Ceuta blocks phones for Selectividad

Ceuta and Melilla’s university entrance exams will run from June 2 to June 4 under tighter anti-cheating rules, with phones and other electronic devices barred from exam rooms. The University of Granada, which organizes the PAU in both Spanish enclaves, has strengthened surveillance to prevent academic fraud using concealed technology, according to local reports and a university statement. The changes put Ceuta and Melilla inside a broader 2026 PAU crackdown in Spain, where universities have added checks against hidden earpieces and connected devices. El Pueblo de Ceuta reported on May 23 that the new PAU in the two cities will be marked by tougher anti-plagiarism monitoring, including the prohibition on bringing phones, smartwatches, headphones or any electronic apparatus into the exam setting. (elpueblodeceuta.es) ### Which exams are affected in Ceuta and Melilla? The June 2-4 ordinary session is the one affected in Ceuta and Melilla. El Faro de Ceuta and El Faro de Melilla previously reported that the 2026 PAU calendar for both cities had been set for June 2, June 3 and June 4. The University of Granada oversees those exams not only in Granada but also in Ceuta, Melilla and Spanish schools in Morocco. (elpueblodeceuta.es) The PAU remains the decisive test for students seeking admission to university in Spain. UNEDasiss, which explains the access system, says the compulsory PAU subjects are combined with the Bachillerato record to produce the university access mark. ### What exactly is banned inside the exam room? Phones, smartwatches, earbuds and other electronic devices are prohibited. (elfarodeceuta.es) El Pueblo de Ceuta described the measure as a response to attempts to use hidden devices for cheating, while El Faro de Ceuta said the University of Granada had announced systems to detect electronic devices during the June exams. (unedasiss.uned.es) The University of Granada said in its own statement that Andalusia’s public universities are putting “special emphasis” on preventing improper use of technological devices and that exam sites will implement detection systems as part of a coordinated strategy. The statement did not single out Ceuta and Melilla in isolation, but the university’s PAU remit includes both cities. (elpueblodeceuta.es) ### Why are universities tightening controls this year? The University of Granada said the measures are meant to guarantee the proper conduct of the PAU and prevent misuse of technology during in-person exams. Local and national coverage has linked the tougher rules to concern over concealed connected devices and newer cheating methods. (ugr.es) El País reported on May 22 that 10 Spanish autonomous communities had warned students they would use systems to stop the use of hidden earpieces during the 2026 PAU. Europa Press, carried by Telemadrid, said universities were reinforcing controls for nearly 300,000 students sitting the exams this year. (ugr.es) ### Is this only happening in Ceuta and Melilla? No. The University of Granada’s protocol is part of a wider move across Spain’s PAU system. National and regional reports say several communities are using or studying radio-frequency detection and related controls to identify unauthorized devices during exams. (elpais.com) Ceuta and Melilla stand out because the University of Granada directly coordinates their PAU arrangements. In those two cities, the practical message for candidates is simple: arrive for the June 2-4 exams without phones, smartwatches, earbuds or any other electronic equipment that could trigger the new controls. (elpueblodeceuta.es) (gradomania.com)