Theme 1.3: Jobs, Career Choices and Ambitions - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

9 original exam-style questions - 7 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

Download PDF Jump to mark scheme (page 8)Theme 1.3: Jobs, Career Choices and Ambitions revision guide

This topic is chapter 12 of GCSE Spanish: Writing Practice Book.

6.12 Theme 1.3: Jobs, Career Choices and Ambitions

AQA 8692 · about 65 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Accents, the enye and inverted punctuation are used correctly in the Spanish texts; write them correctly in your own answers too. Questions 10 and 11 require full sentences in Spanish. Allow the time guidance above.

Structured task. Describe a part-time job or work experience you did using the preterite tense. 40-50 words in Spanish. Include: where you worked, what you did, how long you worked there and one thing you learned. Use preterite for the actions. 'Describe' the experience.

(Total for Question 1 is 16 marks)

Extended task. Da tu opinión y justificala. Write 90-150 words in Spanish discussing your future career plans and justifying your choice. Use present, future or conditional tenses and connectives. Include: what job you want, reasons for the choice, how your studies or experience will help, and one possible difficulty and how you would overcome it.

(Total for Question 2 is 16 marks)

Match the job to the correct workplace. Write the letter of the workplace next to the job. Jobs: a) enfermero, b) cajero, c) arquitecto, d) camarero. Workplaces: 1 hospital, 2 restaurante, 3 banco, 4 oficina de arquitectura.

(a)a) enfermero -(1)

(b)b) cajero -(1)

(c)c) arquitecto -(1)

(d)d) camarero -(1)

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Short answer: Give the best Spanish phrase. Topic: reasons for career choice. Two items, 1 mark each.

(a)Reason meaning 'I like helping people'.(1)

(b)Reason meaning 'Because it pays well'.(1)

(Total for Question 4 is 2 marks)

Choose the correct English meaning for each Spanish phrase about work. Select A, B, C or D.

(a)hacer prácticas(1)

A to run a business
B to do work experience
C to hire staff
D to get a promotion

(b)solicitar un puesto(1)

A to apply for a job
B to accept a job
C to quit a job
D to train for a job

(c)responsable(1)

A careful
B irresponsible
C responsible
D excellent

(d)contrato temporal(1)

A temporary contract
B full time contract
C unpaid job
D permanent contract

(e)trabajo a tiempo parcial(1)

A night shift job
B full time job
C part time job
D managerial job

(Total for Question 5 is 5 marks)

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Topic: past part-time work and experiences.

(a)El verano pasado yo (trabajar) ______ en una tienda de ropa.(1)

(b)Mi compañera (ser) ______ muy simpática y aprendí mucho.(1)

(c)Todos los días nosotros (ordenar) ______ la tienda antes de abrir.(1)

(d)Una vez, yo (ayudar) ______ a un cliente con un problema difícil.(1)

(e)Al final de la semana, el jefe nos (dar) ______ una pequeña propina.(1)

(Total for Question 6 is 5 marks)

Translate into English. Topic: a short paragraph about a student and their weekend job. Translate each sense chunk separately.

(a)Trabajo los sábados por la mañana en una cafetería.(1)

(b)Sirvo cafés y a veces hago bocadillos para los clientes.(2)

(c)Gano poco dinero, pero la experiencia es importante para mi futuro.(2)

(d)El horario es corto, así que todavía puedo estudiar por la tarde.(2)

(Total for Question 7 is 7 marks)

Complete the sentences using a suitable job-related word given in the list. List: curriculum, entrevistador, habilidad, prácticas, salario.

(a)Para conseguir empleo, envié mi ______ a la empresa.(1)

(b)Tuve una entrevista con el ______ y contesté muchas preguntas.(1)

(c)Aprendí una nueva ______ en mis prácticas, programación basica.(1)

(d)Después del instituto hice ______ en una oficina durante una semana.(1)

(e)El ______ mensual no es suficiente para pagar todo.(1)

(Total for Question 8 is 5 marks)

Translate into Spanish. Topic: short sentences about future career ideas. Translate each sentence separately.

(a)I would like to study medicine at university.(2)

(b)In the future I want to be an engineer.(2)

(c)Because I like solving problems.(2)

(d)I will study hard and I hope to get a scholarship.(3)

(Total for Question 9 is 9 marks)

Mark scheme · 6.12 Theme 1.3: Jobs, Career Choices and Ambitions

Question 1

Content and communication (AO4, 10 marks)
- Level 3 (8-10): All four bullet points covered with clear detail in the past tense; timing and place are explicit and the description reads as a coherent short paragraph.
- Level 2 (4-7): Most bullet points covered but some details are thin or partly unclear; past tense mostly used but with occasional lapses.
- Level 1 (1-3): Only one or two bullet points addressed; the response is short and may be list-like with limited past-tense use.
- Level 0 (0): No relevant content about a past job or the response is entirely in present tense with no past reference.
Range and accuracy of language (AO4, 6 marks)
- Level 3 (5-6): Good control of past-tense forms (preterite and/or imperfect where appropriate) and varied vocabulary; few errors do not hinder communication.
- Level 2 (3-4): Some correct past-tense forms and vocabulary; errors occur but meaning is mostly clear.
- Level 1 (1-2): Limited range and frequent verb errors that sometimes prevent clear meaning.
- Level 0 (0): Language is too inaccurate to communicate the past-tense account.
Indicative content:
- Place of work using a past tense phrase, e.g. 'Trabajé en una cafetería del centro'.
- Specific past actions in the preterite, e.g. 'Atendí a clientes, limpié mesas y serví bocadillos'.
- Duration in the past, e.g. 'Trabajé allí durante tres meses' or 'los fines de semana'.
- One learning point in the past, e.g. 'Aprendí a ser mas puntual' or 'Aprendí a trabajar en equipo'.
- Linking words to sequence events such as 'después', 'luego', 'al final'.
- Use of the preterite for completed actions and the imperfect optionally to set background.

