Being Famous: Exam Skills (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Note

Foundation Tier

Listen to three short statements about celebrities. Match each statement (1-3) to the correct effect of fame (A-E). Write the correct letter in each box. Two effects are not mentioned.

1. David (Musician)

2. Elena (Actress)

3. Laura (Model)

A. Is criticised by reporters.
B. Has a very high salary.
C. Faces dangerous risks.
D. Has a terrible personality.
E. Cannot enjoy private time.

[3 marks]

Answer:

1. B (salario muy alto / very high salary)

2. A (periodistas que critican / reporters who criticise)

3. E (no tiene nada de vida privada / doesn't have any private life)

Audio script:

1. David, el músico, gana un salario muy alto por sus conciertos mundiales.

2. La actriz Elena es el foco de los periodistas, que critican todo lo que hace.

3. Para Laura, la fama es un riesgo porque no tiene nada de vida privada en la calle.

Higher Tier

Listen to two students discussing two famous people. Which two aspects of their lifestyle is Good? Which two aspects Need to improve?

[4 marks]

Answer:

Script:

1. Marco: Me encanta cuando los famosos usan su influencia para promover cosas positivas, como la educación. Eso es bueno. Pero vi un vídeo donde una actriz tenía un comportamiento muy negativo en público.

2. Sara: Es fácil para la gente famosa ganar riqueza rápidamente. Eso es fantástico . Pero la mayor desventaja es la falta de privacidad. Creo que eso es el peor riesgo.

Never leave a blank: If you are unsure of an answer, always guess. A blank response automatically scores zero marks.

Foundation Tier

Read aloud the following text in Spanish. You will then be asked four questions that relate to the topic of Celebrity Culture.

En España, hay muchos famosos. A unas personas les gusta ver vídeos de música. Otras son seguidoras de jugadores de baloncesto. Vemos a gente famosa en anuncios en la televisión. La mayoría gana mucho dinero.

Translation: In Spain, there are many celebrities. Some people like to watch music videos. Others are followers of basketball players. We see famous people in advertisements on television. The majority earn a lot of money.

Conversation questions:

1. Describe a tu persona famosa favorita. (Describe your favourite famous person.)

2. ¿Cuál es tu opinión sobre la televisión? (What is your opinion about television?)

3. ¿Qué tipo de música te gusta? (What type of music do you like?)

4. ¿Qué piensas de ver vídeos online? (What do you think of watching videos online?)

[15 marks]

Answer:

1. Mi persona famosa favorita es una actriz. Ella es muy responsable y usa su influencia para promover causas sociales, por ejemplo, ha construido muchos edificios para ayudar a la gente pobre. Me parece que su comportamiento es muy positivo.

2. La televisión no es tan popular como en el pasado. Pienso que tiene ventajas y desventajas. Me gusta ver películas en casa, pero a veces puede ser aburrido.

3. Me gusta la música electrónica y escucho música española. Pienso que es genial y me alegra mucho. Además, toco la guitarra eléctrica con mi grupo.

4. Ver vídeos online y usar la tecnología es muy útil para comunicarme con mis amigos. Sin embargo, la fama puede ser peligrosa, y la gente puede criticar a los famosos en línea. Hay que tener cuidado.

• Utilise linking words to connect simple sentences into more complex ideas. Examples include porque (because), aunque (although), además (also), and sin embargo (however)

• Anticipate questions. For example, in Celebrity Culture, be ready to discuss the pros (ventajas) and cons (desventajas) of fame

Higher Tier

Prepare possible answers to these questions about the consequences of fame.

In order to score full marks, you must include at least one verb in your response to each task. Tasks requiring two details are noted.

1. Say what you used social media for last week. (Give two details)

2. Give two advantages of being famous. (Give two details)

3. Give your opinion of journalists and why. (Give one opinion + one reason)

4. Say what you are going to do to help someone famous next week. (Give two details)

5. Ask a question about celebrities.

[10 marks]

Answer:

This response uses vocabulary and complex grammar appropriate for Higher Tier (e.g., preterite, near future, abstract nouns, and negation) and delivers the precise detail count for each task to achieve full marks.

