LanguageCert USAL esPro Spanish flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Listening played once

The audio in the Listening paper is heard a single time. Answers must be written while it plays; only a short transfer period follows, so pre-reading items is essential.

Distractor correction pattern

Speakers often mention an option and then reject or change it, using pero, en realidad or al final. The corrected, later statement is normally the tested answer.

Spanish letter names

Dictation uses jota, i griega or ye, uve doble, eñe, hache and equis. Knowing these names is required to write names and addresses correctly from audio.

Decimal comma convention

Spanish uses a comma for decimals and a point for thousands: 1.500,50 means one thousand five hundred point five zero. English conventions are reversed.

Time of day phrases

Times use de la mañana, de la tarde and de la noche, plus y cuarto, y media, menos veinte, mediodía and medianoche. These appear in announcements and appointments.

Note-completion word limit

Instructions such as no more than three words are strict. Articles and prepositions count as words, and exceeding the limit invalidates the answer.

Answer location in dialogues

In two-speaker recordings the tested information usually appears in the second speaker's reply, not in the question that introduces the topic.

Institutional announcement markers

Formulas like se comunica, queda cancelado and se ruega puntualidad signal official notices. The tested detail is often a change, exception or requirement.

Cohesion gap solving

Gapped-text items are solved by pronoun agreement, discourse markers and lexical chains linking the gap to neighbouring sentences, not by general topic knowledge.

Paraphrase rule in options

In multiple-choice reading, the correct option restates the text in different words. Options copying the text verbatim are usually distractors.

Not Given versus False

False means the text contradicts the statement. Not Given means the text neither confirms nor contradicts it. Absence of information is never False.

Neutral demonstrative reference

Forms like esto and eso can refer to an entire preceding clause rather than a noun. They often fill gaps that no noun-based option fits.

Contrast linker requirement

Words such as sin embargo, no obstante and en cambio require the gap sentence to oppose the previous one. This alone eliminates options that continue the same idea.

Absolute quantifier trap

Options containing siempre, nunca or todos are usually wrong unless the text states the absolute claim. Correct options tend to be qualified.

No negative marking

Reading and Listening items carry no penalty for wrong answers. Every blank should be filled, since a guess has positive expected value.

Text-order detail questions

Detail and multiple-choice items follow the order of the text. An answer located earlier than the previous one signals a misread item.

Register from addressee

The prompt names the recipient. A friend requires tú, contractions and informal linkers; an institution requires usted, full forms and formal openings and closings.

Content point coverage

Every bullet in the writing prompt must be addressed. An omitted content point costs more than a grammatical error under task achievement.

Formal complaint opening

Standard frame: Me dirijo a ustedes para expresar mi disconformidad con... followed by facts, a requested remedy and a formal closing such as Atentamente.

Formal enquiry closing

Enquiries close with Quedo a la espera de su contestación or Les agradecería una respuesta a la mayor brevedad, matching the formal register throughout.

Informal email frame

Openings such as ¡Hola, Marta! and ¿Qué tal? pair with closings like Un abrazo or Hasta pronto. Contractions and colloquial linkers are appropriate here.

Concession for range

Structures like si bien es cierto que... or a pesar de que... add syntactic range and are rewarded in opinion tasks when followed by the main argument.

Subjunctive triggers

Es importante que, para que and cuando referring to the future require the subjunctive. Deliberate correct use raises the grammatical range score.

Accent meaning pairs

Accents distinguish words: el article versus él pronoun, mas meaning but versus más meaning more, esta versus está. Missing accents count as accuracy errors.

Speaking rating criteria

Speaking is rated on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, pronunciation, and task fulfilment in the interactive parts.

Long turn structure

State the topic, develop two or three points with reasons and examples, then close with a summary sentence. Unconnected lists score lower than developed points.

Native-like fillers

Bueno, pues, es que, a ver and o sea buy planning time naturally. Long silences and switching to another language are penalised instead.

Paraphrase when stuck

If a word is missing, describe it: es una especie de..., es lo que usas para... Circumlocution is credited as a communication strategy, not penalised.

Politeness in turn-taking

Interrupting with perdona, ¿puedo añadir algo? and responding to the partner before adding your own point are assessed in the discussion task.

Clarification requests

Asking ¿puedes repetirlo? or ¿qué quieres decir con...? is not penalised. Answering a different question from the one asked is.

Answer extension formula

Extend short answers with a reason using porque, an example using por ejemplo, and a contrast using aunque to reach the expected length.