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Skills Types of Listening Questions Higher Summer 2022
Skills Types of Listening Questions Higher Summer 2022
What is assessed
Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language
How it is assessed
Written exam: 45 minutes + 50 marks (Higher Tier)
25% of GCSE
Questions (2 sections)
Section A – questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally
Section B – questions in Spanish, to be answered in Spanish or non-verbally
The exam includes 5 minutes’ reading time of the question paper before you
start listening.
1. Read all the questions carefully, particularly those in Section B (the Spanish
section).
2. Look at the examples given, as these point out the level of detail needed.
3. Highlight or underline key words which are in bold in the explanations before
the question/questions.
4. Identify the questions which have two parts (e.g. 10.1 and 10.2) as you will
need to listen for 2 bits of information in the recording.
7. Note any vocab you know in Spanish which relates to each question.
8. Make sure you make your final answer clear to the examiners, write clearly
and neatly and use the space provided.
1. If you change your mind about an answer, your final choice must be clearly
signalled to the marker and be written as near as possible to the appropriate
space.
2. Listen to the whole section of the recording before making a judgement,
especially in multiple choice questions.
3. Be specific and clear in your answers and do not offer alternatives or
additional information.
4. In Section B (the Spanish section) it is okay to misspell Spanish words, just do
your best and check what you have written and how this could link to any
Spanish words you know.
Remember in both the reading and listening papers there are ‘peaks and
troughs’, so just because you have found one question really hard it does not
mean you will not be able to do the next question. Remain focused and stay in
the game!
The questions styles vary each year, but there are certain trends which we are
going to look at.
Each year 4 types of question have appeared. These are based on:
RANGE OF LANGUAGE:
1. The more vocabulary you know, the better placed you will be. Some
questions will require specific knowledge:
types of food
types of clothing
types of free time activities
types of job
2. Other questions require you to spot grammar e.g. different tenses.
3. Opinions also appear regularly throughout all the exams.
4. Recognition of synonyms (more than one way of saying the same thing) is
important e.g. inteligente, listo = smart, intelligent
We will look at the four most common question types. As this is a listening
exam, your teacher will read out the transcript i.e., the written version of what
is recorded.
1. Read the question and make sure that you know what is required as an
answer e.g., a letter, one word, a sentence? In some cases, an example is
given. Look carefully at the example as this will show you which kind of word
or phrase is needed.
2. Think about what types of answers could come up e.g. if talking about
shopping answers could involve prices, colours, styles, etc.
3. In the exam you will hear each item twice. Things will go in the order of the
question.
4. If you do not get all answers, make an intelligent guess. Never leave an
answer blank. However, make sure any guesses are logical.
When doing the tasks in this booklet, do not look at the transcript until after
you have heard the texts read out by your teacher or someone else. You need
to get used to LISTENING!
There are generally 4 types of question that reappear. There are other question
types, but these 4 are the most common.
This is a popular question type at GCSE where they are testing your ability to
identify opinions.
There are a few trends:
1. They don’t use the obvious opinion phrases much e.g. me gusta.
2. They tend to focus on giving opinions about activities or facilities.
3. It is not just about opinion phrases. They use a lot of adjectives and
connectives when comparing opinions.
Before looking at examples from past exams, we will practice using the example
below and the techniques from the previous page.
You are looking to book a hotel in Alicante. Your friend reads out some reviews
from TripAdvisor.es
What are the opinions on the following aspects of the hotels?
Person 1
The hotel facilities and the restaurant staff [2 marks]
Person 2
The views from the hotel the wifi [2 marks]
Persona 1:
En este hotel las instalaciones son buenas pero viejas. En el restaurante los
camareros son muy atentos y estás en buenas manos.
Persona 2:
En este hotel las vistas son decepcionantes – sólo ves otro hotel. Lo peor fue el
wifi ya que no es gratis y tienes que pagar un suplemento.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
The words and phrases
listed here have appeared in
all the exams so far.
