Cantabria PAU Foreign Language II - English

A short authentic-style text followed by comprehension tasks - typically true/false with justification drawn from the text, and short open answers - then a lexis or grammar item such as synonym matching, paraphrasing or gap fill, and finally a guided composition of about 120–150 words on a familiar or current topic.

The official call for each year's assessment sets the duration, the weighting of each section and the marking criteria. Those details change between sittings, so consult the Consejería de Educación de Cantabria's published instructions for your year rather than trusting a figure you heard from another student.

Many recent formats offer a choice of texts or a choice of composition prompt. Read both options before committing: candidates often pick the topic they find more interesting rather than the one whose vocabulary and structure they can actually handle well under time pressure.

The language level is broadly B2, so the difficulty lies less in the text than in the tasks. Most candidates understand the passage but lose marks by answering in vague generalities instead of quoting or paraphrasing the relevant line, or by writing a composition that ignores the prompt's specific question.

Work in this order: read one authentic article several times a week and summarise it in three sentences; practise comprehension questions with strict justification; revise the grammar and lexis items you personally get wrong; and only then write timed compositions. Finish with full past papers under exam conditions.

Unjustified true/false answers, copying long chunks of the text instead of paraphrasing, ignoring word limits, missing the communicative purpose of the composition, and basic slips in spelling, agreement and punctuation. Careless transcription errors also cost points in the vocabulary section.

Retake and improvement arrangements are set by the regional administration and the annual call, and they differ from the ordinary sitting. Check the Consejería de Educación de Cantabria's current regulations for the rules that apply to your situation and the deadlines for registering.

No. It is a university entrance assessment component, not an international language certificate. If you need documented proof of level for work or study abroad, you will need a separate recognised certification, though preparing for this paper builds genuinely useful reading and writing skills.

Write one short opinion text every few days, always to a word limit, and get it corrected for organisation and accuracy rather than content. Learn a small set of linking devices and use them consistently, and keep a running list of your own recurring errors to review before the exam.