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Exam Review

Key Facts: PAU History (Catalonia) Exam

90

Minutes

Consell Interuniversitari de Catalunya

4.0/10

Min. Access Phase Mark

Generalitat de Catalunya PAU regulations

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 Exam Fee

Generalitat de Catalunya

4

Chronological Blocks

2nd Bachillerato Curriculum

CIC / Generalitat

Administrator

Consell Interuniversitari de Catalunya

English MCQ

Prep Bank Format

Local Study Adaptation

The Catalonia PAU History exam is a 90-minute subject test set by the Generalitat de Catalunya (CIC). While official exams require written source analysis in Catalan or Spanish, this study bank offers 100 English multiple-choice questions covering 19th and 20th century Catalan and Spanish history across four main chronological blocks.

Sample PAU History (Catalonia) Practice Questions

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

1Which 1807 treaty between Napoleonic France and Spain permitted French troops to cross Spanish territory under the pretext of invading Portugal?
A.Treaty of Fontainebleau
B.Treaty of Valençay
C.Treaty of San Ildefonso
D.Treaty of Utrecht
Explanation: The Treaty of Fontainebleau was signed in October 1807 between Manuel Godoy (representing Charles IV of Spain) and Napoleon Bonaparte. It authorized French armies to cross Spain to conquer Portugal, but Napoleon used this entry to occupy strategic Spanish cities, triggering the Crisis of the Ancien Régime and the Peninsular War. The Treaty of Valençay later restored Ferdinand VII, San Ildefonso allied Spain with Revolutionary France earlier, and Utrecht concluded the War of the Spanish Succession.
2What was the immediate political consequence of the Aranjuez Mutiny (Motín de Aranjuez) in March 1808?
A.The dismissal of Manuel Godoy and the abdication of King Charles IV in favor of his son Ferdinand VII
B.The immediate execution of King Charles IV by French occupation forces
C.The drafting of Spain's first republican constitution
D.The official entry of Spain into the Triple Alliance against Napoleonic France
Explanation: The Aranjuez Mutiny of March 1808 was a popular riot orchestrated by supporters of Crown Prince Ferdinand against Chief Minister Manuel Godoy. The uprising forced the downfall and imprisonment of Godoy and compelled King Charles IV to abdicate in favor of his son, who became Ferdinand VII. Napoleon subsequently summoned both royals to Bayonne, where he forced both to renounce their rights to the crown in favor of Joseph Bonaparte.
3Which fundamental principle was established by the Constitution of Cádiz (1812), popularizing the motto 'La Pepa'?
A.National sovereignty residing in the Spanish nation rather than the monarch
B.Absolute royal veto power over all parliamentary legislation
C.The complete abolition of the Roman Catholic Church in Spain
D.The establishment of a federal republic with regional autonomy
Explanation: The Constitution of 1812 (promulgated on March 19, St. Joseph's Day, hence 'La Pepa') established national sovereignty, affirming that supreme power resides in the nation rather than the King. It created a constitutional monarchy with separation of powers, universal male suffrage (indirect), and freedom of the press. It retained Roman Catholicism as the exclusive state religion, avoiding religious abolition or federalism.
4Upon returning to Spain in 1814 after the defeat of Napoleon, how did King Ferdinand VII react to the Constitution of 1812?
A.He issued the Valencia Decree, abolishing the Constitution of 1812 and restoring absolute monarchy
B.He swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and ruled as a constitutional monarch until his death
C.He transformed Spain into a federal republic modeled after the United States
D.He abdicated immediately in favor of his brother Don Carlos
Explanation: In May 1814, encouraged by conservative deputies (Manifesto of the Persians) and absolutist military officers, Ferdinand VII issued the Valencia Decree. This decree declared the Constitution of 1812 and all acts of the Cádiz Cortes null and void 'as if they had never happened,' initiating the Sexenni Absolutista (1814–1820) and restoring absolute monarchy.
5Which military pronunciamiento in January 1820 forced Ferdinand VII to restore the Constitution of 1812, initiating the Trienni Liberal?
A.The uprising led by Colonel Rafael del Riego in Cabezas de San Juan
B.The revolt led by General Baldomero Espartero in Vergara
C.The mutiny led by General Joan Prim in Reus
D.The pronunciamiento of General Arsenio Martínez Campos in Sagunto
