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Spanish Writing Preparation. GCSE Grades 4-9 Higher Tier A survival guide. A guide to achieving at Grades 4-9 at Higher Tier.
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Spanish Writing Preparation GCSE Grades 4-9 Higher Tier A survival guide
A guide to achieving at Grades 4-9 at Higher Tier • This booklet contains essential guidelines to follow to maximise your chances of achieving a Grade 5-9 in your Spanish Writing exam. At Higher, the exam equates to 25% of your overall grade and includes • a 90-word answer (16 marks) ( a choice of two is given; you only answer ONE of them) • a 150-word answer (32 marks) (again, a choice of two is given; you only answer ONE of them) • a short paragraph totranslate (12 marks) • Needless to say, you must prepare EXTREMELY THOROUGHLY for this exam and you will need to be very independent and resourceful. With preparation you will feel equipped to deal with any question which comes up on the day. • When you are revising for your Writing, you must have the following resources to hand at all times: • - This booklet (which you will complete as part of your preparation) • Your Spanish best book with your written work from over the course • Your Grammar and Translation book • Your vocab book • Your Toolkit • With some focus and dedication, you can achieve a good grade! • ¡Buena suerte! • SVC Spanish Department
Tips to survive writing the 90 WORD PARAGRAPH –Spend approx. 20 mins on this question -This question is in the form of 4 bullet pointsand you will have a choice of TWO QUESTIONS. ANSWER ONLY ONE 90 WORD QUESTION. Read them both through carefully first before you decide which one to tackle. Choose the one you know most about… -Again, you MUST cover all 4 bullet points evenly. With 90 words, that is a APPROX 25 words per bullet point, however, you could write slightly more or slightly less. Do not waste all of your time counting! -There are 16 marks available- 10 for CONTENT and 6 for QUALITY OF LANGUAGE. To score the full 10 marks for Content, you need to communicate a very good answer for EACH bullet point, giving a lot of information and expressing and justifying reasons. -To get the full 6 marks for QUALITY OF LANGUAGE you need to AT LEAST include a variety of vocabulary and structures/ some correct present, past and near future verbs/ give some opinion, even if not asked specifically/be generally accurate. (Note: this is the overlap question from Foundation so you need AT least to follow the guidance above for Content and Quality. You can go beyond this, if you are able, but be aware of the time you commit in relation to the maximum marks available) An example of a 90 word task
¡Planificamos! • un concierto al quefuiste en el pasado • la músicaquetegusta y ¿porqué? • porquétienesmuchasganas de ir al concierto • dónde y cuándoescuchasla músicanormalmente • STEPS: • READ THE INTRODUCTORY SCENARIO CAREFULLY. IT WILL GIVE YOU A CLUE REGARDING THE TENSE YOU NEED TO WRITE IN • READ EACH BULLET POINT CAREFULLY- WHAT KEY INFORMATION IS IT ASKING YOU TO GIVE? IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT IT MEANS, TAKE A SENSIBLE GUESS ON OTHER THINGS THAT YOU KNOW HAVE COME UP IN THAT TOPIC BUT DO NOT LEAVE BLANKS • NEXT TO THE BULLET POINTS, PLAN EACH SECTION LIKE THE ABOVE IN 4 SEPARATE BOXES • THINK OF THE KEY VERBS YOU WILL NEED e.gMe gusta / me encanta / odio / fui / fue /escucho /quieroAND THINK ABOUT THE TENSES voy a escuchar/ descargué • ALWAYS GIVE OPINIONS AND REASONS (WHETHER YOU ARE ASKED FOR THEM OR NOT) • ONLY WHEN YOUR PLAN IS COMPLETE, WRITE THE FOUR ANSWERS IN FOUR SEPARATE PARAGRAPHS ON THE LINES
