Vocabulary
The words and phrases for this theme, each with audio. Words marked H are for Higher.
Every word is checked against both boards' lists: H marks a Higher word, a note says when the boards differ, and words on neither list are marked "Not on the exam lists". The official lists: AQA vocabulary list (specification Appendix 2) and Pearson Edexcel vocabulary list (specification Appendix 1).
Key phrases
Phrases for speaking and writing on this theme. Phrases marked H use Higher grammar.
- Mi asignatura favorita es...My favourite subject is...
- Se me da bien/mal...I'm good/bad at... (with a plural: se me dan bien las ciencias)
- HLo que más/menos me gusta es...What I like most/least is...
- El/La profe de... es muy...The... teacher is very...
- Tengo clase de... a las...I have... class at...
- Estoy en tercero de la ESOI'm in Year 10 (3º ESO in Spain)
Key verbs
The verbs for this theme. Where the site has a verb page, the link opens its conjugation tables and practice.
- HConjugation and practice →estudiarto study
- HConjugation and practice →aprenderto learn
- HConjugation and practice →aprobarto pass (exam)
- HConjugation and practice →suspenderto fail (exam)AQA Higher list only
- HConjugation and practice →repasarto reviseAQA list only
- HConjugation and practice →escribirto write
- HConjugation and practice →entenderto understandHigher on Pearson
- HConjugation and practice →comprenderto understandHigher on AQA
- HConjugation and practice →explicarto explainHigher on Pearson
- HConjugation and practice →preguntarto ask
- HConjugation and practice →contestarto answerHigher on Pearson
- HConjugation and practice →responderto answer, to reply
- HConjugation and practice →recordarto remember
- HConjugation and practice →olvidarto forget
- HConjugation and practice →permitirto allowHigher on Pearson
- HConjugation and practice →prohibirto forbid
- HConjugation and practice →enseñarto teachHigher on Pearson
- HConjugation and practice →sacarto get (marks)AQA list only
- HConjugation and practice →hacerto do/makeNot on the exam lists
- HConjugation and practice →gustarto like
- HConjugation and practice →preferirto prefer
Words by topic
The core words and expressions for this theme, in groups. Each noun shows its gender. Open a group to see its words.
School subjects
13 words
- Hlas matemáticas (f)maths
- Hlas ciencias (f)science
- Hla historia (f)history
- Hla geografía (f)geographyAQA list only
- Hla educación física (f)PE
- Hla informática (f)ICTAQA list only
- Hel arte (m)art
- Hla música (f)music
- Hel dibujo (m)art, drawing (the school subject)
- Hla tecnología (f)technology (the school subject)
- Hla religión (f)RE, religious studies; also religion
- Hel teatro (m)drama, theatre
- Hla asignatura (f)school subject
Languages and exchanges
8 words
- Hel inglés (m)English
- Hel español (m)Spanish
- Hel francés (m)FrenchAQA list only
- Hel alemán (m)GermanAQA list only
- Hla lengua (f)language
- Hel idioma (m)languageHigher on Pearson
- Hel castellano (m)Spanish (Castilian)Higher on AQA
- Hel intercambio (m)exchangePearson Higher list only
People at school
5 words
- Hel/la profesor/ateacher
- Hel/la alumno/astudent
- Hel/la estudiantestudent
- Hel/la compañero/a de claseclassmateHigher on Pearson
- Hel/la director/ahead teacher
The school day and school spaces
10 words
- Hla clase (f)class/lesson
- Hel aula (f)classroomAQA Higher list only
- Hel horario (m)timetableHigher on Pearson
- Hel recreo (m)break, break time at schoolAQA list only
- Hla biblioteca (f)library
- Hla excursión (f)school trip, excursionHigher on Pearson
- Hla lista (f)list, register
- Hel patio (m)playground
- Hel descanso (m)break, restPearson list only
- Hel laboratorio (m)laboratoryAQA Higher list only
Classwork, exams and equipment
15 words
- Hlos deberes (m)homework
- Hel examen (m)exam
- Hla nota (f)markAQA list only
- Hla mochila (f)school bag, rucksackAQA list only
- Hla tarea (f)task; homework (in Latin America; in Spain los deberes)Higher on Pearson
- Hla lectura (f)readingHigher on AQA
- Hel cuaderno (m)exercise bookPearson list only
- Hel bolígrafo (m)pen
- Hel libro (m)book
- Hel ejercicio (m)exercise
- Hla pregunta (f)question
- Hel error (m)mistake
- Hla prueba (f)testHigher on Pearson