Explanation: On January 1, 1820, Colonel Rafael del Riego led an army expeditionary force stationed at Cabezas de San Juan (Seville) in a pronunciamiento demanding the restoration of the 1812 Constitution. The revolt spread across major cities, forcing Ferdinand VII in March 1820 to accept the liberal constitution with his famous phrase 'Let us walk frankly, and I the first, along the constitutional path,' launching the Trienni Liberal (1820–1823).
6Which foreign intervention brought an end to the Trienni Liberal in 1823 and restored Ferdinand VII to absolute power?
A.The invasion by the French army known as the 'Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis' authorized by the Holy Alliance
B.A British naval blockade of Cadiz organized by the Duke of Wellington
C.An invasion by Portuguese royalist troops led by Dom Miguel
D.An expeditionary army sent by the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Explanation: In April 1823, acting under a mandate from the Holy Alliance (Congress of Verona), France sent an army of over 90,000 soldiers known as the 'Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis' (Cien Mil Hijos de San Luis) commanded by the Duke of Angoulême. They invaded Spain with little resistance, dismantled the liberal regime, released Ferdinand VII from liberal custody in Cádiz, and restored absolute monarchy.
7What was the main purpose of the Pragmatic Sanction promulgated by Ferdinand VII in 1830?
A.To repeal the Salic Law, allowing females to inherit the Spanish crown and paving the way for his daughter Isabella II
B.To permanently cede Spanish Cuba to Great Britain in exchange for financial debt forgiveness
C.To introduce mandatory universal primary education across all Spanish provinces
D.To grant full political autonomy to Catalonia and the Basque provinces
Explanation: The Pragmatic Sanction of 1830 published a decree originally drafted by Charles IV in 1789 that abolished the Salic Law (which barred women from royal succession). By doing so, Ferdinand VII ensured that his newly born daughter Isabella (later Isabella II) would be his legal heir, bypassing his absolutist brother Infante Carlos María Isidro and directly triggering the Carlist dynastic conflict.
8What were the primary core ideologies of the Carlist movement during the First Carlist War (1833–1840)?
A.Absolutism, religious defense of Roman Catholicism, and preservation of regional charters (fueros)
B.Republicanism, secularization of public schools, and industrial capitalism
C.Socialism, agrarian collectivization, and federal union with Portugal
D.Constitutional liberalism, free trade economics, and centralist administration
Explanation: Carlism rallied under the slogan 'Dios, Patria, Rey, Fueros' (God, Fatherland, King, Charters). It defended absolute monarchy under Infante Carlos, traditional Catholicism against liberal anti-clericalism, and the historical regional charters/privileges (fueros) of the Basque Country, Navarre, Aragon, and Catalonia against centralizing liberal state reforms.
9What was the main goal and mechanism of the Mendizábal Desamortización (Ecclesiastical Disentailment) of 1836?
A.To expropriate monastic Church lands and sell them at public auction to raise funds for the Isabelino army and reduce state debt
B.To redistribute small farm plots for free to landless peasants across Andalusia and Extremadura
C.To nationalize all private textile factories in Catalonia under state ownership
D.To sell municipal common lands to fund the national railway network
Explanation: Enacted by Progressive Prime Minister Juan Álvarez Mendizábal in 1836 during the First Carlist War, this decree expropriated property owned by suppressed religious orders. The lands were sold at public auction to raise money for the liberal war effort against Carlism, reduce public debt, and create a class of landowners committed to the liberal regime.
10How did the Constitution of 1837 attempt to bridge the divide between Progressive and Moderate liberals?
A.By combining progressive elements (national sovereignty, bill of rights) with moderate features (bicameral parliament, royal veto power)
B.By establishing absolute royal supremacy and dissolving parliament permanently
C.By introducing universal female suffrage and secular marriage laws
D.By abolishing the army and replacing it with regional popular militias
Explanation: Promulgated under a Progressive government during the Regency of Maria Christina, the 1837 Constitution sought consensus. It contained progressive principles like national sovereignty (in the preamble) and fundamental rights, while granting Moderate concessions such as a bicameral Cortes (Congress and Senate) and executive royal powers including suspensive veto.

