Basque PAU English study plan
Basque PAU English · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Reading comprehension
Skim three 300-400 word informative articles and mark the main idea of each in one sentence without a dictionary
Identify and label the rhetorical structure (problem-solution, cause-effect, comparison, argument) of five short texts
Build a personal glossary of 40 linking words and discourse markers organized by function (contrast, addition, concession, result)
Answer 15 multiple-choice comprehension items on main idea and detail, then justify every wrong option in writing
Your checkpoint
A one-page reading log with 8 texts, each summarized in one sentence plus a labeled structure and a score out of 15 on the MC set.
Reading comprehension
Practise inference questions by writing, for 10 items, the exact sentence in the text that supports the correct answer
Distinguish fact from opinion in two opinion columns by underlining and coding each claim
Paraphrase 12 underlined expressions from authentic articles without changing meaning
Complete two full reading sections under a 35-minute timer and record errors by question type
Your checkpoint
An error-type tally from two timed reading sections showing at least 20 items classified (main idea, detail, inference, vocabulary in context, reference).
Reading comprehension & Grammar and vocabulary
Resolve pronoun and reference questions (it, this, they, the former) in three texts by drawing explicit arrows to the referent
Review the tense system (present perfect vs past simple, past perfect, future forms) and complete 40 transformation sentences
Write 15 sentences using passive and impersonal passives (It is said that..., He is believed to...) modelled on the exam format
Match 25 vocabulary items in context by choosing between near-synonyms and justify each choice
Your checkpoint
A 30-item self-made grammar-and-reference quiz with an answer key and a short note on why each distractor is wrong.
Grammar and vocabulary
Drill conditionals (zero to third, mixed, inversions such as Had I known) across 30 rewriting items
Practise reported speech and tense backshift in 20 sentence transformations
Master relative clauses, including non-defining clauses and omission of the relative pronoun, in 20 combining tasks
Consolidate 60 high-frequency collocations, phrasal verbs, and prepositions from a self-compiled list and test yourself twice
Your checkpoint
A timed 40-item grammar transformation test scored and corrected, with every error rewritten correctly three times.
Grammar and vocabulary & Written production (composition)
Build a bank of 25 topic-specific lexical sets (environment, technology, education, health, work) with collocations and example sentences
Draft four opinion paragraphs of 120-150 words each, each containing a clear thesis, two supports, and one concession
Self-edit drafts against a checklist covering linkers, varied sentence length, and avoidance of repetition
Rewrite two drafts after feedback, cutting at least 10% of the words without losing content
Your checkpoint
A portfolio of four edited opinion paragraphs with before-and-after versions and a completed editing checklist for each.
Written production (composition)
Write two full compositions (180-220 words) in 30 minutes each, one argumentative and one narrative or descriptive
Practise four opening and four closing paragraph models and adapt each to a new prompt
Use a correction code to eliminate your five most frequent personal errors across three pieces of writing
Memorize and correctly deploy 12 advanced structures (cleft sentences, participle clauses, inversion, hedging)
Your checkpoint
Two timed compositions scored against a four-criterion rubric (content, organization, language range, accuracy) with a written self-assessment.
Written production (composition) & Listening / oral comprehension (where applicable)
Write one composition from a prompt you have not seen, in 30 minutes, and mark it against the rubric
Listen to six short audio clips (2-3 minutes) and take structured notes on main idea, supporting details, and speaker attitude
Answer 20 listening comprehension questions and transcribe the five sentences that decided each answer
Summarize two audio clips orally in 90 seconds each, recording yourself and noting fillers and hesitations
Your checkpoint
One timed composition plus a listening log of 6 clips with notes, question scores, and two recorded oral summaries.
Reading comprehension & Grammar and vocabulary & Written production (composition) & Listening / oral comprehension (where applicable)
Sit two complete mock exams under real time conditions and score every section
Re-teach yourself the five weakest error types from the mocks using targeted 10-minute drills
Rehearse the composition and listening sections on alternate days to keep both skills active
Finalize a one-page exam-day strategy sheet covering timing per section, order of attack, and checking routines
Your checkpoint
Two scored full mock exams with a comparison table showing improvement per section and a one-page strategy sheet.
Milestones
Week 2: Complete a timed reading section scoring at least 60% and with every error classified by question type.
Week 4: Score at least 70% on the self-made 40-item grammar transformation test and rewrite all errors correctly.
Week 6: Produce two compositions in 30 minutes each that meet the word limit and score at least 3/4 on organization and accuracy in your own rubric assessment.
Week 8: Improve the total mock-exam score by at least 10 percentage points between mock 1 and mock 2, with no section below 50%.