Spanish language B
The complete guide
to succeed
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Contents
How am I assessed?.....................................................3
Paper 1: Receptive skills …….......................................4
Reading: tips to get the highest grade .….....................5
Paper 2: Written Productive skills..................................6
Written assignment: receptive and productive skills ….7
Writing: tips to get the highest grade .….......................9
Individual Oral: Interactive skills …...............................10
Speaking: tips to get the highest grade …....................12
Tips for learning vocabulary .........................................13
Spanish tenses: endings for regular infinitive verbs ….15
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How am I assessed?
Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes): Receptive skills
The paper is assessed through an examination paper set and
marked by the IB board.
Weighting : 25% .
Understanding of 4 written texts based on the core modules.
Paper 2 (1 hour): Written Productive skills
The paper is assessed through an examination paper set and
marked by the IB board.
Weighting: 25% .
One writing exercise of 250–400 words from a choice of five,
based on the options.
Written assignment: Receptive and productive skills
Intertextual reading followed by a written exercise of 300–400
words plus a 100-word
rationale, based on the core.
Weighting: 20% .
Speaking: individual oral
8-10 minutes
Weighting: 20%
Based on the options: 15 minutes’ preparation time and a
10-minute (maximum)
presentation and discussion with the teacher.
Interactive oral activity
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Weighting: 10%
Based on the core: Three classroom activities assessed by the
teacher.
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Paper 1: receptive skills.
The aim of this paper is to assess, through a number of
questions, your ability to read a range of texts. The text booklet
consists of four texts. The question and answer booklet
contains questions on those texts. Your understanding of the
written texts is assessed, not the
student’s knowledge of the topic.
All texts are based on the core: communication and media,
global issues, social relationships.
All texts and questions are in Spanish and all responses
must be written in Spanish. Use of dictionaries and reference
material are not permitted in the examination.
Examples of exercises are:
• Gap-filling exercises based on comprehension of the text
.
.
.
.
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• Identifying precise references of key phrases or structures (for
example, “In line x, to whom does the
word ‘they’ refer?”)
• Identifying related ideas that are in different parts of the text
• Identifying specific content items
• Identifying true sentences according to the text
• Identifying whether an explanation or definition is true or false,
and finding the evidence for this in
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the text
• Identifying who says what in a text or a series of short texts
• Matching summary sentences with different paragraphs of the
text
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Reading: tips to get the the highest grade
• Look at the context, title, subtitles (they will give you a clue
to the type of vocabulary that you are about to read) and
visuals.
• Read the questions carefully.
• Pick out key words and phrases, and ignore redundant
material. You do not need to know every word to
understand a text.
• Try to work out or guess the meaning of words you do not
know.
• Deduce meaning from the context and/or by applying
grammatical knowledge.
• Look for cognates and near cognates but be aware of ‘faux
amis’.
• Give detailed responses that fully answer the question but
which are also concise and unambiguous.
• Identify opinions.
• Look out for negatives, comparisons and qualifiers.
• Look for tenses and time indicators.
• Answer every question and check that the amount of
information given (or the number of ticks) matches the
mark allocation for the question.
• Write clearly and legibly.
• Note the number of marks available – this will tell you how
much detail you need to give.
And remember: “The more you read, the more things you
will know. The more that you learn, the
more places you'll go.”
Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"
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Paper 2: Written Productive skills
You are required to write between 250-400 words from a choice
of five tasks. All tasks are based on the options: cultural
diversity, customs and traditions, health, leisure, science and
technology.
All tasks are written in Spanish and all responses must be written
in Spanish. Use of dictionaries and reference material is not
permitted in the examination.
Examples of texts you have to write are:
Article
Blog/diary entry
Brochure, leaflet, flyer, pamphlet, advertisement
Essay
Interview
Introduction to debate, speech, talk, presentation
News report
Official report
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Review
Set of instructions, guidelines
Written correspondence
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Written assignment: Receptive and productive skills
It consists of intertextual reading linked to the core, followed by
a written exercise of 300–
400 words and a 100-word rationale. It is undertaken during the
second year of the course and is externally
assessed.
The assignment has two parts: the task and a rationale.
