Spanish
UAB Languages exams are proficiency exams, meaning that they test knowledge and communicative skills from an external perspective, regardless of the course taken, in line with the descriptors of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for each level.
UAB Idiomes courses match the CEFR levels, but its exams assess different levels of language proficiency, not the specific content of courses, nor any other particular areas that may have been covered.
Level A1
CHARACTERISTICS
The Spanish A1-level exam is in four parts.
1. Reading comprehension
This paper assesses comprehension of simple factual or descriptive texts, instructions, messages, signs, posters and announcements.
It consists of at least two exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching or ordering. The paper has 20 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
2. Listening Comprehension
This paper assesses global listening comprehension, and the ability to understand conversations between native speakers, announcements and instructions.
It consists of at least two exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching or ordering. The paper has 20 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
The audio tracks are played twice.
3. Writing
This paper involves writing two texts: one that is transactional (postcards, emails, forms, etc.) and one that is descriptive. The minimum number of words is 80 and the maximum 100. Both tasks have the same weight.
4. Speaking
This paper is taken individually and has three parts:
1) personal introduction with visual support .
2) brief monologue on a personal topic with visual support .
3) guided interaction with the examiner on a topic of personal interest.
EXAMPLES OF EXAM PAPERS
Sample tasks A1
Answer Key A1
DURATION
The reading comprehension paper, the listening comprehension paper and the writing paper last a maximum of 120 minutes. The speaking paper lasts 10 minutes, approximately.
CRITERIA FOR PASSING
All the papers have a weighting of 25%.
Level A1 is passed if both conditions set out below are fulfilled:
1. Obtaining a score of at least 50% in each paper: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking and writing.
2. Obtaining the minimum overall score for a pass at this level: 60%.
MARKING PROCEDURES
The reading and listening comprehension papers are marked by an examiner using an answer key.
The writing paper is marked by one or more examiners based on the set criteria, which assess: a) overall impression, task achievement and register; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) organisation, coherence and cohesion. Papers will be double-marked whenever possible.
The speaking test is scored by two examiners in accordance with the assessment criteria: a) fluency, coherence and cohesion; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) appropriacy and task achievement. The examiners must reach a consensus on the marks to be given.
Level A2
CHARACTERISTICS
The Spanish A2-level exam is in four parts.
1. Reading comprehension
This paper assesses comprehension of simple factual or descriptive texts, instructions, personal correspondence, announcements, notices, messages and leaflets.
It consists of at least two exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching or ordering. The paper has 20 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
2. Listening Comprehension
This is a test of global listening comprehension, and the ability to understand native-speaker conversations, announcements and instructions, and recordings from the media, etc.
It consists of at least two exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching or ordering. The paper has 20 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
The audio tracks are played twice.
3. Writing
This paper involves writing two texts: one that is transactional (postcards, emails, etc.) and one that is descriptive. The minimum number of words is 150 and the maximum 200. Both tasks have the same weight.
4. Speaking
The test is taken in pairs and has three parts.
1) Personal introduction.
2) Brief descriptive monologue based on a photograph brought by each candidate.
3) Guided interaction between the candidates with visual prompts, for which candidates are given one or two minutes to prepare.
EXAMPLES OF EXAM PAPERS
A2 Exam Sample Tasks
Answer Key
DURATION
The reading comprehension paper, the listening comprehension paper and the writing paper last a maximum of 120 minutes. The speaking paper lasts 20 minutes, approximately.
CRITERIA FOR PASSING
All papers have a weighting of 25%.
Level A2 is passed if both conditions set out below are fulfilled.
1. Obtaining a score of at least 50% in each paper: grammar and vocabulary, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking and writing.
2. Obtaining the minimum overall score for a pass at this level: 60%.
MARKING PROCEDURES
The reading and listening comprehension papers are marked by an examiner using an answer key.
The writing paper is marked by one or more examiners based on the set criteria, which assess: a) overall impression, task achievement and register; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) organisation, coherence and cohesion. Papers will be double-marked whenever possible.
The speaking test is scored by two examiners in accordance with the assessment criteria: a) fluency, coherence and cohesion; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) appropriacy and task achievement. The examiners must reach a consensus on the marks to be given.
Level B1
CHARACTERISTICS
The Spanish B1-level exam is in four parts.
1. Reading comprehension
This paper assesses comprehension of factual, descriptive or discursive texts, instructions, personal correspondence, and messages.
It consists of at least two exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching or ordering. The paper has 20 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
2. Listening Comprehension
This is a test of global listening comprehension, and the ability to understand native-speaker conversations, announcements and instructions, and recordings from the media, etc.
It consists of at least two exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching or ordering. The paper has 20 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
The audio tracks are played twice.
3. Writing
This paper involves writing two texts: one that is transactional (postcards, emails, etc.) and one that consists of description, information-giving, or narrative. The minimum number of words is 250 and the maximum 350. Both tasks have the same weight.
4. Speaking
The test is taken in pairs and has three parts.
1) Guided conversation: personal introduction, in a dialogue with the examiner.
2) Descriptive monologue based on a photograph brought by each candidate.
3) Guided interaction between the candidates with visual prompts, for which candidates are given one or two minutes to prepare.
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Sample tasks B1
Answer Key
DURATION
The reading comprehension paper, the listening comprehension paper and the writing paper last a maximum of 150 minutes. The speaking paper lasts 20 minutes, approximately.
