Writing (2) (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Paper 4: Writing (2)
Overview of writing tasks
Paper 4 includes two different writing tasks and one translation task. Understanding the requirements for each task is essential for exam success.
The writing paper tests both your ability to communicate effectively and your accuracy in Spanish. Each task has specific requirements that must be met to achieve full marks.
Writing task 1 (80-90 words)
This shorter writing task appears on both Foundation and Higher papers as Question 1. You'll earn 18 marks for this task and have a choice between two different topics.
Key requirements
You must include four specific bullet points in your response:
- Description (when, where, what like)
- Opinion
- Past event
- Future event
Example Task Structure: Letter About Holidays and Tourism
A typical task might ask you to write a letter to a friend about holidays and tourism, covering:
- What there is for tourists in your area
- Your opinion of local transport
- What you did in the last school holidays
- A place you will visit in the future
In the exam, tick off each bullet point as you address it. This ensures you don't accidentally miss any requirements, which would cost you marks.
Writing task 2 (130-150 words) - Higher only
This longer writing task appears only on the Higher paper as Question 2. You'll earn 22 marks and again choose between two different topics.
Key requirements
You must include four specific bullet points in your response:
- Description or statement of fact
- Pros and cons
- Past event
- Future event
Example Task Structure: Blog About Films
A typical task might ask you to write a blog about films, covering:
- What types of films you prefer
- The pros and cons of going to the cinema
- An actor that you liked in a recent film
- A film you will go and see soon
Essential Strategies for Task 2:
- Complete tasks in order to show clearly you've covered all points
- Avoid repeating the same language - demonstrate variety
- Develop your points with reasons and explanations
- Stick to the recommended word count - writing too much leads to rushing and more errors
Higher translation into Spanish
This task requires you to translate a paragraph of 50-55 words from English into Spanish. The task is worth 10 marks.
Key language requirements
You must be prepared to handle verbs in multiple tenses:
- Present tense
- Past tense
- Future tense
The verbs will appear in various person forms:
- First person ('I' and 'we')
- Third person ('he', 'she', 'it', 'they')
Translation strategies
Before Writing:
- Read through the entire text to understand the meaning
- Consider all the words carefully - there may be multiple correct translations
During Writing:
- Remember that word order differs between English and Spanish
- Example: "a black cat" = "un gato negro"
- If you can't remember a specific word, try using a similar word or phrase
- Example: if you can't remember "aprender" (to learn), try "I like studying languages" instead
After Writing:
- Read through your work to ensure it makes sense
- Check for errors in spelling, accents, and verb endings
General writing paper tips
Mark allocation understanding
Of the 50 marks available for each paper:
- 36 marks are for communication and content
- 14 marks are for accuracy and knowledge of language
This shows that getting your message across clearly is more important than perfect grammar.
Universal strategies
Key Strategies for All Writing Tasks:
- Complete all tasks - don't leave anything blank
- Get the meaning across - make sure your writing is understandable
- Avoid leaving gaps - attempt every part of every question
- Read through everything to check you've considered all the words in translations
- Double-check your work at the end for obvious errors
Useful vocabulary for writing tasks
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| en mi opinión | in my opinion |
| me gusta/me encanta | I like/I love |
| el año pasado | last year |
| el verano que viene | next summer |
| sin embargo | however |
| además | also/furthermore |
| por un lado | on one hand |
| por otro lado | on the other hand |
| en el futuro | in the future |
| hace dos años | two years ago |
Example Sentences Using Key Vocabulary
- En mi opinión, las vacaciones en España son fantásticas. (In my opinion, holidays in Spain are fantastic.)
- El año pasado fui a Madrid con mi familia. (Last year I went to Madrid with my family.)
- El verano que viene voy a estudiar español en Barcelona. (Next summer I'm going to study Spanish in Barcelona.)
- Sin embargo, los billetes de tren son muy caros. (However, train tickets are very expensive.)
Quick translation practice
Translation Practice Exercises
Spanish to English:
- Me gusta ir al cine con mis amigos los fines de semana.
- El año pasado visité a mis abuelos en Valencia.
English to Spanish:
- I think that Spanish food is delicious.
- Next year I will travel to South America.
Answers:
- I like going to the cinema with my friends at weekends.
- Last year I visited my grandparents in Valencia.
- Creo que la comida española es deliciosa.
- El año que viene viajaré a Sudamérica.
Key Points to Remember:
- Always address all four bullet points in each writing task to maximise your marks
- Tick off each requirement as you complete it to avoid missing anything
- Focus on communication first - getting your message across clearly is worth more marks than perfect grammar
- Use a variety of tenses and vocabulary to demonstrate your language skills
- Read through all your work at the end to spot and correct obvious errors