Idioma Extranjero (Inglés): reading, grammar and vocabulary
What is assessed
The English section tests reading comprehension (main idea, detail, inference, author's purpose), grammar (verb tenses, subject–verb agreement, conditionals, passive voice, comparatives) and vocabulary in context.
Key concepts
Master the present perfect (past action with present relevance) versus simple past (finished time). Know the conditionals: first (real future), second (unreal present), third (unreal past). Recognize passive voice structure (be + past participle) and when the agent is omitted. In reading, separate stated detail from inference.
Common traps
- Choosing an option because it repeats words from the text but changes the meaning.
- Confusing "used to" (past habit) with "be used to" (accustomed to).
- Misreading time markers: "since" and "for" pair with present perfect; "ago" and "last" with simple past.
- Ignoring subject–verb agreement with collective or indefinite subjects.
Worked example
Sentence: "She has lived here ___ 2015." The correct word is since, because 2015 is a starting point. "For" would need a duration (for ten years). If the sentence were "She lived here in 2015," the simple past signals a finished period.
Rule of thumb
Read the question first, then scan for the time marker or connector. Match the grammar rule to that marker before reading all options. Eliminate options that contradict the text, even if they sound natural.