selectivos

Selectivos is the plural form of selectivo in Spanish, a term used across several domains to refer to things that select or discriminate according to predefined criteria. As an adjective, selectivo describes processes, devices, or methods that favor certain elements over others. When used as a noun, it often designates examinations or procedures designed to choose among a group of candidates, items, or observations.

In education, selectivos are most commonly associated with admissions testing. In many Spanish-speaking countries, los selectivos or pruebas selectivas are examinations used to determine eligibility for higher education or for selective programs. In Spain, the tradition of Selectividad refers to university entrance exams; reforms have led some regions to rename the process as Evaluación de Bachillerato para el Acceso a la Universidad (EBAU), but the term selectividad remains widely used in everyday language. Other countries employ similar systems with names such as pruebas de ingreso, exámenes de admisión, or pruebas selectivas, often combining exam scores with prior academic performance.

In employment and public administration, pruebas selectivas are standardized assessments used to filter applicants for a position or program. These can include aptitude tests, psychometric evaluations, skills demonstrations, or structured interviews, all intended to identify candidates that best match defined criteria.

In science and technology, selectivos may refer to selective agents or reagents that interact with specific targets, or to selection mechanisms in experimental design, data processing, and monitoring systems. The term captures the broad idea of discrimination or choice embedded in a procedure, test, or instrument.