How to tackle a Paper 1 question.

Paper 1: Productive skills—writing

Duration: 1 hour

Weighting: 25%

Paper 1 is based on the five themes: identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organization, sharing the planet.

This examination is externally set and externally assessed. Paper 1 consists of two required tasks (task A and task B) of equal weighting. Each task addresses a variety of audiences, contexts and purposes. For each task, students will be presented with a choice from three options, each based on a different theme from the syllabus. Teachers and students should expect that one of the two tasks will require the production of a personal text and that the other task will require the production of a professional or mass media text. The “Texts” section of this guide offers examples of these types of texts.

• Task A: Students write a response of 70–150 words to one of the three options shown, choosing a text type from the box provided for task A.

• Task B: Students write a response of 70–150 words to one of the three options shown, choosing a text type from the box provided for task B.

The number of words required for each written response is the same. A final mark for paper 1 is achieved by adding the scores for task A and task B.

The aim of this component is to assess the ability to communicate in writing for a variety of purposes. In order to fulfill the requirements of this assessment component, students need to show, through their use of text type, register and style, that they understand the concepts of audience, context, purpose, meaning and

variation.

Paper 1 assesses the degree to which students are able to:

• communicate clearly and effectively in a range of contexts and for a variety of purposes

• understand and use language appropriate to a range of interpersonal and/or intercultural contexts and audiences

• understand and use language to express and respond to a range of ideas with fluency and accuracy

• identify, organize and present ideas on a range of topics.

Students’ factual knowledge of topics within the themes will not be tested; however, it can be used to support any ideas that the student wishes to communicate.

Paper 1 Markscheme

Paper 1 Text Types

Paper 1 resources

Rough guide to grades

What are you aiming for in Paper 1?

• If you want a 3+ you need to be able to conjugate your present tense verbs accurately.

  • • • • • Yo (I) conjugation

• If you want a 4+ you need to be able to conjugate your present tense verbs accurately.

  • • • • • Yo (I) conjugation

          • Él/ella (he/she/it) conjugation

          • Ellos/ellas (they) conjugation

• If you want a 5+ you need to be able to conjugate your present tense, preterit, future verbs accurately.

  • • • • • Yo (I) conjugation

          • Él/ella (he/she/it) conjugation

          • Ellos/ellas (they) conjugation

• If you want a 6+ you need to be able to conjugate your present tense, preterit, future verbs accurately.

  • • • • • Yo (I) conjugation

          • Él/ella (he/she/it) conjugation

          • Ellos/ellas (they) conjugation

          • Common irregular verbs

          • Difference between "you" tú (informal) - usted (formal)