1. La semana pasada usé Instagram para compartir mis fotos y también escribí un mensaje a mi tío. (Last week I used Instagram to share my photos and I also wrote a message to my uncle.(

Preterite tense (usé, escribí) and two details are given for a past action.

2. Pienso que la presión es mala porque no tienes nada de privacidad . Además, no hay ningún momento para descansar. (I think that pressure is bad because you don't have any privacy. Also, there is no moment to rest.)

Uses negation (no tienes nada, no hay ningún) and abstract nouns (presión, privacidad). Two clear disadvantages are given.

3. Creo que algunos periodistas son peligrosos porque critican la vida privada de la gente sin razón. (I believe that some journalists are dangerous because they criticise people's private lives without reason.)

Uses the opinion/reason structure (porque), Higher Tier vocabulary (periodistas, peligroso) and the indefinite adjective algunos.

4. Voy a escribir un artículo en favor de (actriz) y luego lo voy a publicar en la red social. (I am going to write an article in favour of (actress) and then I am going to publish it on social media.)

Accurate use of the immediate future tense (voy a + infinitive). Two details are given: writing an article AND publishing it online.

5. ¿Crees que la riqueza de los famosos es justa para todos? (Do you believe that the wealth of famous people is fair for everyone?)

Uses the interrogative ¿Crees que? and the Higher Tier noun riqueza (wealth).

Foundation Tier

Read this text about a famous football player, Roberto.

Roberto es un futbolista muy famoso y gana mucho dinero. Él piensa que la fama es fácil para él. La ventaja es que puede viajar a muchos países para jugar al fútbol. Sin embargo, tiene un gran problema con la prensa. A Roberto no le gusta que los periodistas le hagan fotos en su casa.

Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.

1. What does Roberto gain from being famous?

A. He is able to spend more time at home.

B. He has the opportunity to travel a lot.

C. He earns money playing golf.

2. What is Roberto’s main disadvantage of being famous?

A. He can't earn enough money.

B. His family criticises his behaviour.

C. He has problems with the press.

3. What specifically bothers Roberto about the journalists?

A. They write articles about his family.

B. They criticise his clothes.

C. They take photos of him at his house.

[3 marks]

Answer:

1. B (puede viajar a muchos países)

2. C (tiene un gran problema con la prensa)

3. C (le hagan fotos en su casa)

Higher Tier

Read the extract from the interview with the actor Antonio Soto.

Antonio Soto es un actor muy conocido y es un modelo a seguir para la juventud. A pesar de su fama, Antonio cree que la mayor desventaja es la falta de privacidad . La prensa publica todo sobre su vida privada. Él piensa que es difícil mantener una vida normal. Añade que no hay ningún periodista fiel porque todos buscan el escándalo.

Read the text and choose the correct continuation (A, B, or C) to complete the sentences in Spanish.

1. Antonio Soto thinks that the lack of privacy…

A. is only a problem for young people.

B. is the biggest disadvantage of being famous.

C. it doesn't affect their behaviour at all.

2. Antonio says that the press publishes news...

A. to promote his film career.

B. even though the information is always wrong.

C. about his private life.

3. According to Antonio, there's not a single loyal journalist…

A. because people need more positive news.

B. because fame is too easy for actors.

C. because they're all looking for a scandal.

[3 marks]

Answers:

1. B. es la mayor desventaja de ser famoso. (is the greatest disadvantage of being famous.)

2. C. sobre mi vida privada. (about my private life.)

3. C. ya que todos buscan el escándalo. (since all look for scandal.)

Write a short post for an online celebrity gossip site. Write approximately 90 words in Spanish. You must write something about each bullet point.

• Describe a celebrity's negative behaviour you saw recently

• Give two disadvantages of having fame now

• Say what you will do next year to avoid becoming famous

[15 marks]

Answer:

Foundation Tier

This example uses vocabulary common to the Foundation list and relies on simple, accurately conjugated tenses (preterite, present, near future).

Higher Tier

This example uses the same structure but integrates advanced grammar, such as the conditional, subjunctive, and relative clauses, along with Higher Tier vocabulary (riqueza, fiel, promover).

Time frame accuracy: Since this is an overlap question, demonstrating accurate command of all three required time frames (past, present, and future) is crucial for maximising your marks. Higher Tier students must integrate more complex language even within these time frames.