Positive verbs Negative verbs
valoro = I value me fastidia = annoys me
aprecio = I appreciate me molesta = bothers me
me chifla = I like me aburre = bores me
me gusta = I like me decepciona = disappoints me
estoy harto/a de … = I am fed up of
faltan …… = they lack …
faltan instalaciones = they lack facilities
Connectives that imply 1 opinion Connectives that imply 2 opinions
también = also por un lado ….. por otro lado ….
además = furthermore = on the one hand …. on the other hand ….
y = and por una parte …. por otra parte ….
con = with = on the one hand …. on the other hand ….
en cambio = however
aunque = although
mientras que = whereas
aparte de = apart from
sin embargo = however
no obstante = nevertheless
sin = without
Positive adjectives etc Negative adjectives etc
estupendo = great horrendo = awful
genial = brilliant desagradable = unpleasant
fenomenal = fantastic decepcionante = disappointing
alegre = happy ruidoso = nois
emocionante = exciting lento = slow
tranquilo = quiet sucio = dirty
rápido = fast
limpio = clean lo peor = the worst thing
gratis = free (of charge) lo malo = the bad thing
lo difícil = the difficult thing
lo mejor = the best thing
mucho = a lot, much poca paciencia = little patience, not much
mucha paciencia = a lot of patience
patience, much patience
OPINIONS QUIZLET - https://quizlet.com/_b8970z?x=1jqt&i=3lt85z
Below is a list of verbs that we need to learn. These all appear in the opinions
section. The verbs in bold have appeared every year.
apreciar to appreciate
celebrar to celebrate
creer to believe
decepcionar to disappoint
descargar to download
encantar to delight, love
faltar to lack
fascinar to fascinate
fastidiar to anger
gustar to please, like
hacer to do
leer to read
mirar to watch
molestar to annoy, bother
navegar to surf (internet)
odiar to hate
poder to be able, can
servir to serve
tener to have
tomar to take / to have (food/drink)
valorar to value
ver to see
Opinions checklist:
Identify the context e.g. opinions on school, technology,
a festival, etc.
Anticipate possible answers
Listen out for connectives which imply a different opinion
e.g. sin embargo (however)
Never leave a blank answer. It is always worth a guess.
1. Los vecinos valoran mucho los espacios verdes y apreciarán los parques y
jardines. En cambio, todavía faltan espacios de aparcamiento.
No tenía ningunas ganas de pasar dos semanas haciendo camping con mis
padres, pero, en realidad, lo pasé genial con ellos. Conocí a un grupo de jóvenes
muy divertidos.
1 Todas las instalaciones son nuevas y limpias. A veces, tomo algo en la cafetería
donde sirven comida muy rica, aunque, en mi opinión, es
demasiado cara.
2 Creo que las actividades son estupendas. Lo que me decepciona es que faltan
actividades para niños. Nunca hago natación porque odio la piscina.
Opinions checklist:
Identify the context e.g. opinions on school, technology,
a festival, etc.
Anticipate possible answers
Listen out for connectives which imply a different opinion
e.g. sin embargo (however)
Never leave a blank answer. It is always worth a guess.
Era muy bonito vivir allí en mi pueblo porque el paisaje es precioso y las vistas son
fenomenales. Por eso empieza a ser popular para la gente de la ciudad y, por desgracia, el
coste de alquilar una casa va subiendo. A veces era incómodo no tener las instalaciones que
tienen en la ciudad, como Correos o cine, pero todo el mundo es tan agradable, es como
una gran familia. Vuelvo con frecuencia y me encanta.
Opinions about a sports centre
Listen to your Spanish friends, Raúl and Natalia, talking about their local sports
centre.
Raúl
The facilities and the café [2 marks]
Natalia
The activities and the swimming pool [2 marks]
Opinions checklist:
Identify the context e.g. opinions on school, technology,
a festival, etc.
Anticipate possible answers
Listen out for connectives which imply a different opinion
e.g. sin embargo (however)
Never leave a blank answer. It is always worth a guess.
1 Todas las instalaciones son nuevas y limpias. A veces, tomo algo en la cafetería
donde sirven comida muy rica, aunque, en mi opinión, es demasiado cara.
