{"id":8286,"date":"2025-12-02T09:12:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T08:12:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/?p=8286"},"modified":"2026-01-07T09:23:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T08:23:03","slug":"how-to-cope-with-the-pressure-of-the-second-baccalaureate-and-the-pau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/2025\/12\/02\/como-afrontar-la-presion-de-segundo-de-bachillerato-y-la-pau\/","title":{"rendered":"How to cope with the pressure of the second year of the Baccalaureate and the PAU"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The home stretch of high school: nerves, pressure and a lot of doubts<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

Second Baccalaureate is, without a doubt, one of the most intense years of your life.
Exams, papers, university guidance, important decisions... and, of course,\u00a0the dreaded PAU<\/strong>.
Added to all this is the fact that many friendships go their separate ways: everyone chooses their own future, and this also generates a certain nostalgia or uncertainty.<\/p>

It is normal to feel nervous, doubtful or even afraid of \u201cnot making it\u201d. But don't panic,\u00a0thousands of students go through the same thing every year<\/strong>, and many discover that this process can also be an opportunity to\u00a0know yourself better and find your way<\/strong>.<\/p>

Accept that feeling pressure is normal (and temporary).<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Feeling stressed does not mean you are not capable. Pressure is a natural response when you are faced with something important.
The key is\u00a0managing that pressure<\/strong>: plan your study, take real breaks and remember that\u00a0not everything depends on an exam<\/strong>.<\/p>

Your effort is not measured by a grade!
In addition, remember that\u00a0the PAU only represents a part of your final grade.<\/strong>, It averages out with the Baccalaureate. So it's not as decisive as it may seem - one bad day won't ruin all your hard work during the course!<\/p>

Create your own rhythm: perseverance > study marathons<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Last-minute binge eating doesn't work. What does work is the\u00a0daily constancy<\/strong>.
Divide topics into weeks, use colours, diagrams or visual summaries.<\/p>

And, very importantly:\u00a0reserve time for yourself<\/strong>.
Going for a walk, listening to music, playing sport, watching a series, cooking or meeting friends.\u00a0is not a waste of time<\/strong>, is to take care of your mind.
Your brain needs to switch off to perform well.<\/p>

A little tip: try the\u00a0\u201cpomodoro\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0(25 minutes of study + 5 minutes of rest). It sounds simple, but it improves concentration and reduces exhaustion.<\/p>

You don't have to have everything decided (yet).<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Many people think that once you finish high school you have your life figured out, but the reality is that you have to have your life figured out.\u00a0choosing a career takes time and thought<\/strong>.
If you still don't know what to study,\u00a0nothing happens<\/strong>. This course also serves to\u00a0discover what motivates you, what you like to learn and how you see yourself in the future<\/strong>.<\/p>

For example:<\/p>

  • If you are passionate about travel, languages and learning about cultures,\u00a0Tourism<\/strong>\u00a0can be your way.<\/li>
  • If you are interested in politics, current affairs and how the world works,\u00a0International Relations<\/strong>\u00a0is a career with many opportunities and a profile in great demand.<\/li><\/ul>

    In addition, many universities, such as our University Centre,\u00a0The Open Faculty<\/strong>, organised by\u00a0Open Days<\/strong>, a great opportunity to\u00a0get an insider's view of the careers that interest you<\/strong>.
    And as we always insist: attendance is key! Seeing a classroom, talking to teachers and students helps you make important decisions with confidence.<\/p>

    What if you don't get the PAU grade? No problem, there are many options<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

    Not getting the cut-off mark you were hoping for\u00a0it is not the end of the world<\/strong>.
    You'd be surprised how many people entered a career \u201cby chance\u201d and today wouldn't trade it for anything.<\/p>

    And if it's clear to you and it doesn't make the grade... breathe:\u00a0you have alternatives<\/strong>.<\/p>

    • You can\u00a0repeat the PAU<\/strong>, both the general and the specific parts. The general mark is stored\u00a0up to three years<\/strong>, so you can improve it without starting from scratch.<\/li>
    • In the meantime, you can\u00a0learning languages<\/strong>, or enrol in another degree with a lower grade and then\u00a0validating subjects<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul>

      There are a thousand ways to get to the path you want.
      Sometimes the route is not linear, but that does not make it any less valid. Each person has his or her own pace, and the important thing is to\u00a0keep moving towards what you are passionate about<\/strong>.<\/p>

      Take care of your mind as well as your notes<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

      Think about it: if you were to lose your notes before an exam, you'd be overwhelmed.
      So\u00a0neglecting your mental health is just as dangerous<\/strong>. Getting a good night's sleep, eating healthy and disconnecting from your mobile phone before bed can make the difference between performing at 100% or collapsing.<\/p>

      Talking about how you feel also helps.
      If you feel anxiety or pressure getting the better of you,\u00a0talk to someone<\/strong>Your parents, friends or teachers can give you support or just listen to you.
      And if you need it,\u00a0seeking professional help is not a failure<\/strong>Taking care of your mental health is as important as taking care of your grades.<\/p>

      Conclusion: calm, perseverance and confidence<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

      Yes, the second year of the baccalaureate is a challenge. But it is also an opportunity to\u00a0growing, learning and discovering who you are<\/strong>.
      The PAU is not the end of the road: it is just the beginning of a new stage.<\/p>

      Believe in yourself, take care of your mind and remember that\u00a0your future does not depend on a grade, but on your attitude.<\/strong>.<\/span><\/em>
      Every effort has its reward, even if the result does not come immediately.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

      \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      La recta final del instituto: nervios, presi\u00f3n y muchas dudas Segundo de Bachillerato es, sin duda, uno de los a\u00f1os m\u00e1s intensos de tu vida.Ex\u00e1menes, trabajos, orientaci\u00f3n universitaria, decisiones importantes\u2026 y, por supuesto,\u00a0la temida PAU.A todo eso se suma el hecho de que muchas amistades toman caminos distintos: cada uno elige su futuro, y eso […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8286"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8320,"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8286\/revisions\/8320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theopenfaculty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}