The task: you produce a piece of writing that may be chosen from
the recommended text types listed
for paper 2 in this section. The subject of the assignment should
have a specific focus, suitable for a piece
of writing of 300–400 words in length. The content must be
linked to one of the core topics and based on
the information gathered from the three sources—such as
articles, blogs and interviews—selected by the
teacher. The length of each source must be 300–400 words.
The rationale: you must write a 100-word rationale introducing
the assignment, stating their aim(s)
and how their aim(s) have been achieved.
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Formal guidelines
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• The subject of the written assignment must be the choice
of the student in consultation with the
teacher, based on the three sources selected by the teacher.
• This assignment should be written in the second year of the
course and must be completed during
school hours under teacher supervision.
• The written assignment and the rationale must be in the
target language and handwritten.
• It must be your independent work (with the teacher’s
guidance).
• Source material must be originally written in the target
language and available online (when possible).
This information will be entered on the coversheet.
• The use of dictionary and reference material is permitted.
• The suggested time to complete the task is three to four
hours, which does not need to be in one
sitting. This timing includes the reading of the sources, the
writing of a draft and of the final text and
rationale. If the assignment will not be completed in one sitting,
the teacher must collect the work
after each session and return it to the students at the beginning
of the next one.
• The written assignment will be accompanied by:
–
a coversheet signed by both student and teacher. On this
coversheet the teacher will provide
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the web address for any source material that is available online
or a bibliography, the titles of the
sources and a brief summary of each
.
–
a rationale.
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Writing: tips to get the the highest grade
• Learn spellings.
• Read in Spanish to improve your accuracy.
• Allow time to check your writing.
• Look at the reading passages to check spellings, genders
and structures.
• Check your work methodically by reading it several times
and looking for different possible mistakes each time
(adjective agreements, verb endings, etc).
• Check that all bullet points are covered (if applicable)
• Ensure that the style is appropriate.
• Demonstrate the ability to use a wide range of vocabulary
and idiom.
• Include time references/tenses: past, present and future.
• Link your sentences by using time indicators and other links.
• Express and justify your ideas and points of view.
• Try to use comparisons.
• Avoid repetition, as this does not show off a range of
syntax and/or vocabulary.
• Try to show more complex structures, such as use of
conjunctions, pronouns, subordinate
clauses, tenses, verb forms, etc...
• Check spellings and verb forms.
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Individual oral: Interactive skills
The individual oral is a recorded assessment conducted
between you and the teacher at school by the date provided by
the IB in the second year of the course.
At the beginning of the 15 minute preparation period, you
will be shown two previously unseen photographs, with
a title or caption, selected by the teacher. Each photograph is
related to a different option studied in class.
You are to choose one of the photographs and prepare a
presentation
. These are based on the options: cultural diversity, customs and
traditions, health, leisure, science
and technology. They are relevant to the culture(s) of the
country/ ies where Spanish is spoken.
The 15 minute preparation time takes place immediately prior
to the recorded interview. Dictionaries or other reference
material are not permitted. You are allowed to take brief
working notes into the interview room for reference
(approximately 10 short points)
. These notes should be used for reference only and should not
be read aloud.
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You will begin the individual oral by giving a 3 to 4 minutes
presentation based on the visual stimulus. Once the interview has
begun, the recording should not be interrupted or stopped.
The oral comprises 2 distinct parts:
Part One: your presentation of the visual stimulus (3-4
minutes).
Part 2: the teacher’s questions on the visual stimulus (5-6
minutes).
A discussion with the teacher based on the presentation.
Discussion based on a topic from the other option studied may
be introduced if that contributes to the interaction.
Interactive oral activity
It is based on the core: communication and media, global issues,
social relationships.
Three interactive activities will be carried out in the classroom
during the course and assessed by the
teacher. One of these must be based on a listening activity. The
highest of the three marks will be submitted
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as the final mark for the interactive oral.
They are not recorded.
Some examples are:
• A debate on a particular issue in a film watched in class
.
• A class discussion after listening to a piece of news on the
radio
.
• A presentation of a particular topic followed by a
whole-class discussion
• A discussion of an article or news item
• A role play that may involve some element of
decision-making or problem-solving
• An interpretation of a silent film
• A discussion on the possible conclusion of a film or television
programme
Speaking: tips to get the highest grade
• Participate in lessons.
• Practice, practice, practice.
• Make recordings your own conversations and interactions,
on an MP3 player or on your cellphone.