PASS CRITERIA
All papers have a weighting of 25%.
Level B1 is passed if both conditions set out below are fulfilled.
1. Obtaining a score of at least 50% in each paper: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking and writing.
2. Obtaining the minimum overall score for a pass at this level: 60%.
MARKING PROCEDURES
The reading and listening comprehension papers are marked by an examiner using an answer key.
The writing paper is marked by one or more examiners based on the set criteria, which assess: a) overall impression, task achievement and register; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) organisation, coherence and cohesion. Papers will be double-marked whenever possible.
The speaking test is scored by two examiners in accordance with the assessment criteria: a) fluency, coherence and cohesion; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) appropriacy and task achievement. The examiners must reach a consensus on the marks to be given.
CHARACTERISTICS
The Spanish B2-level exam is in four parts.
1. Reading comprehension
This paper assesses comprehension of factual, descriptive or discursive texts, instructions, personal correspondence, and messages.
It consists of at least two exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching or ordering. The paper has 20 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
2. Listening Comprehension
This is a test of global listening comprehension, and the ability to understand native-speaker conversations, announcements and instructions, and recordings from the media, etc.
It consists of at least two exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching or ordering. The paper has 20 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
The audio tracks are played twice.
3. Writing
This paper involves writing two texts: one that is transactional (postcards, emails, etc.) and one that consists of description, information-giving, narrative, or arguing a case. The minimum number of words is 325 and the maximum 450. Both tasks have the same weight.
4. Speaking
The test is taken in pairs and has three parts.
1) Guided conversation: personal introduction, in a dialogue with the examiner.
2) Monologue putting a case, based on a text prompt.
3) Guided interaction between candidates, using prompts, for which they are given one or two minutes to prepare.
Before the test, the candidates have 15 minutes to prepare part 2.
EXAMPLES OF EXAM PAPERS
Sample tasks B2
Answer Key
DURATION
Th reading comprehension paper, the listening comprehension paper and the writing paper last a maximum of 180 minutes. The exam is divided into two 90-minute periods, with a 30-minute break between them. The speaking test lasts approximately 20 minutes, plus 15 minutes beforehand to prepare.
CRITERIA FOR PASSING
All papers have a weighting of 25%.
Level B2 is passed if both conditions set out below are fulfilled.
1. Obtaining a score of at least 50% in each paper: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking and writing.
2. Obtaining the minimum overall score for a pass at this level: 60%.
MARKING PROCEDURES
The reading and listening comprehension papers are marked by an examiner using an answer key.
The writing paper is marked by one or more examiners based on the set criteria, which assess: a) overall impression, task achievement and register; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) organisation, coherence and cohesion. Papers will be double-marked whenever possible.
The speaking test is scored by two examiners in accordance with the assessment criteria: a) fluency, coherence and cohesion; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) appropriacy and task achievement. The examiners must reach a consensus on the marks to be given.
Level C1
CHARACTERISTICS
The Spanish C1-level exam is in four parts.
1. Reading comprehension
This paper assesses comprehension of descriptive, discursive or narrative texts, instructions, reports and correspondence.
It consists of at least three exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching, true/false with justification or ordering. The paper has between 20 and 25 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
2. Listening Comprehension
This is a test of global listening comprehension, and the ability to understand competent-speaker conversations, instructions, and recordings from the media, etc.
It consists of at least three exercises and at most four. Possible exercise types are multiple-choice questions, questions with short answers, sentences with gaps to be filled in, matching or ordering. The paper has between 20 and 25 items, and all have the same weight within the paper as a whole.
The audio tracks are played twice.
3. Writing
This paper involves writing two texts: one that is transactional (letters, emails, etc.) and one that consists of description, information-giving, narrative, or arguing a case. The minimum number of words is 200 for task 1 and 275 for task 2. Both tasks have the same weight.
4. Speaking
The test is taken invididually or in pairs and has three parts.
1) Guided conversation: personal introduction, in a dialogue with the examiner. (not assessable)
2) Monologue putting a case, based on a text prompt.
3) Guided interaction using prompts.
Before the test, the candidates have 15 minutes to prepare part 2.
EXAMPLES OF EXAM PAPERS
Work in progress
DURATION
Th reading comprehension paper, the listening comprehension paper and the writing paper last a maximum of 180 minutes. The exam is divided into two 90-minute periods, with a 30-minute break between them. The speaking test lasts approximately 20 minutes, plus 15 minutes beforehand to prepare.
CRITERIA FOR PASSING
All papers have a weighting of 25%.
Level C1 is passed if both conditions set out below are fulfilled.
1. Obtaining a score of at least 50% in each paper: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking and writing.
2. Obtaining the minimum overall score for a pass at this level: 60%.
MARKING PROCEDURES
The reading and listening comprehension papers are marked by an examiner using an answer key.
The writing paper is marked by one or more examiners based on the set criteria, which assess: a) overall impression, task achievement and register; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) organisation, coherence and cohesion. Papers will be double-marked whenever possible.
The speaking test is scored by two examiners in accordance with the assessment criteria: a) fluency and clarity; b) lexical range and accuracy; c) grammatical range and accuracy, and d) appropriacy and task achievement. The examiners must reach a consensus on the marks to be given.