About the PAU History (Catalonia) Exam

The Catalonia PAU History of Spain (Història d'Espanya) exam evaluates students' knowledge of modern and contemporary Spanish and Catalan history from the late 18th century to the late 20th century. The official exam administered by the Generalitat de Catalunya consists of written source analysis, historical document commentary, and essay options in Catalan or Spanish. This practice module adapts the official curriculum into 100 English-language multiple-choice questions to test factual knowledge, causal analysis, and key historical milestones.

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

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

90 minutes

Passing Score

4.0 / 10 (Access Phase)

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

Reported exam pass rate: ~96%. High overall pass rate, but top scores are required for competitive university degree cutoffs 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.

25%

Crisis of Ancien Régime & Liberal State (1788-1874)

Crisis of absolutism, War of Independence (Guerra del Francès), 1812 Cadiz Constitution, Ferdinand VII, Carlist Wars, liberal desamortizaciones (Mendizábal & Madoz), Catalan industrial growth, and the Sexenni Democràtic (1868-1874).

25%

Restoration System & Catalan Nationalism (1874-1931)

Canovist turnismo, 1876 Constitution, 1898 colonial loss, Renaixença, political Catalanism (Bases de Manresa, Lliga Regionalista, Solidaritat Catalana), Mancomunitat de Catalunya, worker mobilization (La Canadenca), and Primo de Rivera dictatorship.

25%

Second Republic & Civil War (1931-1939)

Establishment of Second Republic, 1931 Constitution, 1932 Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, agrarian/educational reforms, October 1934 events, Popular Front, July 1936 coup, revolution in Catalonia, May 1937 clash, Battle of the Ebro, and Retirada.

25%

Francoism, Transition & European Integration (1939-1992+)

Francoist dictatorship, political repression, autarky, 1959 Stabilization Plan, desarrollismo, Catalan anti-Francoist resistance (Assemblea de Catalunya), Democratic Transition, 1978 Constitution, 1979 Statute, 23-F, and EEC accession.

Preparing for the PAU History (Catalonia) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 4.0 / 10 (Access Phase)
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: 90 minutes
  • 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

  • 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 History (Catalonia): Suggested Study Strategy

1Master key dates and turning points (1812, 1833, 1868, 1874, 1898, 1909, 1914, 1923, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1959, 1975, 1978)
2Understand the connection between Spanish national events and specific Catalan developments (e.g., Catalan textile industrialization during Mendizábal/Madoz desamortizaciones)
3Study the evolution of Catalan autonomy: Bases de Manresa (1892), Mancomunitat (1914), Statute of Núria/1932, and Statute of Sau (1979)
4Compare ideological differences between Moderates and Progressives in the 19th century, and between Republicans, Socialists, Anarchists, and Francoists in the 20th century
5Analyze causal relationships, such as how the 1898 colonial loss spurred both the Generació del 98 and political Catalanism

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official format of the Catalonia PAU History exam vs. this practice bank?

The official PAU History exam administered by the Consell Interuniversitari de Catalunya (CIC) is a written paper requiring students to analyze historical primary sources (text, map, image, or graph) and answer open essay questions in Catalan or Spanish. This online practice bank provides an English-language multiple-choice adaptation (100 questions) designed for rapid self-assessment, fact retrieval, and concept consolidation.

How much does the Catalonia PAU exam cost and who administers it?

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 is the time limit and passing score for the PAU History exam?

The official PAU History exam has a time limit of 90 minutes. In the Access Phase (Fase General), a minimum mark of 4.0 out of 10 is required on each subject to count toward the calculated university admission score (which requires a minimum overall average of 5.0).

What historical period is covered in the Catalonia PAU History curriculum?

The curriculum covers 19th and 20th century Spanish and Catalan history, starting from the Crisis of the Ancien Régime in 1788 through the Construction of the Liberal State, the Restoration System and emergence of political Catalanism, the Second Republic, the Civil War, the Francoist Dictatorship, the Democratic Transition, and European Integration.

How important is Catalan history in the Catalonia PAU History exam?

Catalan history is integral to the exam options in Catalonia. Questions frequently focus on Catalan industrialization, the Renaixença, political Catalanism (Bases de Manresa, Lliga, Solidaritat Catalana, Mancomunitat), the 1932 Statute of Autonomy, the 1934 events, the Civil War in Catalonia, and anti-Francoist opposition like the Assemblea de Catalunya.