School Life and Future Plans
Covering subjects, daily routine, school opinions, and ambitions — essential across all papers.
School Subjects
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|
| las matemáticas | maths | el inglés | English |
| el español | Spanish | las ciencias | science |
| la física | physics | la química | chemistry |
| la biología | biology | la informática | IT / computing |
| la historia | history | la geografía | geography |
| la educación física | PE | la música | music |
| el dibujo / el arte | art | la tecnología | technology |
| la religión | RE | el comercio | business |
| las lenguas extranjeras | foreign languages | el francés / el alemán | French / German |
School Vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| una clase / una lección | a class / lesson |
| el horario | timetable |
| una asignatura | a subject |
| un/a profesor/a | a teacher |
| un/a alumno/a | a pupil |
| los deberes | homework |
| un examen / una prueba | an exam / a test |
| una nota | a mark / grade |
| el recreo | break time |
| el comedor | the canteen |
| las normas / el reglamento | school rules |
| el uniforme escolar | school uniform |
| el boletín de notas | school report |
| aprobar un examen | to pass an exam |
| suspender un examen | to fail an exam |
| hacer novillos | to skip lessons / play truant |
| el acoso escolar | school bullying |
| el instituto | secondary school |
Describing School Life
- Mi asignatura favorita es la informática porque el profesor es muy divertido y las clases son interactivas. — My favourite subject is IT because the teacher is very fun and the lessons are interactive.
- No me gusta nada la química porque es demasiado complicada. — I don't like chemistry at all because it's too complicated.
- Las clases empiezan a las ocho y media y terminan a las tres y cuarto. — Lessons start at 8:30 and finish at 3:15.
- Creo que las normas son demasiado estrictas — no nos dejan usar el móvil. — I think the rules are too strict — they don't let us use our phones.
Spanish School System (Cultural Knowledge)
| Feature | Spain |
|---|
| Primary | la educación primaria (6–12) |
| Secondary | la ESO — Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (12–16) |
| Post-16 | el bachillerato (16–18) |
| Exams | la selectividad / la EvAU (university entrance) |
| Grades | 0–10 scale (5 = pass) |
| Uniform | Generally not required |
| Lunch | Often go home for lunch |
| School hours | Often 8:30–14:30 (morning-only in some regions) |
Future Plans
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| seguir estudiando | to continue studying |
| ir a la universidad | to go to university |
| hacer una formación profesional | to do vocational training |
| tomarse un año sabático | to take a gap year |
| buscar un trabajo / un empleo | to look for a job |
| trabajar en el extranjero | to work abroad |
| ganar dinero | to earn money |
| una carrera / una profesión | a career / profession |
| hacerse médico/a / abogado/a | to become a doctor / lawyer |
- Después de los exámenes, voy a seguir estudiando para hacer el bachillerato. — After exams, I'm going to continue studying to do A-levels.
- Cuando sea mayor, me gustaría ser ingeniero porque me apasionan las ciencias. — When I'm older, I would like to be an engineer because I'm passionate about science.
- Si pudiera, haría un año sabático antes de ir a la universidad. — If I could, I would take a gap year before going to university.
- Mi sueño sería trabajar en el extranjero, quizás en Latinoamérica. — My dream would be to work abroad, perhaps in Latin America.
Exam Tips
- In writing, link subjects to future plans — it naturally brings in multiple time frames.
- Know the differences between the Spanish and English school systems — tested in reading/listening.
- Practise giving justified opinions about subjects: subject + opinion + reason + what you'd change.
- Cuando sea mayor (when I'm older) is a key subjunctive phrase — use it in every future plans response.