After taking the Bachillerato, a student may enter vocational training (Higher-level Training Cycles, Ciclos Formativos de Grado Superior) or take the "PAU" (also commonly known as "PEvAU" or "Selectividad") exams in order to be admitted into a public university.
Before 1953 in Spain, the term bachillerato covered all of secondary education, which was taken after passing an entrance examination by those students expected to go to university.
Students who had remained in primary education up to the age of 14, on passing the first-stage Reválida, could still enter the Bachillerato Superior, in which there were two branches: Sciences and Arts.
At the age of 14 a student could now opt to enter the BUP without having to pass a specific test, or could go into vocational training.
The introduction under "LOGSE [es]" of compulsory secondary education up to age 16 (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, ESO) took place during the 1990s.
Admission to the Baccalaureate is subject to a certificate of completion of compulsory secondary education (Graduado en Educación Secundaria Obligatoria), or certain technical qualifications.