• Express opinions.
• Use past, present and future tenses.
• When you describe the picture, give plenty of relevant
information and details.
• Use a wide range of vocabulary and structures.
• Expand and justify points of view.
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Express possible past events.
Anticipate developments.
Build up banks of questions and practise them.
Familiarise yourself with the themes.
Consolidate structures, vocabulary and idioms used in
speaking practice through writing tasks on various topics.
expand your ideas, to see advantages and disadvantages, and
to use such expressions as ‘on the one hand’, ‘on the other’...
Listen to radio and watch TV In Spanish (of course!).
Do surveys, questionnaires and interviews.
If you don't understand what the teacher says, ask in
Spanish.
It is a two-way conversation, so ask questions to the
teacher.
Breathe and relax!!!
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Top tips for vocabulary learning
• Vocabulary is really important to succeed in your
exams. You are not allowed a dictionary so all you
have is what is in your head!
• The most important is to learn the meaning.
• Learning spelling and gender is also important to be
accurate when speaking and when writing.
• Your brain has to meet a word at least 20 times
before it is stuck in your memory.
• Your brain can only take so much in at a time. 10
minutes a day is much more effective to learn the
vocabulary. Try 5 minute when you get home from
school and 5 minutes before you go to bed. First, go
over what you learnt previously, then learn the new
words.
• Set yourself a target, i.e. “I will learn 5 new words
today” and get someone to test you. Then reward
yourself when you have achieved a target.
• Look for patterns, i.e. la diferencia, la preferencia…
all end the same.
• Concentrate on the trickier words, do not waste
time going over the words you already know.
• Say the words aloud – if you don’t know how to
pronounce them ask the teacher.
• Read the words and write them down.
• Make cards or revision posters that are as
memorable as possible. Stick them everywhere at
home (in your bathroom or toilets!).
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• Draw a picture next to each word or write the
meaning in English/ German in a different colour.
• Highlight the most difficult words.
• Record yourself saying the words and listen to them
on an MP3 player, your mobile phone whilst going to
school or before you go to sleep. Ask your teacher o
help you with recording.
• Make up actions for words. For example you can
easily mime the verb “to drink”.
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Spanish Tenses
ENDINGS FOR REGULAR INFINITIVES VERBS
Take the INFINITIVE remove last 2 letters (ar, er, ir) to find STEM to
which you add the following endings according to the subject required
AR
subject
Eng
ER
subject
ending
Eng
o
as
a
a
a
I
yo
You
tú
He
él
She
ella
You
usted
*********************
We
nosotros
You
vosotros
amos
áis
an
an
I
yo
You
tú
He
él
She
ella
They
ellos
They
ellas
ending
Eng
o
es
e
e
e
I
yo
You
tú
He
él
She
ella
You
usted
*********************
We
nosotros
We
nosotros
You
vosotros
emos
éis
en
en
You
usted
*********************
You
vosotros
They
ellos
They
ellas
AR
I
yo
You
tú
He, She, You
él ella usted
ó
**************************
We
nosotros
You vosotros
They , you
ellos ellas, ustedes
They
ellos
They
ellas
ER
é
aste
amos
asteis
aron
IR
subject
I
yo
You
tú
He, She, You
nosotros
You vosotros
They , you
ellos ellas, ustedes
o
es
e
a
a
imos
ís
en
en
IR
í
iste
él ella usted
ió
*************************
We
ending
imos
isteis
ieron
I
yo
You
tú
He, She, You
í
iste
él ella usted
ió
*********************
We
nosotros
You vosotros
They, you
ellos,ellas,ustedes
imos
isteis
ieron
IR + A = INF (AR)
IR + A = INF (ER)
IR + A = INF (IR)
Voy a hablar (to speak)
Vas a ayudar (to help)
Va a jugar (to play)
Vamos a bailar (to dance)
Vais a escuchar (to listen)
Van a gritar (to shout)
Voy a comer (to eat)
Vas a beber (to drink)
Va a ver (to see/watch)
Vamos a volver (to return)
Vais a tener (to have)
Van a poner (to put)
Voy a decir (to tell/say)
Vas a escribir (to write)
Va a salir (to go out)
Vamos a dormir (to sleep)
Vais a ir a (to go )
Van a tener (to have)
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