Theme 3: Education and work - Vocabulary
The vocabulary for Theme 3, education and work, covers school subjects and routine, exam results, further study, and the language of job applications and ambitions. Examiners test whether you can name subjects and school features precisely (la asignatura, aprobar/suspender un examen, sacar buenas notas), whether you can talk about the future using appropriate vocabulary for plans and ambitions, and whether you can produce work-related collocations correctly (solicitar un empleo, la entrevista de trabajo, ganarse la vida). This theme also contains two important false friends: éxito means success, not 'exit' (which is la salida), and actualmente means currently or nowadays, not 'actually' (which is en realidad or de hecho) - both are very easy to mistranslate under exam pressure.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn school vocabulary as collocations rather than single words: aprobar/suspender un examen, sacar buenas/malas notas, llevar uniforme, repetir un curso - each pairs a specific verb with its noun.
- Learn the false friend éxito (success) and its verb phrase tener éxito (to be successful), noting that 'to exit' is salir and 'the exit' is la salida, so éxito and salida must never be confused.
- Learn the false friend actualmente (currently, nowadays), which is used to describe a present situation, and contrast it with en realidad/de hecho (actually, in fact), which corrects or clarifies a statement.
- Learn post-16 and career vocabulary: estudiar bachillerato, ir a la universidad, la carrera (degree course, not 'career' in the everyday sense - profesión is closer to career), especializarse en, solicitar un empleo, el curriculum, la entrevista de trabajo.
- Build ambition language with the future forms: me gustaría + infinitive, tengo la intención de + infinitive, espero + infinitive, soñar con + infinitive - these let you talk about plans beyond simple facts.
- For reading and listening, listen or scan for subject names and qualification words (el bachillerato, el título, las prácticas) since these are commonly tested as specific detail questions.
- For writing and translation, practise linking a subject choice or job ambition to a reason using porque/ya que, since mark schemes on this theme specifically reward justified opinions about study and career choices.
Worked example
Using these bullet points, write two full Spanish sentences: (1) your favourite subject, with a reason; (2) your career plan for the future.
- For bullet 1, choose a subject and a justifying adjective: 'Mi asignatura favorita es la historia porque el profesor la explica de manera muy interesante.'
- For bullet 2, choose a future-ambition structure rather than a simple present statement: me gustaría + infinitive is stronger than quiero for a considered career plan.
- Build the sentence: 'Me gustaría estudiar derecho en la universidad y después solicitar un empleo en un bufete.'
- Add a note about the present situation using actualmente correctly: 'Actualmente hago prácticas en una oficina para ganar experiencia.'
- Check that actualmente has been used to mean 'currently' and not mistranslated as 'actually', and that éxito has not been confused with the false friend 'exit'.
Practice questions
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Q1Translate into English: 'Actualmente estudio bachillerato.'Show answer
Answer: I am currently studying for my A-level equivalent (bachillerato).
Q2Give the Spanish for 'to pass an exam' and 'to fail an exam'.Show answer
Answer: Aprobar un examen; suspender un examen.
Q3What does éxito mean in Spanish, and what English word does it resemble that it does NOT mean?Show answer
Answer: Éxito means success; it does not mean 'exit' (that is la salida).
Q4Give one Spanish phrase meaning 'to earn a living'.Show answer
Answer: Ganarse la vida.
Q5Translate into Spanish: 'I would like to specialise in medicine.'Show answer
Answer: Me gustaría especializarme en medicina.
Q6Give the Spanish for 'job interview'.Show answer
Answer: La entrevista de trabajo.
Q7Complete: El año pasado saqué muy buenas _____ (grades/marks) en mis exámenes.Show answer
Answer: Notas.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Spanish exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Translate this passage into English: 'Actualmente estudio cinco asignaturas y me va bastante bien, aunque suspendí un examen de química el trimestre pasado. Mi objetivo es tener éxito en mis estudios y, al final del bachillerato, solicitar un empleo o ir a la universidad. Lo que más me importa es ganarme la vida haciendo algo que de verdad me apasione.'
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Read this text and answer the questions in English. 'Marta tiene diecisiete años y actualmente cursa el último año de bachillerato. Le encanta la informática y espera especializarse en programación en la universidad. El año pasado tuvo mucho éxito en un concurso de tecnología y esto le dio más confianza para solicitar plazas en varias universidades. Sin embargo, también está considerando hacer un ciclo formativo de formación profesional si no consigue una plaza que le convenza.' (a) What is Marta currently doing? (2 marks) (b) What does she hope to specialise in? (1 mark) (c) What happened last year, and what effect did it have? (2 marks) (d) What alternative option is she considering? (1 mark)
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Write approximately 90 words in Spanish about education and future plans. You must include: your current subjects and how you are doing; a subject you found difficult, and why; your plans after finishing school; an opinion about the importance of exam success, justified.
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See real GCSE Spanish past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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