¡Practicamos! Ask your teacher for more practice questions if you need them
Tips to survive writing the 150 WORD PARAGRAPH – Spend approx. 40 mins on this question -This question is in the form of 2 bullet pointsand you will have a choice of TWO QUESTIONS. ANSWER ONLY ONE 150 WORD QUESTION. Read them both through carefully first before you decide which one to tackle. These questions are intended to be more open-ended to allow you to be independent/creative. They will not be obviously THEMED. They often include a memorable event/a surprise/a success. You could fit these categories into any theme/topic e.g what happened on the last day of your holiday?/a sporting triumph?/ a surprise party?/your mum bought you tickets to your favourite band’s concert? -Again, you MUST cover the 2 bullet points evenly. With 150 words, that is a APPROX 75 words per bullet point, however, you could write slightly more or slightly less. Do not waste all of your time counting! -There are 32 marks available- 15 for CONTENT, 12 for RANGE OF LANGUAGEand 5 for ACCURACY To score the full 15 marks for Content, you need to communicate an excellent response, fully relevant and detailed, conveying lots of information, expressing and justifying opinions. -To get the full 12 marks for RANGE OF LANGUAGE you need to use a very good variety of vocab and structures, use more complex language coherently and choose an appropriate style/register. An example of a 150 word task
¡Planificamos! • Describe tuopiniónsobre la tecnología y cómo la utilizas • Escribesobre los peligros y desventajas de la tecnologíamoderna • STEPS: • READ THE INTRODUCTORY SCENARIO CAREFULLY. IT WILL GIVE YOU A CLUE REGARDING THE TENSE YOU NEED TO WRITE IN. SOMETIMES IT INCLUDES AN ADVERT OR AN EXTRACT FROM A LEAFLET. READ THIS CAREFULLY AND USE THE INFORMATION PROVIDED. • READ EACH BULLET POINT CAREFULLY- WHAT KEY INFORMATION IS IT ASKING YOU TO GIVE? IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT IT MEANS, TAKE A SENSIBLE GUESS ON OTHER THINGS THAT YOU KNOW HAVE COME UP IN THAT TOPIC BUT DO NOT LEAVE BLANKS • NEXT TO THE BULLET POINTS, PLAN EACH SECTION LIKE THE ABOVE IN 2 SEPARATE BOXES • THINK OF THE KEY VERBS YOU WILL NEED AND THINK ABOUT THE TENSES • ALWAYS GIVE OPINIONS AND REASONS (WHETHER YOU ARE ASKED FOR THEM OR NOT) • ONLY WHEN YOUR PLAN IS COMPLETE, WRITE THE ANSWERS TO EACH BULLET POINT IN TWO SEPARATE PARAGRAPHS ON THE LINES
¡Practicamos! Ask your teacher for more practice questions if you need them
Tips to survive the TRANSLATION The translation passage is marked out of 12; 6 marks for CONVEYING KEY MESSAGES, 6 marks for APPLICATION OF GRAMMATICAL KNOWLEDGE AND STRUCTURES. You must therefore ATTEMPT all of the passage to maximise your chances of higher marks. To be successful, you must have revised your vocabulary and higher verb forms/structures/grammar for HIGHER (see next page) Read the whole passage through once. Then break the sentence/passage down into manageable chunks and make notes around the question. Try to think in logical Spanish constructions/remember word order rules. Do not panic if you cannot remember a word; use a synonym or a similar word or think of another way of saying it using the Spanish you do know. Check your spelling, accents and grammar. If you have time, try to translate it back into English to see if it really does match the translation you were asked to do.
