Education Post-16: Choices and Pathways
Education post-16 is a higher-level writing topic covering plans after GCSEs, such as sixth form, an apprenticeship or college and the reasons for that choice, advice received from teachers or family, and a reasoned opinion on whether university suits everyone.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read the bullets and separate your actual plan (present/near future - voy a hacer el bachillerato) from a hypothetical one (conditional - si pudiera elegir, estudiaría...) and from an opinion on education in general.
- Plan the reasons for your chosen pathway before writing: at least two justifications (se me dan bien las ciencias, quiero conseguir experiencia práctica) so the plan is not stated without support.
- Build the advice bullet using reported speech structures (mi profesor me dijo que..., mis padres me aconsejan que plus the subjunctive) for extra range.
- Build the hypothetical bullet fully in the conditional (si pudiera, estudiaría/haría/sería) rather than switching back into the present partway through.
- Build the opinion bullet with a balanced structure (por un lado... por otro lado...) and at least one subjunctive or impersonal expression (no creo que la universidad sea la única opción, es importante que cada persona elija lo que le convenga).
- Check the conditional endings, which are the same for all three verb groups (-ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -ían) added to the infinitive or an irregular stem (tendría, haría, sería, podría).
- Check accents throughout, especially on conditional forms (which all carry a written accent) and on preterite forms used to report past advice (aconsejó, dijo).
Worked example
Write a short paragraph in Spanish for a school careers fair. Mention: what you plan to do after your GCSEs and why; advice someone has given you; what you would study if you could choose any path.
- PLAN the actual plan and two reasons: voy a hacer el bachillerato porque se me dan bien las ciencias y porque quiero ir a la universidad.
- PLAN the advice using reported speech: mi tutor me aconsejó que plus the subjunctive, or mis padres me dijeron que plus the indicative.
- BUILD the plan sentence with a connective: Después de mis exámenes, voy a hacer el bachillerato porque se me dan bien las ciencias y quiero estudiar medicina en la universidad.
- BUILD the advice sentence using reported speech for range: Mi tutor me aconsejó que eligiera asignaturas que me gustaran de verdad, en vez de elegir por presión de mis amigos.
- BUILD the hypothetical bullet fully in the conditional: Si pudiera elegir cualquier camino, estudiaría bellas artes, porque la pintura siempre ha sido mi pasión, aunque sé que la medicina tiene más salidas profesionales.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Give the conditional yo form of estudiar and of hacer.Show answer
Answer: estudiaría (regular conditional: infinitive plus ía) and haría (irregular stem har- plus ía).
Q2Fill the gap with the correct imperfect subjunctive: Mi profesora me aconsejó que ___ (elegir) asignaturas que me interesaran.Show answer
Answer: eligiera - imperfect subjunctive of elegir, used because the main verb aconsejó is in the past.
Q3Correct the error: 'Si pudiera elegir, estudio derecho en la universidad.'Show answer
Answer: Si pudiera elegir, estudiaría derecho en la universidad - a hypothetical si clause with the imperfect subjunctive pudiera needs the conditional estudiaría in the second half, not the present estudio.
Q4Translate into Spanish: 'I am going to do an apprenticeship because I prefer to learn on the job.'Show answer
Answer: Voy a hacer un aprendizaje porque prefiero aprender en el trabajo.
Q5Translate into English: 'No creo que la universidad sea la única opción para tener éxito.'Show answer
Answer: I do not think that university is the only option for being successful.
Q6Give the Spanish for 'sixth form/A-levels' and 'vocational training'.Show answer
Answer: el bachillerato and la formación profesional.
Q7Which structure correctly follows aconsejar que: the indicative or the subjunctive?Show answer
Answer: the subjunctive - aconsejar que is a verb of influence/advice, so it always triggers the subjunctive in the following clause (me aconseja que estudie/elija, me aconsejó que estudiara/eligiera).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Spanish exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Write about your plans after your GCSEs in Spanish. Answer all four bullet points in Spanish. Write approximately 40 words in Spanish. - what you plan to do after your GCSEs - why you have chosen this option - a subject or skill you want to develop - your opinion on whether university is the best option for everyone
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
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Write for a careers newsletter about your plans for the future. You must mention: - describe your plans for after finishing your GCSEs and explain why you have chosen this path - describe advice a teacher, parent or careers adviser has given you - say what you would study or do if you could choose any path, and why - give your opinion on whether apprenticeships are as valuable as university degrees
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 16 available
See real GCSE Spanish past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the education post-16: choices and pathways worksheet pack - 13 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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