2 Creo que las actividades son estupendas. Lo que me decepciona es que faltan
actividades para niños. Nunca hago natación porque odio la piscina.
_________________________________________________________________
The café:
_________________________________________________________________
The activities:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Opinions about a sports centre
Listen to your Spanish friends, Sergio and Rubén, talking about festivals in
Mexico and Spain.
[2 marks]
Rubén’s opinion of festivals in Spain
Opinions checklist:
Identify the context e.g. opinions on school, technology,
a festival, etc.
Anticipate possible answers
Listen out for connectives which imply a different opinion
e.g. sin embargo (however)
Never leave a blank answer. It is always worth a guess.
1. En México me fascinó ver cómo celebran el Día de los Muertos. Para algunos
puede ser un tema desagradable, pero en mi opinión esta fiesta es muy alegre,
porque se celebra con mucho humor. La fiesta mexicana que me decepcionó fue
la Fiesta de los Locos, que se celebra en Guanajuato.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Key elements of language in this type of question are:
1. time markers i.e. words like today, yesterday, tomorrow
3. verb endings – these tell you whether the verb is in the present, past
or future:
e.g.
visito (I visit)
visité (I visited)
visitaré (I will visit)
Before we get to the examples of questions from past exams, look at the
following text and work out the following:
a) What is the topic area e.g. holidays, the environment, family, etc?
b) What type of word is used in the example answer? (You will need to use
the same type of words in your answers)
c) Which part of the text is talking about the past, present or the future?
Highlight in different colours or label Pa, Pr or F.
d) Now, which words fit into the parts of the grid with missing information?
In this case, you need to fill in answers for “Ahora” (now) and “En el
future” (in the future).
e) EXTENSION: Translate the text into English
IMPORTANT: You have a summary of the verb endings and time markers on
pages 19 + 20.
2 marks
Below is a list of time markers that you need to learn.
cada día each day
cada mañana each morning
todos los días every day
actualmente currently, at the moment
últimamente recently
antes before
después after
ahora now
hoy today
ayer yesterday
mañana tomorrow (but can also mean “morning”)
The following verbs appear in the tenses section.
aprender to learn
comenzar to start
comprar to buy
decidir to decide
dejar to give up, stop
empezar to start, begin
encantar to delight, love
escribir to write
escuchar to listen
estar to be (temporary)
estudiar to study
ganar to earn / to win
gustar to please, like
hablar to talk
hacer to do
ir to go
llegar to arrive
montar to ride
preferir to prefer
repasar to revise
ser to be (permanent)
soler to tend to
suspender to fail
tener to have
tener que to have to
tomar to take / to have (food / drink)
tomar el sol to sunbathe
trabajar to work
vender to sell
visitar to visit
volver to return
Before working through the exam questions, test yourself on the words
below. They all appear in the exam questions.
en el pasado
el pasado junio
la semana pasada
hace cinco años
ayer
anteayer
en este momento
ahora
actualmente
hoy
este año
el año próximo
el año que viene
mañana
pasado mañana
me gusta
me gustaba
me encantaba
suelo …..
es
era / fue
será
Los estudios
Estás con tus amigos, Andrés y Rosa, que hablan de sus estudios.
¿De qué aspecto de sus estudios hablan y cuándo?
Completa la tabla en español.
2. Looking at the example answers, what kind of words will you need to
identify?
3. Do you need to spot answers for past, present or future in each question?
¿Qué tal tus estudios, Andrés?
Decidí dejar las ciencias el pasado junio. Este año me encanta estudiar los
idiomas porque son muy interesantes. Voy a hacer un intercambio el año
próximo.
¿Y tú, Rosa?
La semana pasada volví a suspender un examen y, en este momento, tengo que
repasar los apuntes. A final de curso, voy a trabajar de aprendiz.
3. Work out whether each verb is talking about the past, present or the future.
Actividades durante las vacaciones
Estás con tus amigos, Rafael y Anita, que hablan de sus vacaciones.
