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Exam Review

Key Facts: Catalonia PAU Geology & Env Sci Exam

EUR 110.00+ access phase (EUR 41.30 exam right + EUR 68.70 access phase; plus EUR 13.80 per admission exercise, Generalitat de Catalunya 2026)

Base PAU registration fee set by Generalitat de Catalunya

Consell Interuniversitari de Catalunya

90 Mins

Official examination duration

CIC PAU Regulations

Min 4.0

Minimum Access Phase score required to combine with Batxillerat GPA

Generalitat de Catalunya Admission Rules

5 Modules

Internal Geodynamics, External Processes, Stratigraphy, Hydrogeology & Resources, Environmental Management

LOMLOE 2n Batxillerat Curriculum

100

Practice questions in this English-language study adaptation

OpenExamPrep

Evaluates core geological literacy, Earth system science, and environmental sustainability competencies for university admission in Catalonia.

Sample Catalonia PAU Geology & Env Sci Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Catalonia PAU Geology & Env Sci exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which seismic body wave travels fastest through Earth's interior and can propagate through solid, liquid, and gaseous media?
A.Primary (P) waves
B.Secondary (S) waves
C.Rayleigh surface waves
D.Love surface waves
Explanation: Primary (P) waves are compressional longitudinal body waves that travel fastest through Earth. Because they propagate via alternating compressions and dilations, P-waves can move through solids, liquids, and gases.
2In the mechanical layer model of Earth's interior, how is the lithosphere distinguished from the underlying asthenosphere?
A.The lithosphere is composed of liquid iron, while the asthenosphere consists of solid mantle rock.
B.The lithosphere is rigid and brittle, comprising the crust and uppermost mantle, while the asthenosphere is ductile upper mantle.
C.The lithosphere extends from the lower mantle to the outer core, while the asthenosphere forms the continental crust.
D.The lithosphere is non-tectonic, while the asthenosphere forms Earth's magnetic core.
Explanation: The lithosphere is defined by its rigid, brittle mechanical behavior and comprises both the crust and uppermost solid mantle down to ~100 km depth. Below it, the asthenosphere consists of hotter, ductile upper mantle capable of slow convection.
3What type of plate boundary is characterized by two tectonic plates moving laterally past one another along horizontal strike-slip faults?
A.Divergent boundary
B.Convergent boundary
C.Transform boundary
D.Subduction zone
Explanation: Transform plate boundaries occur where tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other along strike-slip faults without creating or destroying lithosphere.
4What causes the abrupt increase in seismic wave velocity known as the Mohorovičić (Moho) discontinuity?
A.The transition from solid lower mantle to liquid outer core.
B.The boundary between the atmosphere and lithosphere.
C.The change from liquid outer core to solid inner core.
D.The compositional boundary between low-density crustal rocks and high-density mantle peridotite.
Explanation: The Mohorovičić (Moho) discontinuity marks the compositional interface separating low-density crustal rocks (feldspars, quartz) from denser, ultramafic mantle peridotite (olivine, pyroxene), causing seismic waves to accelerate.
5Which mechanism is primarily responsible for generating calc-alkaline magmatism and explosive volcanism at island arc systems?
A.Flux melting of the mantle wedge triggered by dehydration of subducted oceanic crust.
B.Decompression melting of upwelling asthenospheric mantle beneath continental rifts.
C.Isothermal decompression along mid-ocean ridge transform offsets.
D.Conductive heating of continental lithosphere over a stationary mantle plume.
Explanation: At subduction zones, descending hydrous minerals in the oceanic slab release volatiles ($H_2O, CO_2$) into the overlying mantle wedge, lowering the solidus temperature of peridotite and causing flux melting that produces calc-alkaline magma.
6How do seismic S-waves behave when they encounter the Gutenberg discontinuity at a depth of approximately 2,900 km?
A.They double their propagation speed due to increased density in the outer core.
B.They are completely stopped because the liquid outer core cannot transmit transverse shear stress.
C.They refract upward and accelerate through the mantle-core boundary transition.
D.They transform into longitudinal electromagnetic waves.
Explanation: Because liquids have zero shear modulus ($G = 0$), transverse S-waves cannot propagate through fluids and are abruptly stopped at the Gutenberg discontinuity, creating a large S-wave shadow zone beyond 103° from an epicenter.
7Which metamorphic facies forms under conditions of extremely high pressure and low temperature characteristic of deep subduction zones?
A.Hornfels facies
B.Granulite facies
C.Blueschist facies
D.Zeolite facies
Explanation: Blueschist facies metamorphism occurs under high-pressure, low-temperature conditions ($P > 0.6\text{ GPa}, T < 400^\circ\text{C}$) typical of oceanic lithosphere subducted rapidly into cool mantle depths, characterized by glaucophane amphibole.
8During the collision between the Iberian plate and the Eurasian plate that formed the Pyrenees, which structural feature developed as a result of crustal shortening?
A.Oceanic spreading ridges and oceanic transform faults.
B.Extensional grabens with normal faulting.
C.Passive continental margins with basaltic plateau lava flows.
D.Thrust faulting, fold-and-thrust belts, and nappe structures.
Explanation: The Pyrenean orogeny was driven by Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic continental collision and crustal shortening between Iberia and Eurasia, producing extensive thrust faults, south-vergent fold-and-thrust belts, and transported tectonic nappes.
9Which structural geological feature represents a fold with an upward-convex curvature in which the oldest rock layers lie in the core?
A.Anticline
B.Syncline
C.Normal fault
D.Graben
Explanation: An anticline is an arch-shaped, upward-convex fold in stratigraphy where limbs dip away from the crest and the stratigraphically oldest rocks are exposed in the central core.
10What type of fault is produced by crustal extension where the hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall?
A.Reverse fault
B.Normal fault
C.Strike-slip fault
D.Thrust fault
Explanation: A normal fault is produced by extensional stress ($\sigma_1$ vertical), causing the hanging wall block to slip downward relative to the footwall along a steep fault plane.

