Spanish Leaving Certificate Exam - Higher Level
Please refer to examinations.ie in order to view past papers. This is an excellent way to become familiar with the course requirements. Also role plays can be found on this website for Spanish.
Breakdown
Breakdown
- Oral exam - 25% (100 marks)
- Listening exam - 20% (80 marks)
- Reading and writing - 55% (220 marks)
The oral exam usually takes places in the first weeks of April. The general conversation lasts eight to 10 minutes. The examiner tests the student’s knowledge of a variety of structures, vocabulary and verbal tenses, mainly present, past and future. The topics include: Yo (myself); Mi rutina diaria (everyday activities, weekends); Mi familia (my family); Mi casa (my house); Donde vivo (my area, town, city…); Mis estudios (my school, subjects, teachers, future studies, college etc); Mis pasatiempos (sports, music, books, films, fashion and clothes . . .); Trabajo y dinero (part-time jobs, working experience, pocket money . . . future work etc); Vacaciones (past holidays, plans for future holidays).
The role-play is the second part of the exam which takes four to 3-5 minutes and ends with one unseen question related to the dialogue.
The oral exam is marked out of 100 and 30 marks go toward the role play.
The role-play is the second part of the exam which takes four to 3-5 minutes and ends with one unseen question related to the dialogue.
The oral exam is marked out of 100 and 30 marks go toward the role play.
Reading & Writing (Higher Level)
There are 2 long reading comprehension sections, you have a choice between A and B
SECTION A - Do questions 1 and 2
In Question 1- You have a choice between 2 texts:
(a) - Literary. This option requires the reading of a novel.*
(b) - Journalistic text. You will answer questions on the text.
Question 2- Comprises of 2 shorter comprehensions.
SECTION B - There is a long comprehension and questions that follow must be answered. NB- Question 5 –This is an opinion question, similar to an essay type question. Students practice these essay type questions throughout the course after a topic has been completed (ie: The environment)
SECTION C - (This is to assess writing skills)
(You must do question 1 and 2)
Questions 1 you can do either a or b
(a) - A written dialogue- Like a conversation
(b) - A formal letter/ email eg could be a letter of complaint/ opinion etc.
Question 2- You can choose between a or b
(a) - diary entry
(b) - note
*Our current Leaving Certificate students are studying “Sin noticias de Gurb” written by Eduardo Mendoza
SECTION A - Do questions 1 and 2
In Question 1- You have a choice between 2 texts:
(a) - Literary. This option requires the reading of a novel.*
(b) - Journalistic text. You will answer questions on the text.
Question 2- Comprises of 2 shorter comprehensions.
SECTION B - There is a long comprehension and questions that follow must be answered. NB- Question 5 –This is an opinion question, similar to an essay type question. Students practice these essay type questions throughout the course after a topic has been completed (ie: The environment)
SECTION C - (This is to assess writing skills)
(You must do question 1 and 2)
Questions 1 you can do either a or b
(a) - A written dialogue- Like a conversation
(b) - A formal letter/ email eg could be a letter of complaint/ opinion etc.
Question 2- You can choose between a or b
(a) - diary entry
(b) - note
*Our current Leaving Certificate students are studying “Sin noticias de Gurb” written by Eduardo Mendoza
Spanish Leaving Certificate Exam - Ordinary Level
Please refer to examinations.ie in order to view past papers. This is an excellent way to become familiar with the course requirements. Also role plays can be found on this website for Spanish.
All students are tested on: speaking, listening, reading and writing. However, the marking scheme is a little different. Please see below.
During the two year course students become more confident and improve their proficiency in the language.
They have an opportunity to improve all four language skills. (listening, speaking, reading and writing)The course focuses on developing their oral skills- through general topics such as: the area where I live, friends, family. They also have the opportunity to discuss more abstract topics such as: the environment, unemployment, the internet, health etc.
Breakdown
All students are tested on: speaking, listening, reading and writing. However, the marking scheme is a little different. Please see below.
During the two year course students become more confident and improve their proficiency in the language.
They have an opportunity to improve all four language skills. (listening, speaking, reading and writing)The course focuses on developing their oral skills- through general topics such as: the area where I live, friends, family. They also have the opportunity to discuss more abstract topics such as: the environment, unemployment, the internet, health etc.
Breakdown
- Oral exam - 20% (80 marks)
- Listening exam - 25% (100 marks)
- Reading and writing - 55% (220 marks)
Oral Exam
Please see above under the Oral Examination for Higher Level. The examination is the same for both levels.
Listening Exam (Ordinary Level)
This is a separate paper, students will sit this exam in June on the same day as their written exam. They must answer the questions in English.
Reading Comprehension and Written Production (Ordinary Level)
(This is all in one paper and students take this paper in June).
Comprehension
Students must answer 5 comprehensions. 2 long comprehensions and 3 shorter ones.
In the first comprehension, students must answer the questions in Spanish. The rest of the comprehensions the questions must be answered in English.
Written
Students must write a letter or Email to a Spanish Friend. They then have an option of writing a diary entry or a note. How to construct each of these options correctly will be practiced throughout the course.
Comprehension
Students must answer 5 comprehensions. 2 long comprehensions and 3 shorter ones.
In the first comprehension, students must answer the questions in Spanish. The rest of the comprehensions the questions must be answered in English.
Written
Students must write a letter or Email to a Spanish Friend. They then have an option of writing a diary entry or a note. How to construct each of these options correctly will be practiced throughout the course.