Question 2

Content and communication (AO4, 10 marks)
- Level 4 (8-10): All required bullet points are covered in depth with clear personal viewpoint and coherent justification; the response is well structured and relevant throughout.
- Level 3 (5-7): Most bullet points are covered with some development; ideas are generally coherent though one part may be underdeveloped.
- Level 2 (2-4): Some relevant content but limited development and occasional irrelevance; basic reasons given with little justification.
- Level 1 (1): Minimal relevant content; very brief statements with little or no development.
- Level 0 (0): No creditworthy content on career plans or justification.
Range and accuracy of language (AO4, 6 marks)
- Level 4 (5-6): Wide range of vocabulary and complex structures; several time frames and conditional language used accurately; errors are minor.
- Level 3 (3-4): Good variety of language with some complex structures attempted; two or more time frames used with some accuracy.
- Level 2 (1-2): Limited range and accuracy; mainly present tense with few attempts at future or conditional; frequent errors.
- Level 0 (0): Language too limited or inaccurate to convey meaning.
Indicative content:
- Statement of the desired job using future or conditional, e.g. 'Me gustaría ser médico' or 'Quiero ser ingeniero'.
- Reasons including personal interests and strengths, e.g. 'Me interesan las ciencias' or 'Soy bueno resolviendo problemas'.
- How studies or experience will help, e.g. 'Estudiando biología en el instituto y haciendo prácticas podré mejorar mis habilidades'.
- Possible difficulty such as cost, competition or time, and a solution, e.g. 'Si es difícil conseguir plaza, estudiaré mas y participaré en voluntariado para mejorar mi CV'.
- Use of connectives to justify opinions, e.g. 'porque', 'ya que', 'ademas', 'aunque'.
- Reference to personal qualities and plans, using conditional or future to show intent, e.g. 'Si pudiera, estudiaría en el extranjero'.

Question 3

(a) B1 1 hospital
(a) Answer: 1
(b) B1 3 banco
(b) Answer: 3
(c) B1 4 oficina de arquitectura
(c) Answer: 4
(d) B1 2 restaurante
(d) Answer: 2

Question 4

(a) B1 Me gusta ayudar a la gente
(a) Answer: Me gusta ayudar a la gente
(b) B1 Porque paga bien
(b) Answer: Porque paga bien

Question 5

(a) B1 B - to do work experience
(a) Answer: B - to do work experience
(b) B1 A - to apply for a job
(b) Answer: A - to apply for a job
(c) B1 C - responsible
(c) Answer: C - responsible
(d) B1 A - temporary contract
(d) Answer: A - temporary contract
(e) B1 C - part time job
(e) Answer: C - part time job

Question 6

(a) B1 trabajé
(a) Answer: trabajé
(b) B1 fue
(b) Answer: fue
(c) B1 ordenábamos
(c) Answer: ordenábamos
(d) B1 ayudé
(d) Answer: ayudé
(e) B1 dio
(e) Answer: dio

Question 7

(a) B1 I work on Saturday mornings in a cafe.
(a) Answer: I work on Saturday mornings in a cafe.
(b) B1 I serve coffees
(b) B1 and sometimes I make sandwiches for customers
(b) Answer: I serve coffees and sometimes I make sandwiches for customers.
(c) B1 I earn little money
(c) B1 but the experience is important for my future
(c) Answer: I earn little money, but the experience is important for my future.
(d) B1 The hours are short
(d) B1 so I can still study in the afternoon
(d) Answer: The hours are short, so I can still study in the afternoon.

Question 8

(a) B1 curriculum
(a) Answer: curriculum
(b) B1 entrevistador
(b) Answer: entrevistador
(c) B1 habilidad
(c) Answer: habilidad
(d) B1 prácticas
(d) Answer: prácticas
(e) B1 salario
(e) Answer: salario

Question 9

(a) B1 Me gustaría estudiar medicina en la universidad
(a) B1 accept equivalent uses of querría or quisiera
(a) Answer: Me gustaría estudiar medicina en la universidad.
(b) B1 En el futuro quiero ser ingeniero
(b) B1 allow 'me gustaría ser' as equivalent
(b) Answer: En el futuro quiero ser ingeniero.
(c) B1 Porque me gusta resolver problemas
(c) B1 allow 'ya que' or 'porque me interesa' equivalents
(c) Answer: Porque me gusta resolver problemas.
(d) B1 Estudiaré mucho
(d) B1 and 'espero conseguir una beca' or equivalent
(d) B1 correct use of future tense 'estudiaré' or 'voy a estudiar' accepted
(d) Answer: Estudiaré mucho y espero conseguir una beca.

Theme 1.3: Jobs, Career Choices and Ambitions - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

Related topics

6.12 Theme 1.3: Jobs, Career Choices and Ambitions

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Mark your answers

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9