¿De qué actividades hablan y cuándo?
Completa la tabla en español.
2. Looking at the example answers, what kind of words will you need to
identify?
3. Do you need to spot answers for past, present or future in each question?
Háblame de tus vacaciones, Rafael.
En el pasado me gustaba hacer camping, sin embargo, ahora prefiero ir a la
costa. El año que viene será diferente, porque voy a aprender francés.
¿Y tú, Anita?
De niña me encantaba montar a caballo, pero ahora suelo tomar el sol
porque es relajante. El año próximo quisiera visitar Cuba.
3. Work out whether each verb is talking about the past, present or the future.
Trabajos y ambiciones
Escuchas estas entrevistas en la radio en España.
¿De qué trabajos hablan las personas y cuándo?
¿Cuál es su ambición para el futuro?
Completa la tabla en español.
2. Looking at the example answers, what kind of words will you need to
identify?
3. Do you need to spot answers for past, present or future in each question?
¿Y usted, Ana?
Soy cocinera, pero hace cinco años era ama de casa.
¿Tiene ambiciones?
¡Naturalmente! Quisiera ganar un concurso como “Master Chef”.
3. Work out whether each verb is talking about the past, present or the future.
Different format in 2019 to previous years.
2. Looking at the example answers, what kind of words will you need to
identify?
3. Do you need to spot answers for past, present or future in each question?
De joven, trabajaba como dependiente en una tienda de ropa. Hace dos años mi
tío compró un supermercado y de momento trabajo allí de panadero. Sin
embargo, en marzo voy a comenzar mi formación como ingeniero.
3. Work out whether each verb is talking about the past, present or the future.
4. What is the topic area?
5. Looking at the example answers, what kind of words will you need to
identify?
6. Do you need to spot answers for past, present or future in each question?
When completing this style of question, reading the question and the list of
possible answers is essential. The reading time you are given before the exam
starts is when you must do this.
Look carefully at the list of options and think of any of the key words in Spanish.
For example, if the list was as follows, you might make some notes to yourself.
3 Dado que ha pasado el calor del verano, el otoño es una estación estupenda
para viajar a la capital de Alemania.
4 El año que viene solo habrá ocho días festivos para todo el país. No habrá
fines de semana largos.
5 La cantidad de extranjeros que visitan las fiestas de San Fermín para fumar
porros o para beber alcohol excesivamente es inaceptable.
1 Son casi 50 euros por sentarse en un asiento de plástico, por eso, en estos
tiempos de crisis, cada semana se ven menos aficionados en los partidos de
Primera.
4 El año próximo solo habrá ocho días festivos para toda España. No habrá fines
de semana largos.
5 El número de extranjeros que van a las fiestas de San Fermín para fumar
porros o para emborracharse es inaceptable.
Your teacher will read out a slightly different version of the transcript. Listen
and correct the transcript adding in the synonyms from the text you hear read
out loud.
2 Ayer, nuestro equipo de fútbol ganó el partido. Por eso, sube a la tercera
posición en la liga.
3 ¡Vota tu canción favorita! Muchos cantantes sacan sus nuevos títulos con la
esperanza de que sean el triunfo del verano.
5 Queremos reunir comida para los pobres. Para ayudar llene una de nuestras
bolsas cuando vaya al supermercado.
1 No hay que cruzar el Atlántico para probar nuestros sabrosos platos típicos de
Nueva York. ¡Reserva mesa hoy!
3 ¡Vota tu canción preferida! Muchos artistas sacan sus nuevos títulos con la
esperanza de que sean el éxito del verano.
5 Queremos reunir alimentos para los necesitados. Para colaborar llene una de
nuestras bolsas cuando vaya al supermercado.
Los campos de fútbol siguen cerrados tras las lluvias de ayer, pero tenemos
sesiones de voleibol a precios reducidos toda esta semana. Señores, este mes
les ofrecemos una sesión barata en el nuevo gimnasio que se encuentra detrás
de la piscina. Recuerden que, por las mañanas, en las canchas de tenis, tenemos
dos por uno: juegan dos y paga uno.
