Las vacaciones
GCSE Spanish model answers: holidays
Foundation, about 90 words
- adónde vas de vacaciones normalmente
- tus últimas vacaciones
- lo que te gusta hacer de vacaciones
- tus vacaciones ideales
Normalmente voy de vacaciones a Gales con mi familia. El verano pasado fuimos a Francia en avión. Nos quedamos en un hotel cerca de la playa e hizo mucho calor. ¡Fue fantástico! De vacaciones me gusta nadar en el mar y comer en restaurantes. Pero no me gusta visitar museos porque es aburrido. Mis vacaciones ideales serían en Estados Unidos. Me gustaría visitar Nueva York con mis amigos porque es una ciudad muy animada. También me gustaría ver un partido de baloncesto allí.
Normally I go on holiday to Wales with my family. Last summer we went to France by plane. We stayed in a hotel near the beach and it was very hot. It was fantastic! On holiday I like swimming in the sea and eating in restaurants. But I don't like visiting museums because it's boring. My ideal holiday would be in the United States. I would like to visit New York with my friends because it's a very lively city. I would also like to see a basketball game there.
- About 83 words, close to the 90 the task asks for, with every bullet point covered.
- Three time frames: 2 past-tense references and 3 future or conditional.
- 3 opinions, most of them backed up with a reason.
- 1 connectives to link ideas and make the writing flow.
Higher, about 150 words
- tus vacaciones preferidas y por qué
- unas vacaciones que salieron mal
- las ventajas de viajar
- un viaje que te gustaría hacer
Prefiero las vacaciones activas, ya que me aburro enseguida en la playa. Sin embargo, el año pasado nuestras vacaciones en Escocia no salieron nada bien. Llovió todos los días y, además, el coche se nos averió en medio de la nada. Después de esperar tres horas bajo la lluvia, por fin encontramos un taller. Ahora, pensándolo bien, ¡es un recuerdo bastante gracioso! En mi opinión, viajar es la mejor forma de conocer otras culturas y ser más tolerante. Por ejemplo, el año pasado conocí a una familia mexicana en un camping y aprendí muchísimo sobre su cultura. Además, se aprende mucho cuando tienes que hablar otro idioma. Después de los exámenes recorreré Europa en tren con dos amigos. Saldremos en cuanto tengamos suficiente dinero, ¡siempre que nuestros padres estén de acuerdo! ¡Será la aventura de nuestra vida!
I prefer active holidays, since I get bored straight away on the beach. However, last year our holiday in Scotland didn't go well at all. It rained every day and, on top of that, our car broke down in the middle of nowhere. After waiting three hours in the rain, we finally found a garage. Now, thinking about it, it's quite a funny memory! In my opinion, travelling is the best way to get to know other cultures and become more tolerant. For example, last year I met a Mexican family at a campsite and learnt a huge amount about their culture. What's more, you learn a lot when you have to speak another language. After my exams I will travel round Europe by train with two friends. We will set off as soon as we have enough money, as long as our parents agree! It will be the adventure of our lives!
- About 137 words, close to the 150 the task asks for, with every bullet point covered.
- Three time frames: 4 past-tense references and 1 future or conditional.
- 6 opinions, most of them backed up with a reason.
- 4 complex structures, such as si clauses, the subjunctive, the pluperfect and relative pronouns, which show a wide range of language.
- 4 connectives to link ideas and make the writing flow.
Phrases to steal
| ...no salieron nada bien | ...didn't go well at all |
| Después de esperar... | After waiting... |
| Ahora, pensándolo bien... | Now, thinking about it... |
| en cuanto tengamos... / siempre que + subjuntivo | as soon as we have... / as long as... |
Try it yourself
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Quick questions
How do I get a grade 9 in GCSE Spanish writing?
Answer every bullet point, write accurately, and show a wide range of language: past, present and future or conditional, opinions with reasons, and complex structures such as si clauses, the subjunctive and relative pronouns such as lo que.
Can I learn these answers by heart?
Use them as a model, not a script. Learn the phrases to steal and the structures, then write your own answer about your own life. Examiners reward language that fits the task.
More Spanish model answers
- My family and friends Mi familia y mis amigos
- Healthy living La salud
- My school Mi instituto
- Free time El tiempo libre
- Festivals and celebrations Las fiestas
- Celebrities and role models Los famosos
- Technology and social media La tecnología
- My town and the environment Mi ciudad y el medio ambiente
Keep going
Learn the words for this topic in Spanish vocabulary: Travel and tourism, drill the Spanish verbs, or practise speaking on the same topic in Spanish speaking.