HIGHER: THE BASICS FOR TRANSLATION! Spend approx. 10-15 mins on this section. Leave enough time to check through the whole paper. • Opinions/points of view • Nouns and adjective agreement • Time phrases: hoy/ayer/anoche/mañana/el fin de semanapasado/el añopasado/la semanapasada/ el añopróximo/la semanapróxima/los fines de semana/ hace (ago)/ desdehace (to indicate how long you have been doing something)/todos los días/verano/invierno/primavera/otoño • Weather • Frequency markers: nunca/ de vez en cuando/a veces/normalmente/ siempre/a menudo • If=si/ when=cuando • Key common verbs/verb forms in RANGE of tenses and all persons of the verb- present/gerund/preterite/near future/future/conditional/pluperfect/present subjunctive in set expressions referiing to future intention e.g ‘cuando sea mayor’/ cuandotengadinero. • Key TOPIC verbs (e.gmandar/descargar/escuchar would be key TOPIC verbs for TECHNOLOGY) • Modal verbs in all tenses (can/must/wants or wishes/should/allowed to) +INFINITIVE • Reflexive verbs • Pronouns (pgs 26-35 in your G&T book) • My/ her/his/their… mi/mis/su/sus…. With me- conmigo /with you-contigo • Because= porque/yaque/dado que/puestoque • A lot/many= mucho/a/os/as; too much/many demasiado/a/os/as • Very=muy • Connectives= but/pero; however/sin embargo..no obstante • Comparativesmás…que/menos…que/ mejorque/peorque • Do pages 115/117/119/121/123 from your Grammar and Translation book to practise. • Use the Grammar pages to revise. • Check your answers with your teacher Ask your teacher for more practice questions if you need them
Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers Theme 1: Topic 1 Me, my family and friends
Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 Verbs: Present Past (preterite or imperfect) Near future Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing Opinions/verbs of opinion and reasons Varied adjectives Connectives Qualifiers Negatives Sequencers and time phrases Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers Key to working towards Grade 5 Theme 1: Topic 2 Technology in everyday life -Social Media -Mobile Technology
Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers • Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 Verbs: Present Past (preterite or imperfect) Near future Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing Opinions/verbs of opinion and reasons Varied adjectives Connectives Qualifiers Negatives Sequencers and time phrases Key to working towards Grade 5 Theme 1: Topic 3 Freetime -Music -Cinema -Food/eating out -Customs and festivals in Spanish-speaking countries/communities
Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers • Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 Verbs: Present Past (preterite or imperfect) Near future Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing Opinions/verbs of opinion and reasons Varied adjectives Connectives Qualifiers Negatives Sequencers and time phrases Key to working towards Grade 5 • Theme 2: Topic 2 • Topic 2:Social issues • -Charity/voluntary work • -Healthy/unhealthy living
Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 Verbs: Present Past (preterite or imperfect) Near future Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing Opinions/verbs of opinion and reasons Varied adjectives Connectives Qualifiers Negatives Sequencers and time phrases Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers Key to working towards Grade 5 • Theme 2: • Topic3 • Global issues • -The environment • -Poverty/homelessness
Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers • Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 Verbs: Present Past (preterite or imperfect) Near future Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing Opinions/verbs of opinion and reasons Varied adjectives Connectives Qualifiers Negatives Sequencers and time phrases Key to working towards Grade 5 Theme 2: Topic4Travel and tourism
Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 Verbs: Present Past (preterite or imperfect) Near future Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing Opinions/verbs of opinion and reasons Varied adjectives Connectives Qualifiers Negatives Sequencers and time phrases Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers Key to working towards Grade 5 Theme 3: Topic 1: My studies
Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 Verbs: Present Past (preterite or imperfect) Near future Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing Opinions/verbs of opinion and reasons Varied adjectives Connectives Qualifiers Negatives Sequencers and time phrases Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers Key to working towards Grade 5 Theme 3: Topic 2: Life at school/college
Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 Verbs: Present Past (preterite or imperfect) Near future Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing Opinions/verbs of opinion and reasons Varied adjectives Connectives Qualifiers Negatives Sequencers and time phrases Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers Key to working towards Grade 5 Theme 3: Topic 3: Education post-16
Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 • Present (+present continuous) • Preterite/perfect/imperfect and imperfect continuous/pluperfect • Near future/future/future perfect/conditional perfect • Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing verbs/passive • Subjunctive ( sifuera/tuviera/pudiera.. cuando sea) • Triple verb phrases • Opinions and sophisticated opinion phrases/verbs of opinion and reasons/balancing an argument • Varied adjectives • Connectives • Comparative/superlative/absolute superlative • Pronouns • Qualifiers • Negatives • Sequencers and time phrases • Idiomatic expressions • Interesting topic-related vocabulary/verbs Checklist: working towards Grade 5-9 Verbs: Present Past (preterite or imperfect) Near future Regular/irregular/reflexive/stem-changing Opinions/verbs of opinion and reasons Varied adjectives Connectives Qualifiers Negatives Sequencers and time phrases Refer to your questions in your toolkit for this topic and your best book with your prepared answers Key to working towards Grade 5 Theme 3: Topic 4: Jobs, career choices and ambitions