1. Hoy se abre la nueva línea telefónica para mujeres que han sufrido maltrato
en el hogar.
2. Los grandes almacenes ‘Mercavalor’ abren una nueva tienda en la ciudad y
anuncian empleos para aprendices en varios departamentos.
3. El nivel de paro ha bajado por tercer mes consecutivo, pero sigue alto entre
los jóvenes menores de veinte años.
4. Ayer la operación de limpieza en la playa fue un éxito enorme debido a la
información compartida en las redes sociales.
5. Ayer la operación de limpieza en la playa fue un éxito enorme debido a la
información compartida en las redes sociales.
Multiple-choice strategy
Identify the categories listed in the question
If you are not sure of what all the categories are start with
the ones you are sure about and come to these after
Do not always leap to a conclusion e.g., a sport could be
mentioned but this could fit 2 categories. Listen for
additional information.
You may need to use deduction and inference i.e. reach a conclusion based
on the evidence you have
When using deduction and inference you are reaching a conclusion based on
the information. For example, you hear the following:
2. word families i.e. groups of words relating to the same topic e.g. different
foods, jobs, clothes, etc.
Recognising synonyms (two words which mean the same thing) or word families
(e.g. apple, banana, orange = fruits) is key to this type of question.
Match the words in the grid to the headings listed in the box below. As an
extension activity, also list what all the words mean in English.
el abuso andar
pasear una ONG
barco entretenido
el tiempo sueldo
viejo estupendo
Match the families of words in grid to their correct categories which are listed in
the box below.
el instituto animales
la comida el camping
el clima tradiciones españolas
bebidas el deporte
el transporte la cultura
Multiple-choice strategy
Identify the categories listed in the question
If you are not sure of what all the categories are start with
the ones you are sure about and come to these after
Do not always leap to a conclusion e.g., a sport could be
mentioned but this could fit 2 categories. Listen for
additional information.
You may need to use deduction and inference i.e. reach a conclusion based
on the evidence you have
1. Soy Luisa. Muchos trabajos solo duran unos pocos meses. ¿Qué va a hacer
para crear trabajos más permanentes?
3. Soy Débora. Muchos jóvenes viven con sus padres porque no ganan bastante
para tener su propio piso. El salario mínimo no es suficiente.
¿Por qué te preocupa el turismo, Juan?
En tiempos de poca lluvia los turistas se bañan o se duchan sin pensar.
¿Qué dices tú, Ana?
Los turistas consumen mucha electricidad porque ponen el aire acondicionado
al máximo.
¿Qué opinas, Jorge?
Es muy feo ver los papeles y las latas que los turistas dejan en nuestras playas.
Multiple-choice strategy
Identify the categories listed in the question
If you are not sure of what all the categories are start with
the ones you are sure about and come to these after
Do not always leap to a conclusion e.g., a sport could be
mentioned but this could fit 2 categories. Listen for
additional information.
You may need to use deduction and inference i.e. reach a conclusion based
on the evidence you have
Some texts give clues which help you to work out, or infer, what is really
happening.
EXAMPLE:
Cakes were stolen. The girls looked nervous, and her apron had a yellow stain.
From this we can infer that the girl stole the cakes.
An interview with actor, Alba Ibáñez
You are watching a Spanish TV programme in which Alba Ibáñez is being
interviewed about her career and latest film.
What questions does the interviewer ask her?
Answer in English.
El jueves no olvidéis las zapatillas y una sudadera porque vais a correr unos tres
kilómetros por el campo y va a hacer frío.
En vuestra próxima clase, aprenderéis cómo los árboles sacan agua y nutrientes
de la tierra.
¡Atención! El Ave de las diez para Madrid va a salir del andén dos, vía tres.
Vamos a salir del puerto en cinco minutos para Mallorca. Hace buen tiempo y el
mar está muy tranquilo.
Explican bien y no ponen demasiados deberes.
Tenemos dos gimnasios, biblioteca, piscina …
No se permite llevar maquillaje y está prohibido comer chicle.