Future Plans: Studying: Exam Skills (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Note
Exam code: 8692
The topic of ‘future plans: studying’ can appear in any of the exams - you might be asked to speak or write about yourself, or understand information about others. Let’s use the vocabulary, grammar and phonics we have seen so far to take a closer look at some typical exam questions and how you might tackle them.
Future plans: studying: listening
In the listening exam, you may be asked to identify the positive and negative aspects of a topic. This question will help you to practise identifying advantages and disadvantages.
Look for positive and negative language to identify advantages and disadvantages, e.g. opinions (I like, I don’t like), adjectives, and key words such as ventaja (advantage) and desventaja (disadvantage).
Worked Example
Alessandro is talking about going to university.
Answer the questions in English.
According to Alessandro, what are two advantages of going to university? [2 marks]
According to Alessandro, what are two disadvantages of going to university? [2 marks]
Answers:
You learn important things (for the world of work) [1], you become more independent [1]
Puedes aprender muchas cosas importantes para el mundo laboral, y eres más independiente.
It’s expensive [1], it is difficult to be away from home [1]
Es muy caro - hay que pagar mucho dinero por el alojamiento y los libros. Y para muchos estudiantes, es difícil estar lejos de la familia.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
We can see that the advantages are mentioned first as Alessandro says that university is útil (useful)
The word desventajas (disadvantages) helps to identify the negative points, alongside the adjectives caro (expensive) and difícil (difficult)
Future plans: studying: speaking
In part 1 of the speaking exam, you will take part in a role-play. Your teacher will play the part of your friend, and you will ask and answer questions.
The role-play lasts between 1 and 1.5 minutes
You need to prepare answers to the prompts
You need to ask your teacher a question when you see the ? symbol
Each response must include a verb, but you don’t need to develop your sentences fully like you would in conversation tasks
This question will help you to respond to role-play prompts on the topic of current and future studies.
Worked Example
Prepare the following role-play.
Say what your favourite school subject is and why. (Give two details.)
Give an opinion about one of your teachers. (Give one detail.)
Say something that you have done recently at school. (Give one detail.)
Say what you would like to study in future. (Give one detail.)
? Ask your friend a question about going to university.
Answers:
Here are some example responses.
Mi asignatura favorita es el francés porque es genial.
Mi profesor de inglés es estricto pero simpático.
Ayer comí durante el recreo.
En el futuro, me gustaría estudiar matemáticas en la universidad.
¿Es importante ir a la universidad?
Future plans: studying: reading
In the reading exam, there will be questions where you have to answer in English. It is important to answer the question in sufficient detail but keep your answer precise - too much or too little information could give the wrong answer. This question will help you to practise this.
Worked Example
Lucía is talking about going to university. Answer the questions in English.
Después del bachillerato, tengo muchos proyectos para mi futuro. Primero, me gustaría ir a la universidad para estudiar ciencias y educación, porque tengo la intención de ser profesora. Mi amiga Sara quiere viajar al extranjero antes de empezar sus estudios. Tiene suerte porque yo no tengo tiempo y es demasiado caro.
What is Lucía going to study? [2 marks]
What is her goal? [1 mark]
What is her friend Sara going to do? [1 mark]
Why can Lucía not do this? [2 marks]
Answers:
Here are the correct answers.
education [1], science [1]
para estudiar ciencias y educación
to become a teacher
mi objetivo es ser profesora
travel abroad
viajar al extranjero
she doesn’t have time [1] and it's too expensive [1]
no tengo tiempo [1] y es demasiado caro [1]
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You should have included two pieces of information for question 1 and question 4.
Future plans: studying: writing
In the writing exam, you need to translate five English sentences into Spanish. There are two marks per sentence. This question will help you to practise translating into Spanish.
Here are some tips:
Translate meaning, but don't translate word-for-word
Check tenses carefully
Look out for false friends
Check if nouns are singular or plural
Worked Example
Translate these sentences into Spanish.
He is ambitious and wants to study law.
I am going to accept the offer.
They gave me advice about my future.
I would like to study at university.
It is important to make an effort.
Answers:
Es ambicioso y quiere estudiar derecho.
Voy a aceptar la oferta.
This sentence is in the near future tense.
Me dieron consejos sobre mi futuro.
This sentence is in the preterite (past) tense.
Me gustaría estudiar en la universidad.
Remember to include the accent in the conditional tense.
Es importante hacer un esfuerzo.
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