Dictation Higher sets

SpanishAQAGCSEUnit: Dictation
Free taster
5 of 6 sections open
The basics

Dictado para nivel superior — Higher Dictation

📚 Dictado para nivel superior — Higher Dictation

Higher dictation is 50 words (Foundation = 35), played 3 times. Same marking: −1 per wrong word, minimum 0. Expect conditional and imperfect tenses, complex connectives, and subjunctive.
Clue heard Tense Example
-ía ending Could be conditional OR imperfect hablaría (cond.) / hablaba (imp. -AR)
-ía after -er/-ir stem Imperfect -ER/-IR (accent on í!) comía, bebía, vivía
-ería / -iría Definitely conditional comería, viviría
-ara / -iera Imperfect subjunctive tuviera, pudiera
sin embargo / a pesar de Complex connective contrast/concession clause coming
Spotlight
Acentos clave — Key Accent Patterns

In Higher dictation, accent errors cost marks. These four patterns appear most often.

Exam tip

Earn the mark scheme marks

⚠️ Errores frecuentes — Common Higher Dictation Errors

These four errors appear in Higher dictation scripts every year. Each one costs a mark.

❌ Error 1: estudiaria

✅ Correcto: estudiaría

Why it costs marks: Conditional tense: accent on í — missing accent = wrong word = −1 mark.

❌ Error 2: comiamos

✅ Correcto: comíamos

Why it costs marks: Imperfect -ER nosotros: accent on í required in every form of -ER/-IR imperfect.

❌ Error 3: hablabamos

✅ Correcto: hablábamos

Why it costs marks: Imperfect -AR nosotros: accent on á required. The other five -AR imperfect forms have no accent.

❌ Error 4: Si tuviera... habría

✅ Correcto: Si tuviera... tendría

Why it costs marks: Si + imperfect subjunctive → conditional. NEVER use si + habría — si-clauses cannot contain conditional forms.

Now try it yourself

Quiz · Question 1 of 13

Tap an answer to check it

Revise every Spanish topic, free during alpha

Dictation Higher sets is one of 55 topics on PrepWise — all aligned to your exam board.

Start revising free →