- sacar buenas/malas notasto get good/bad marks
- Hla respuesta (f)answerAQA Higher list only
Describing school and teachers
14 words
- Hútiluseful
- HinútiluselessHigher on AQA
- Hfácileasy
- Hdifícildifficult
- Haburrido/aboring
- Hinteresanteinteresting
- Hestricto/astrictHigher on AQA
- Hsimpático/anice/friendly
- Hpráctico/apracticalHigher on Pearson
- Hsencillo/asimple, straightforwardAQA list only
- HexigentedemandingNot on the exam lists
- Hoptativo/aoptionalNot on the exam lists
- Hobligatorio/acompulsoryAQA Higher list only
- Hpesado/aboring, tedious; also heavy
Rules, uniform and problems
9 words
- Hel uniforme (m)uniform
- Hla regla (f)rule, ruler
- Hla norma (f)rulePearson list only
- Hla presión (f)pressureHigher on Pearson
- Hel estrés (m)stressAQA list only
- Hel acoso (m)bullyingAQA list only
- Hel acoso escolar (m)bullying at schoolNot on the exam lists
- Hel fracaso escolar (m)school failureNot on the exam lists
- Hhacer novillosto skip school
Schools and qualifications
11 words
- Hel instituto (m)secondary school
- Hel colegio (m)school, often a primary or private school in Spain
- Hla escuela (f)school, especially a primary school
- Hla universidad (f)university
- Hel curso (m)school year, coursePearson list only
- Hla educación (f)education
- Hel nivel (m)levelHigher on AQA
- Hel bachillerato (m)the Spanish equivalent of A levels (ages 16-18)AQA list only
- Hla formación profesional (f)vocational training
- Hla enseñanza (f)teaching, education
- Hel título (m)qualification, degree
Grammar
The grammar this theme uses most, with examples from the theme. Each guide explains it in full.
Past, present and future
To talk about your studies in three timeframes: what you studied, what you study now and what you're going to study.
The time words decide the : el año pasado and ayer take the preterite, este año, hoy and normalmente the present, and el año que viene and mañana take ir a + . For estudiar: estudié (I studied), estudio (I study), voy a estudiar (I'm going to study). Estudio is the present, so after el año pasado you need estudié, with the accent. Tener is irregular in the preterite: tuve (I had), with no accent.
El año pasado estudié francés – Last year I studied French
Este año estudio español y alemán – This year I'm studying Spanish and German
El año que viene voy a estudiar historia – Next year I'm going to study history
Exam tip: The top language marks in AQA's 90-word task, Pearson's 80-90 and 130-150 word tasks and Pearson's conversation need all three timeframes.
Giving opinions
To give opinions on subjects and teachers: creo que, pienso que, me parece que.
Creo que, pienso que and me parece que are followed by a normal present- : creo que el dibujo es fácil. Add a reason with porque: porque el profesor explica bien. Watch the negative: no creo que takes the subjunctive (no creo que sea útil, Higher), so if you're unsure, say creo que no es útil instead. Las matemáticas and las ciencias are in Spanish: son útiles.
Creo que las matemáticas son útiles – I think maths is useful
Me parece que el profesor es estricto – It seems to me the teacher is strict
En mi opinión, la historia es interesante – In my opinion, history is interesting
Comparing subjects
To compare subjects: más/menos ... que, tan ... como.
The agrees with the first you mention: la historia es más difícil que la geografía, las matemáticas son más útiles que el dibujo. Tan ... como says two subjects are equal (tan aburrido como). "Better" and "worse" have their own words, mejor and peor: el inglés es mejor que el francés.
El español es más fácil que el francés – Spanish is easier than French
El dibujo es menos interesante que la música – Art is less interesting than music
Las matemáticas son tan difíciles como las ciencias – Maths is as difficult as science
School rules
To say what you must and mustn't do: hay que, se puede, está prohibido + .
All three are followed by an and never change, because they apply to everyone: hay que llevar uniforme (you have to wear uniform). Put no in front for what isn't allowed: no se puede comer en clase. Está prohibido is stronger, the wording you see on signs. For what one person has to do, use tener que: tengo que estudiar.
