Total marks: 100 · Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
Instructions to candidates
- This paper has FOUR sections. Answer ALL questions.
- Section I (Directed Situations) is worth 30 marks, Section II (Letter) 30 marks, Section III (Contextual Dialogue) 20 marks and Section IV (Reading Comprehension) 20 marks.
- Write in SPANISH in Sections I, II and III. Answer Section IV in ENGLISH.
- Keep to the word limits given. You will be penalised for disregarding the instructions in each section.
- In the January 2027 sitting this paper is "hybrid": you read the questions on screen and write your answers in the answer booklet.
- Dictionaries are NOT allowed.
Paper
Section I — Directed Situations (30 marks)
Question 1
Write in SPANISH the information required for EACH of the situations below. Do NOT write more than ONE sentence for each situation; for some situations a complete sentence may not be necessary. Do NOT translate the situations. Do NOT use abbreviations.
(a) You left your school bag on the bus. Write the notice you put on the school board, describing the bag and saying how to contact you. (3 marks)
(b) Write the text message telling a friend that you cannot go to the cinema tonight, and why. (3 marks)
(c) You are in a restaurant in Panama. Write what you say to the waiter to order a drink and a main dish. (3 marks)
(d) Your neighbour is going on holiday. Write the note offering to feed her cat and water her plants. (3 marks)
(e) Write the sign at the school library giving TWO rules for students. (3 marks)
(f) You want to join the school choir. Write the question you ask the music teacher about when the choir practises. (3 marks)
(g) Your cousin has just passed her driving test. Write the message you send her. (3 marks)
(h) A doctor is examining a boy who has a fever. Write the TWO pieces of advice she gives him. (3 marks)
(i) Write the sentence in your diary describing today's weather and saying what you are going to do tomorrow. (3 marks)
(j) You arrive late for an interview for a summer job. Write the apology you make, giving the reason. (3 marks)
Total 30 marks
Section II — Letter (30 marks)
Question 2
Using the following outline as a guide, write a letter in SPANISH of NO MORE THAN 130–150 words.
You recently took part in a festival or national celebration in your country. Write a letter to your Colombian pen-friend and include:
(i) what the celebration was and when it took place
(ii) how you prepared for it
(iii) what you did on the day
(iv) your opinion of the celebration, and an invitation to your friend to come next year.
(Do NOT write your real name and address, but include the date in SPANISH and use an appropriate beginning and ending.) (30 marks)
Total 30 marks
Section III — Contextual Dialogue (20 marks)
Question 3
Use 80–100 words to complete the dialogue between Daniel and the manager of a hotel by giving Daniel's responses in SPANISH.
Daniel, aged seventeen, lives in Panama City. He telephones the Hotel Brisas del Mar about a summer job in its restaurant. He speaks to the manager, Señora Castillo. Responses to ALL of the cues must be included:
(i) a greeting, his name and the reason for his call
(ii) his age and where he studies
(iii) TWO pieces of experience or skills that would help him in the job
(iv) when he could start
(v) a question about the working hours or the pay (20 marks)
Gerente: Hotel Brisas del Mar, buenos días. ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?
Daniel: …
Gerente: Sí, todavía buscamos ayudantes para el restaurante. ¿Me puede hablar un poco de usted?
Daniel: …
Gerente: Muy bien. ¿Y tiene alguna experiencia que le pueda servir en este trabajo?
Daniel: …
Gerente: Excelente. ¿Cuándo podría empezar?
Daniel: …
Gerente: Perfecto. ¿Tiene alguna pregunta para mí?
Daniel: …
Gerente: Son seis horas al día, cinco días a la semana, y pagamos cada quince días. Venga el lunes a las nueve para una entrevista.
Total 20 marks
Section IV — Reading Comprehension (20 marks)
Question 4
Read the following selection carefully. Do NOT translate it, but answer the questions in ENGLISH. Use a complete sentence for EACH answer.
Un huerto en la azotea
Hace tres años, Lucía Fernández, una joven de diecinueve años de Santo Domingo, notó que las verduras del mercado eran cada vez más caras. Un día, mientras miraba la azotea vacía de su edificio, tuvo una idea: ¿por qué no cultivar allí sus propios alimentos?
Con la ayuda de su abuelo, que había sido agricultor en el campo, Lucía llenó viejas cajas de madera con tierra y sembró tomates, ajíes y lechugas. Al principio muchas plantas se secaron por el sol fuerte, pero ella aprendió a regarlas temprano por la mañana y a protegerlas con una tela.
Hoy el huerto tiene más de cuarenta cajas y once vecinos participan en el proyecto. Cada sábado reparten la cosecha entre las familias y venden lo que sobra a un pequeño restaurante del barrio. Con ese dinero compran semillas y herramientas.
"Lo mejor no son las verduras", dice Lucía, "sino que ahora los vecinos se conocen y trabajan juntos." Su próximo objetivo es enseñar a los niños de la escuela cercana a cultivar plantas. Según ella, "si un niño siembra una semilla, nunca olvidará de dónde viene su comida."
(a) Give TWO reasons why Lucía decided to grow her own food on the roof. (2 marks)
(b) Who helped Lucía, and why was his help useful? (2 marks)
(c) What did Lucía use to plant her vegetables in? (1 mark)
(d) Name TWO of the vegetables she planted. (2 marks)
(e) What problem did she have at first, and what TWO things did she learn to do about it? (3 marks)
(f) How many neighbours now take part in the project? (1 mark)
(g) What TWO things happen to the harvest every Saturday? (2 marks)
(h) What is the money from the restaurant used to buy? (2 marks)
(i) According to Lucía, what is the best thing about the project? (2 marks)
(j) What is Lucía's next goal, and why does she think it is important? (3 marks)
Total 20 marks