Vocabulario escolar — School Vocabulary

📚 Vocabulario escolar — School Vocabulary

AQA Papers 3 and 4 test school vocabulary and future plans together — you will almost always be asked to describe your school and then discuss what happens next. Knowing both the positives and the problems about your school, and linking them to your future goals, is the key to the higher mark bands.

Spanish	English
el instituto / el colegio	secondary school
las asignaturas	school subjects
los deberes	homework
el recreo	break time
aprobar un examen	to pass an exam
suspender un examen	to fail an exam
sacar buenas / malas notas	to get good / bad marks
presentarse a un examen	to sit an exam
el uniforme escolar	school uniform
la hora de tutoría	form time / tutor time

For AQA Paper 3 (speaking) and Paper 4 (writing), school vocabulary and future plans are among the most tested topics. Know both the problems and the positives about your school — examiners reward balanced, detailed responses that link school experience to future ambitions.

Spotlight

Cuando + subjuntivo — Future-in-the-Future (Higher Grammar)

In English, we use the present tense after "when" even when referring to the future: "When I finish school, I will..." — Spanish works differently. After cuando (when) in a future context, Spanish requires the present subjunctive. This is a key Higher-tier structure you must be able to recognise; more able students can

Exam tip

Earn the mark scheme marks

💡 Errores frecuentes — Common Higher Errors

❌ Error 1: "Cuando terminaré el instituto, voy a ir a la universidad."

✅ Correcto: "Cuando termine el instituto, voy a ir a la universidad."

Por qué: After cuando referring to a future event, Spanish uses the present subjunctive (termine), NOT the future indicative (terminaré). The future tense is used in the main clause — "voy a ir" or "iré" — but after cuando the subjunctive is required. This is one of the most distinctive features of Spanish grammar at Higher level. Important contrast: "Cuando tenía diez años..." uses the imperfect (past context — NO subjunctive). The subjunctive rule after cuando applies only when referring to future events.

❌ Error 2: "Espero que ir a la universidad."

✅ Correcto (same subject): "Espero ir a la universidad."

✅ Correcto (different subject): "Espero que mis padres estén contentos."

Por qué: After esperar (to hope), the rule depends on the subject. If both verbs share the same subject (I hope / I go → same person), use the infinitive: Espero ir. Adding que before an infinitive is wrong. If the subject changes (I hope / my parents are → different people), use esperar que + subjunctive: Espero que mis padres estén contentos. This same-subject / different-subject rule also applies to querer, preferir, necesitar, and other common verbs.

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Dictation Foundation sets A

School + future plans, Higher: present subjunctive (receptive, cuando/para que)

Vocabulario escolar — School Vocabulary

📚 Vocabulario escolar — School Vocabulary

Earn the mark scheme marks

💡 Errores frecuentes — Common Higher Errors

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