embodiment of his theoretical treatise, the Canon (Kanon). It established ideal mathematical proportions for the human figure (head to body ratio of 1:7) and perfected contrapposto—a counter-poise stance where weight rests on one engaged leg while the other is relaxed.

3In Classical Greek Doric architecture, what alternating elements compose the entablature frieze directly above the architrave?

A.Dentils and modillions

B.Triglyphs and metopes

C.Volutes and acanthi

D.Archivolts and tympana

Explanation: The Doric frieze consists of alternating triglyphs (vertical tablets with three carved channels, recalling wooden beam ends from earlier timber construction) and metopes (square architectural spaces that were smooth or sculpted with relief scenes).

4The Roman Pantheon in Rome, reconstructed under Emperor Hadrian, achieved its vast unreinforced concrete dome through which structural innovations?

A.A timber truss roof covered with gilded bronze tiles

B.Flying buttresses and pointed rib vaulting reinforced with iron chains

C.A coffered ceiling (lacunaria) and step-graded concrete density ending in an open central oculus

D.A double-shell brick vault supported by external squinches

Explanation: The Pantheon's dome (43.3m diameter) was an engineering triumph built from pozzolana concrete (opus caementicium). Weight was reduced by using lighter aggregates (pumice) near the top, five rings of recessed coffers (lacunaria) to lighten the shell, and a 9-meter central opening (oculus) that provides natural illumination and structural relief.

5Which visual characteristic distinguishes capitals of the Classical Greek Ionic order from the Doric and Corinthian orders?

A.Double spiral scrolls known as volutes

B.Carved acanthus leaves arranged in tiers

C.Human carved figures functioning as column shafts

D.Plain cushion-like echinus without ornamentation

Explanation: The Ionic capital is immediately identifiable by its double spiral scrolls called volutes, inspired by rams' horns or organic spiral forms. By contrast, the Doric capital features a simple unadorned cushion (echinus), and the Corinthian capital features stylized acanthus leaves.

6The Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace), commissioned by the Roman Senate in 13 BCE, served primarily as political propaganda for which purpose?

A.Celebrating Emperor Augustus's military destruction of Carthage

B.Commemorating the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity

C.Honoring the gladiator victories in the Colosseum

D.Promoting the Pax Romana, religious piety, and the dynastic continuity of the Julio-Claudian family

Explanation: The Ara Pacis Augustae was commissioned to commemorate Augustus's triumphant return from Hispania and Gaul. Its relief friezes depict civic peace (Pax Romana), religious devotion (pietas), agricultural abundance, and a solemn procession of Augustus and his imperial family, reinforcing dynastic succession and moral renewal.

7The exterior arcade facade of the Roman Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater) features a classic superposition of architectural orders. What is the correct order from bottom to top?

A.Corinthian (ground), Ionic (second level), Doric/Tuscan (third level)

B.Doric/Tuscan (ground level), Ionic (second level), Corinthian (third level)

C.Ionic (ground level), Corinthian (second level), Composite (third level)

D.Composite (ground level), Corinthian (second level), Ionic (third level)

Explanation: The Colosseum facade applies the principle of superposition of orders, placing the visually heaviest order at the bottom and lighter, more decorative orders above: Tuscan/Doric engaged columns on the ground tier, Ionic on the second tier, and Corinthian engaged columns on the third tier (topped by Corinthian pilasters on the fourth attic level).

8The Hellenistic marble group 'Laocoön and His Sons' (discovered in Rome in 1506) is famous for displaying which stylistic traits of Hellenistic sculpture?

A.Abstract geometric simplification and flattened relief planes

B.Idealized tranquil beauty and complete restraint of emotion

C.Rigid frontality, calm impassive facial expression, and symmetry

D.Dynamic diagonal composition, intense emotional anguish (pathos), and dramatic muscular tension

Explanation: Scultped by Agesander, Athenodoros, and Polydoros of Rhodes (c. 1st century BCE), Laocoön and His Sons exemplifies Hellenistic baroque style: theatrical dynamism, twisting diagonal poses, intricate muscular strain, and extreme emotional suffering (pathos) as the Trojan priest and his sons are attacked by sea serpents.

9The late Classical Greek sculptor Lysippos modified the traditional Polykleitan canon of proportions in works like the Apoxyomenos. What was his main innovation?

A.Restricting figures strictly to single frontal viewing angles

B.Enlarging the head to a 1:5 ratio to emphasize intellectual capacity

C.Eliminating contrapposto in favor of rigid Egyptian frontality

D.Creating a smaller head (1:8 ratio) and slenderer limbs to make figures appear taller and more dynamic in three-dimensional space

Explanation: Lysippos of Sicyon revised Polykleitos's 1:7 body canon by introducing a 1:8 ratio (where the head is 1/8th of body height). This rendered statues more slender, tall, and graceful. In the Apoxyomenos (athlete scraping oil), Lysippos also extended arms forward into the viewer's space, inviting multi-angle viewing.

10The Aqueduct of Segovia in Spain demonstrates Roman structural engineering mastery through which core architectural element?

A.Corbeled brick vaults held together by hydraulic cement and iron clamps

B.Tiered arch arcades constructed of unmortared granite blocks using gravity and precise stone dressing

C.Post-and-lintel stone beams supported by monolithic Corinthian pillars

D.Pointed arches supported by flying buttresses

Explanation: The Aqueduct of Segovia (c. 1st century CE) transported water across 16 km. Its most famous section consists of a double tier of semicircular arches reaching nearly 28 meters in height, built entirely of dry-laid (unmortared) granite blocks fitted with extraordinary precision.