About the Catalonia PAU Geology & Env Sci Exam

The Catalonia PAU Geology and Environmental Sciences practice bank provides comprehensive preparation for 2n de Batxillerat students sitting the university entrance exam administered by the Consell Interuniversitari de Catalunya (CIC). It tests core concepts in plate tectonics, internal and external geodynamics, stratigraphy, hydrogeology, ecosystem energetics, natural hazard assessment, and environmental management with regional context from Catalonia (such as the Garrotxa volcanic field, Garraf karst, Pyrenean structural geology, and Llobregat delta hydrogeology). Note that the official examination is written and structured in Catalan and Spanish; this collection provides an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation.

Exam sponsor: Consell Interuniversitari de Catalunya (CIC) / Generalitat de Catalunya. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Official exam is four mandatory exercises worth 2.5 points each (10 total), covering blocks: plate tectonics and internal geodynamics, external geological processes, Earth's fluid layers, and natural resources and sustainable management; a fifth 'geological and environmental information' block is integrated across exercises. Administered in Catalan/Spanish; this bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation.

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 Access Phase >= 5.0 to pass).

Exam / Certification Fees

EUR 41.30 examination right + EUR 68.70 access phase + EUR 13.80 per admission-phase exercise (Generalitat de Catalunya, PAU 2026); 50% reduction and full exemption available for eligible groups

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.

25%

Internal Geodynamics & Plate Tectonics

Seismology, Earth interior structure, plate tectonics, magmatism, metamorphism, structural geology, and Pyrenean orogeny.

20%

External Geodynamics & Earth Surface Processes

Weathering, fluvial dynamics, karstification (Garraf, Montsec), coastal processes along Costa Brava, and soil science.

15%

Geological Time, Stratigraphy & Earth History

Principles of stratigraphy, relative and absolute dating, index fossils, cross-sections, and geological history of Catalonia.

20%

Earth Resources & Hydrogeology

Mineralogy, petrology, ore deposits, energy resources, hydrogeology (Llobregat/Ter deltas, salt intrusion), and water management.

20%

Ecosystems, Natural Hazards & Environmental Management

Ecosystem dynamics, Garrotxa volcanic field risk, landslide/flood risk assessment (R = H x E x V), waste management, and EIA.

Preparing for the Catalonia PAU Geology & Env Sci 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 Access Phase >= 5.0 to pass).
  • Assessment: Official exam is four mandatory exercises worth 2.5 points each (10 total), covering blocks: plate tectonics and internal geodynamics, external geological processes, Earth's fluid layers, and natural resources and sustainable management; a fifth 'geological and environmental information' block is integrated across exercises. Administered in Catalan/Spanish; this bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation.
  • Time limit: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
  • Exam / certification fees: EUR 41.30 examination right + EUR 68.70 access phase + EUR 13.80 per admission-phase exercise (Generalitat de Catalunya, PAU 2026); 50% reduction and full exemption available for eligible groups Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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Catalonia PAU Geology & Env Sci: Suggested Study Strategy

1Study seismic wave behavior, lithosphere-asthenosphere mechanical boundaries, and Pyrenean collision tectonics.
2Review regional external processes including Garraf karst weathering, Ebro/Llobregat river dynamics, and coastal sediment transport.
3Understand stratigraphy principles (superposition, cross-cutting relationships) and index fossils key to Iberian paleontology.
4Master hydrogeologic parameters (porosity, hydraulic conductivity, Darcy's Law) and saline intrusion risks in Mediterranean coastal aquifers.
5Focus on natural risk formulas (Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability), Garrotxa volcanic hazards, and EIA procedures under Catalan environmental regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the registration fee for the PAU exam in Catalonia?

The Generalitat de Catalunya, through the Consell Interuniversitari de Catalunya (CIC), sets the 2026 PAU ordinary fees at EUR 41.30 examination right, EUR 68.70 access phase, and EUR 13.80 per admission-phase exercise. A 50% reduction and a full exemption are available for eligible groups such as large families (família nombrosa general), scholarship holders, and students with a recognised disability of 33% or more.

What language is the official PAU exam written in?

The official exam is administered in Catalan (with Spanish options available upon request). This question bank serves as an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation.

What is the minimum passing score on the PAU Access Phase?

The exam is marked on a 0–10 scale. A minimum score of 4.0 is required in the Access Phase to combine with your Batxillerat GPA (60% Batxillerat + 40% PAU Access Phase >= 5.0 to pass).

What is the duration of the PAU Geology and Environmental Sciences exam?

The duration of the examination is 90 minutes (1.5 hours).

Which body administers the university access exam in Catalonia?

The exam is organized and administered by the Consell Interuniversitari de Catalunya (CIC) under the Generalitat de Catalunya.