Hay que llevar uniforme – You have to wear uniform
No se puede usar el móvil – You can't use your phone
Está prohibido correr en los pasillos – Running in corridors is forbidden
Future plans for your education
To say what you will study next: the , me gustaría and espero + .
The adds endings to the whole : estudiaré, iré; a few verbs have a short stem, such as hacer (haré). Me gustaría and espero go straight before an : me gustaría ir a la universidad, espero aprobar. With si + present, the other half goes in the : si apruebo, estudiaré medicina, and the never goes straight after si (if).
El año que viene estudiaré el bachillerato – Next year I will do the bachillerato (like A levels)
Me gustaría ir a la universidad – I would like to go to university
Si apruebo, estudiaré medicina – If I pass, I will study medicine
Practice
Exercises on this theme's words and grammar, marked as you go. Higher tasks are labelled.
Vocabulary matching
Match the Spanish words with their English meanings:
Fill in the blanks: school words
Fill in the gaps with the correct school vocabulary:
- Mi favorita es el español. (subject)
- Tengo que hacer los esta noche. (homework)
- El de matemáticas es muy estricto. (teacher)
- Durante el como con mis amigos. (break time)
Fill in the blanks: past, present or future
Past, present or future? Write the verb in brackets in the right form: the time words tell you which. For the future, use ir a + infinitive.
- El año pasado dibujo. (estudiar, yo)
- Hoy dos horas de matemáticas. (tener, yo)
- El año que viene el bachillerato. (hacer, yo)
- Ayer mi amigo el examen de inglés. (aprobar)
- Normalmente al instituto a las ocho y media. (llegar, yo)
Translate into Spanish: sentences
Translate into Spanish:
Hints:mi asignatura favoritasin embargodemasiado
Mi asignatura favorita es el español porque el profesor es simpático y las clases son interesantes. Sin embargo, no me gustan las matemáticas porque son demasiado difíciles.
Translate into Spanish: a paragraph
HigherTranslate into Spanish:
Hints:el sistema educativolo cual causami instituto idealhabría
En mi opinión, el sistema educativo debería cambiar. Los alumnos tienen demasiados deberes y demasiados exámenes, lo cual causa estrés. En mi instituto ideal, habría menos exámenes y más asignaturas prácticas.
Listening
Mi instituto
My school
Tip: If you need help, read the questions first, use the slow speed and check the transcript.
Show transcript
- Javier
Marta, ¿cómo es tu instituto?
Marta, what is your school like?
- Marta
Es bastante grande. Hay unos mil alumnos y cincuenta profesores.
It is quite big. There are about a thousand students and fifty teachers.
- Javier
¿Cuál es tu asignatura favorita?
What is your favourite subject?
- Marta
Me encanta el inglés porque la profesora es muy simpática y las clases son divertidas.
I love English because the teacher is very nice and the lessons are fun.
- Javier
¿Qué asignatura no te gusta?
Which subject don't you like?
- Marta
No me gustan las matemáticas. Son muy difíciles y tenemos demasiados deberes.
I don't like maths. It is very difficult and we have too much homework.
- Javier
¿Llevas uniforme?
Do you wear a uniform?
- Marta
Sí, hay que llevarlo. Llevamos una camisa blanca y pantalones negros.
Yes, you have to wear it. We wear a white shirt and black trousers.
- Javier
¿Qué piensas del uniforme?
What do you think about the uniform?
- Marta
No me gusta mucho porque no es cómodo, pero es más fácil por la mañana.
I don't like it much because it is not comfortable, but it is easier in the morning.
- Javier
¿Qué vas a estudiar en la universidad?
What are you going to study at university?
- Marta
Quiero estudiar medicina porque me gustaría ser médica.
I want to study medicine because I would like to be a doctor.
Comprehension questions
Answer all 5 questions based on the recording.
- Question 1
How many students are there at Marta's school?
- Question 2
Why does Marta like English?
- Question 3
Marta likes maths.
- Question 4
What colour is the uniform shirt?
- Question 5
Marta wants to be a teacher.
Speaking
Practise answering out loud. How each board runs the speaking exam: the GCSE speaking exam.
Practice questions
- ¿Cómo es tu instituto?Mi instituto es bastante grande y moderno. Tiene muchas instalaciones como un gimnasio y una biblioteca.