About the es-ar-pau-history-of-art Exam

The Aragón PAU Historia del Arte exam evaluates 2º Bachillerato students on European and Spanish artistic heritage from Classical Antiquity through 20th-century Avant-garde movements. Key focal points include Greek and Roman architecture and sculpture, Hispano-Muslim monuments like the Mosque of Córdoba and Alhambra, Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals, Italian Renaissance masters, Spanish Golden Age Baroque (Velázquez, Ribera, Zurbarán), Aragonese painter Francisco de Goya, and 20th-century masters (Picasso, Dalí, Miró) alongside modern architectural pioneers.

Exam sponsor: PAU Organising Commission of Aragón / UNIZAR. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Written essay and image analysis exam (text analysis, image identification, and thematic synthesis essays)

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 75.00 ordinary registration fee (Access Phase plus two voluntary subjects); EUR 30.93 per additional voluntary subject (UNIZAR 2026)

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: About 95% of Bachillerato candidates passed the Aragón PAU Access Phase in the June 2025 ordinary sitting (regional reported results).. overall PAU Access Phase pass rate in Aragón 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.

Official sources

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.

15%

Classical Antiquity

Greek architectural orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian), Parthenon, Acropolis, sculpture from Archaic to Hellenistic; Roman engineering, Pantheon, Colosseum, Ara Pacis, and portraiture.

10%

Hispano-Muslim Art

Mosque of Córdoba structural phases, horseshoe arches, and mihrab; Almohad architecture (Giralda); Nasrid art and the Alhambra of Granada.

20%

Romanesque & Gothic Art

Pilgrimage churches, Santiago de Compostela, portals (Pórtico de la Gloria), Tahull frescoes; Gothic cathedrals (Chartres, Burgos, León), stained glass, and Flemish painting.

15%

Renaissance & Mannerism

Quattrocento (Brunelleschi, Donatello, Masaccio), Cinquecento (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael), Venetian colorism, and Spanish Mannerism (El Greco).

20%

Baroque & Spanish Golden Age

Italian Baroque (Caravaggio, Bernini), Dutch/Flemish painting (Rubens, Rembrandt), Spanish Golden Age (Velázquez, Ribera, Zurbarán, Murillo), and Baroque architecture.

10%

Neoclassicism & Francisco de Goya

Neoclassical style and Francisco de Goya's complete career (tapestry cartoons, court portraits, Disasters of War, The Third of May 1808, Black Paintings).

10%

19th & 20th Century Modern Art

Impressionism (Monet), Post-Impressionism (Cézanne), Vanguardias (Picasso's Cubism, Dalí and Miró's Surrealism), and Modern Architecture (Gaudí, Le Corbusier, Wright).

Preparing for the es-ar-pau-history-of-art 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: Written essay and image analysis exam (text analysis, image identification, and thematic synthesis essays)
Time limit: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
Exam / certification fees: EUR 75.00 ordinary registration fee (Access Phase plus two voluntary subjects); EUR 30.93 per additional voluntary subject (UNIZAR 2026) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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es-ar-pau-history-of-art: Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorize key architectural plans and cross-sections (basilical, Latin cross, central plan, rib vaults, barrel vaults)

2Practice analyzing artworks using formal criteria: spatial composition, light, color, perspective, line, and iconography

3Study Goya's distinct artistic phases chronologically: early tapestry cartoons, court painter period, war prints, and Black Paintings

4Understand the key stylistic distinctions between Quattrocento and Cinquecento Italian Renaissance art

5Master the stylistic characteristics of Spanish Golden Age Baroque painting, especially Velázquez's aerial perspective and naturalism

6Learn the core principles of 20th-century Avant-garde movements: Cubism, Surrealism, Fauvism, and Abstraction

7Review the architectural innovations of Modernism (Gaudí) and Rationalism (Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the Aragón PAU History of Art exam?

The exam is a 90-minute written test administered by UNIZAR. It includes image identification and analysis, stylistic comparison of artworks, key term definitions, and thematic essay questions based on the official 2º Bachillerato syllabus.

How is the PAU score calculated in Aragón?

The PAU final admission mark combines the Bachillerato GPA (60%) and the PAU Access Phase mark (40%). Candidates must achieve at least 4.0 on the Access Phase to qualify for this combination, and the final combined score must be 5.0 or higher.

Why is Francisco de Goya particularly important in the Aragón PAU syllabus?

Goya was born in Fuendetodos (Zaragoza), Aragón. The Aragón PAU syllabus highlights Goya's complete career, from his early Aragonese works (frescoes at Aula Dei and El Pilar) to his royal portraits, war etchings, and late Black Paintings.

What architectural works are essential for the Medieval section?

Key monuments include the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and San Clemente de Tahull for Romanesque, and the Cathedrals of Chartres, León, and Burgos for Gothic, alongside Hispano-Muslim landmarks such as the Mosque of Córdoba and Alhambra.

Can I retake the PAU exam if I want to improve my grade?

Yes. Students in Aragón can sit for the extraordinary call (Convocatoria Extraordinaria) in July or retake exams in subsequent years. The higher score obtained is counted for university admission.

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