Spanish
Home > Spanish > Extension Course > Advice > Extension - Advice
How to approach the Written Examination
Introduction
You will have two hours (including 10 minutes reading time) to complete the Written Examination paper. You will be required to complete two sections:
- Section I: Response to prescribed text Part A and Part B; and
- Section II: Writing in Spanish
You should consider the allocation of marks and organise your time accordingly.
Suggested approach:
| Question | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Section I: Response to prescribed text (Part A) | 15 | 45 min |
| Section I: Response to prescribed text (Part B) | 10 | 30 min |
| Section II: Writing in Spanish | 15 | 45 min |
Make sure you allow sufficient time to:
- plan your answers before you commence
- revise your work and check the quality of your responses, ensuring your intention is clear and there are no ambiguities.
To ensure that you are fully prepared for the Spanish Extension examination paper, you could ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the prescribed text, The Motorcycle Diaries?
- Am I able to discuss questions in English relating to the themes, characterisation, language features, style, context and issues, etc.
- Am I able to respond personally and creatively in Spanish to the prescribed text?
- Am I familiar with the three prescribed issues?
- Personal choice and growth
- Solidarity and survival
- Social justice
- Have I developed the skills required to write in the text types prescribed for both the Spanish Continuers Stage 6 Syllabus
(Section 8.3)and those for the Spanish Extension Stage 6 Syllabus (Section 8.3)?
- Am I able to write a response in approximately 300 words, to present, explain or justify opinions, ideas and points of view in Spanish?
Remember, you may use monolingual and/or bilingual print dictionaries in the written examination.
Note: The Board of Studies NSW has developed a Spanish Standards Package of CD-ROMs, which contains detailed information on the level of achievement for each performance band, including examples of student responses. While these are not the current prescribed text, reading and hearing actual student responses are excellent ways to see how the marking criteria are put into practice. This will reassure you of the standard expected. The packages are available at http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/hsc/std-packs/
|