- ¿Cuál es tu asignatura favorita?Mi asignatura favorita es el español porque me parece muy interesante y útil.
- ¿Qué asignatura no te gusta?No me gustan las matemáticas porque las encuentro muy difíciles.
- ¿Cómo son tus profesores?La mayoría de mis profesores son simpáticos y nos ayudan mucho.
- ¿Tienes muchos deberes?Sí, tengo bastantes deberes, especialmente en inglés y ciencias.
- ¿Qué piensas del uniforme escolar?No me gusta llevar uniforme porque prefiero elegir mi propia ropa.
- ¿Qué vas a estudiar el año que viene?El año que viene voy a estudiar para mis A-levels. Quiero hacer español, historia e inglés.
- ¿Te gustaría ir a la universidad?Sí, me gustaría ir a la universidad para estudiar idiomas y viajar al extranjero.
Role-play
A role-play card in the exam format. Prepare an answer for each task, with a verb in every answer. The boards set different role-plays: AQA's is a chat with a friend on the theme; Pearson's is in a public place such as a café, shop, hotel or station. Full role-plays with the examiner's lines and model answers: GCSE speaking practice.
No Pearson-format role-play on this theme: practise one on the GCSE speaking page.
You are talking to your Spanish friend about school.
- Describe your school. (Give two details.)
- Say what your favourite subject is and why. (Give one detail and one reason.)
- ?Ask your friend a question about school in Spain.
- Give your opinion of school uniform. (Give one opinion.)
- Say what you are going to study next year. (Give one detail.)
Your teacher plays your friend and speaks first; speak to your friend as tú. The task marked ? is where you ask a question. At Higher, one task is about the past or the future.
Full exam cards on this topic
With the teacher's lines, timings and model answers, on the speaking page:
Photo card (AQA) and picture task (Pearson)
There is no photo on this page: practise with exam-style photos on the GCSE speaking page.
AQA photo card: two photos (Háblame de las fotos). Say something about each, then have a conversation on the card's theme, with questions like the practice questions above.
Pearson picture task: describe one of two pictures (the people, the place and what they are doing), answer two questions about yourself, then have a conversation, with questions like the practice questions above.
For a photo on this theme, say:
- Who the people are (students, a teacher)
- Where they are
- What they are doing or studying
Writing
Plan and write your answer, then check it covers every bullet point. The tasks and word counts on each board: the GCSE writing exam. Useful phrases: key phrases.
AQA: about 90 words
Foundation and Higher papers
You are writing to your Spanish friend about your school. Write approximately 90 words in Spanish. You must write something about each bullet point.
You must include:
- your school
- a school trip you went on
- what you will study next year
AQA: about 150 words
HigherHigher paper
You are writing an article about school life for a Spanish website. Write approximately 150 words in Spanish. You must write something about both bullet points.
You must include:
- your opinion of school rules and uniform
- your plans after your exams
Pearson Edexcel: 80-90 words
Foundation and Higher papers
Your Spanish friend Lucas has asked you about your school. Write an email to Lucas. Write your answer in Spanish. You should aim to write between 80 and 90 words.
You must include:
- your timetable and favourite subject
- your teachers
- an activity you did at school recently
- your plans for next year
Pearson Edexcel: 130-150 words
HigherHigher paper
You are writing an article for a Spanish education website about school. Write your answer in Spanish. You should aim to write between 130 and 150 words.
You must include:
- the pressure of exams on young people
- how your school could be better
- a school event you took part in
- what you want to study in the future and why
Key points
- Mi asignatura favorita es... porque es interesante/útil
- Use comparatives: más difícil que, menos aburrido que
- School system vocab: instituto, bachillerato, la PAU (the university entrance exam, still often called la selectividad)
- Time phrases: a las nueve, durante el recreo, después de las clases
- Describe your ideal school with the conditional: sería, tendría, habría
Homework
- Write a description of your school day including subjects, times, and opinions
- Compare your school with a typical Spanish instituto in 6-8 sentences
- Practise giving opinions: write 5 sentences using me gusta, odio, prefiero with school subjects
- Describe your ideal school using the conditional tense (sería, tendría, habría)
More for this theme
- Practice
- Reading
- Vocabulary
The listening and reading texts are general practice, not in the exam format: for that, see the GCSE reading papers and GCSE listening papers.