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She’s now doing Psychology in Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Here, she shares what she learned.  \nSpanish is a little different to other Leaving Cert subjects, it can’t be crammed! A language is more like a skill rather than a “subject”, it has to be practised as well as memorising grammar and vocabulary. Treat it like a sport or instrument, practise! Hopefully, you will pick up some tips and tricks in this guide that will help you to succeed in Spanish.  \nContents  \nThe Oral Exam 2  \nThe Written Exam 5  \nThe Aural Exam 11  \nSome Final Tips 13  \nThe Oral Exam  \nThe oral exam makes up 25%(100 marks) of your grade at higher level. The exam lasts around 15 minutes. At first, the oral exam can seem daunting and vague. As there is no set list of questions, it is much harder to predict then written papers and you must think on your feet. I found that once I created a breakdown of the exam, I felt less intimidated and more confident.  \nThe oral examination consists of 2 parts: the general conversation, which is worth 70 marks , and 1 of the 5 role plays on the course (30 marks) .  \nGeneral Conversation (70 marks)  \n‣ Introduction: The personal questions will begin as a general conversation would in English, you introduce yourself, say your name, age etc. First impressions are crucial, and a nice way to make you stand out amongst the crowd is to say,“Buenos días y bienvenido/aseñor/señorita”.  \n‣ Topics: Once you have answered some easier questions to help you settle in, the examiner may proceed to ask questions on various topics. Here are some popular topics:  \no Myself, my friends and family  \no My house and town  \no My daily routine  \no My [pastimes e.g. sport](pastimes e.g. sport), music etc.  \no My school  \no Housework  \no Pocket money/work  \no Current affairs/News  \no Technology  \no Spanish culture  \no Fashion/Shopping  \no Food  \no Holidays  \no Your future plans e. g. university, ideal job, dreams etc.  \nNote: It is important to know that there is no definite list of subjects, and the examiner may choose to go outside of the box. If you are aiming for a H1, you might be asked about advanced topics such as drugs, terrorism, politics etc. If this happens and you do not have it prepared, don’t panic! Take a deep breath and give it your all.  \n‣ Before the Exam, dedicate an A4 page to “Phrases useful for the oral exam”. Keep it nearby  \nwhen you’re in class or doing homework. Jot down useful phrases. Speak as much Spanish as possible before the exam to gain confidence. This might just be getting a sibling to ask you questions and you reply in Spanish. Practice makes perfect!  \nGrammar Tips:  \n‣ Try to use every tense you can, especially if you’re aiming high. The more tenses you use, the better grammar you show. (I’m sure many of you would agree that grammar is possibly the hardest aspect!)  \n‣ The wider range of verbs you demonstrate, the better. Try not to repeat verbs e. g.“me gusta”instead use synonyms such as “me encanta” or “me fascina”.  \n‣ Make sure you know the necessary vocabulary for popular topics and vocabulary specific to you. Try keeping a vocab notebook throughout the year and study the words you’ve learned anytime you study Spanish to keep them fresh in your mind.  \n‣ Learn the question words such as what, where, who as they’ll be repeated throughout the exam.  \nCreating a Natural Flow: It is important to vary sentences to create a casual conversation. If you make a mistake, correct it (you won’t get marked down as we make mistakes in English as well!)  \n‣ Use “filler phrases”, such as “por desgracia” or “pues”. These can be used when you are thinking of a reply.  \n‣ To show confidence in speaking Spanish, introduce topics (that you know very well) . It’s an exam on general conversation, not a strict interview. This also lets you control the conversation and steer","cbCaioIlI3Ajq8zA","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaioIlI3Ajq8zA","pdf",319160,15,"English","# The Oral Exam\n## General Conversation (70 marks)\n## Role Play (30 Marks)\n# The Written Exam\n# The Aural Exam\n# Some Final Tips","[{\"question\":\"Why can’t Spanish be crammed for the Leaving Cert?\",\"answer\":\"Spanish is treated as a skill that must be practised, not just memorised. The guide stresses practising grammar and vocabulary through real usage to build confidence.\"},{\"question\":\"How is the higher oral exam structured and graded?\",\"answer\":\"The oral exam is worth 25% (100 marks) and lasts around 15 minutes. It includes a general conversation (70 marks) plus one of five prepared role plays (30 marks).\"},{\"question\":\"What should you do when you don’t know an opinion or understand a question?\",\"answer\":\"If you don’t have an opinion in English, don’t invent one—use sentences that show verbs and vocabulary and be honest about what interests you instead. If you don’t understand, politely ask for the question to be repeated using “¿Puede repetir la pregunta por favor?”\"}]","How to get a H1 in the Leaving Cert Spanish Exam | PDF",1790578670,38]