Spanish Leaving Certificate – Written Skills
Table of Contents
If you are reading this blog, you are probably preparing your Written Part for the Leaving Certificate.
Whereas the opinion piece can be daunting at times, you have more tools and knowledge than you think.
Let me show you how to utilise all those techniques that you are probably using already in other subjects, such as English.
But, before we start our journey, I want you to spend a couple of minutes thinking of what you usually write on that white piece of paper right beside you, just because… we want it to be the origin and the sketch of your final product.
The Crucial Starting Point: Re-Reading Section B
Many students jump straight into writing without a roadmap. This is the easiest way to lose track of the question. The topic of your opinion piece is explicitly linked to the reading comprehension text in Section B.
Before you start writing your essay, spend a few minutes looking back at the comprehension text. Why? Because the text is a goldmine for:
- Advanced vocabulary that you can borrow for your own arguments.
- Different angles and perspectives on the topic.
- Grammatical structures (like the subjunctive mood) that are already correctly spelled and contextualized.
Taking a moment to note down these points right next to your exam paper will save you time and prevent writer’s block later on.
Planning your opinion piece: Brainstorming & Asking the right questions
A high-scoring Leaving Cert Spanish essay structure relies heavily on the work you do before writing your very first sentence. Let’s use a classic example topic that frequently appears on the exam papers, such as current environmental issues or health habits:
Exam Statement Example: “Debemos cambiar nuestros hábitos alimenticios para salvar el planeta” (We must change our eating habits to save the planet).
To catch the reader’s eye and keep the examiner intrigued, your introduction needs to be engaging. When looking at the exam statement, ask yourself these four questions to spark your brainstorming session:
- Shocking Facts: Are there any interesting or surprising points I can introduce right away?
- Relevance: Why does this topic matter to me or society today?
- Stance: Do I fully agree, disagree, or stand somewhere in the middle with this statement?
- Shocking Facts: Are there any interesting or surprising points I can introduce right away?
The Rhetorical Question
What is an interesting question I can ask the reader to make them think?
These are some of our suggestions:
o Why is this topic relevant to me?
o Do I agree or disagree with the statement?
o I wonder if… (the rhetorical question)
o Put some interesting facts on the table (not a question itself, but catchy nevertheless)
An example of impactful data for your introduction:
“Los insectos serán el ingrediente principal de la nuestra dieta”
You are ready now to storm your brain!
The power of Brainstorming
Once you have asked yourself these questions, let your brain run wild. Write down single vocabulary words, quick idioms, and short sentence structures as they come to your mind. Do not worry about neatness or order at this stage—this is your raw material.
3. The Perfect Leaving Cert Spanish Essay Structure
To reach the top marking bands (40–50 marks), you must follow a logical, clear narrative flow. The easiest way to achieve this is by dividing your writing into clear paragraphs.
The Introduction: Grab Their Attention
Your opening paragraph should define your stance clearly. Start with a hook, state whether you agree or disagree, and briefly mention what you will discuss.
Example:
Talking about alternative protein sources like insect-based diets (“Los insectos serán el ingrediente principal de nuestra dieta”)
The Main Body: Developing Your Arguments
Your main body should consist of 2 to 3 well-developed paragraphs. Each paragraph must focus on one single point, backed up by a clear example.
To make your text flow beautifully, make sure to use rich Spanish connectors. Instead of using basic words like “y” (and) or “pero” (but), elevate your writing with sophisticated transitions:
- Por un lado… Por otro lado… (On one hand… On the other hand…)
- Es bien sabido que… (It is well known that…)
- Además… (Furthermore…
The Conclusion: Leave a Lasting Impression
A good conclusion must tick a few boxes:
o It summarises the main aspects of your exposition.
o It justifies your arguments.
o You can question your own beliefs and your readers’ by opening other lines of inquiry.
o It contains your unique and personal view.
Therefore, it is only wise to spend some extra time writing a meaningful introduction and an even more impactful conclusion.
How Examiners Grade Your Written Spanish
Understanding how your work is graded is the ultimate key to unlocking a H1. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) evaluates your written expression using specific criteria.
The table below breaks down the main differences between a standard response and a top-band piece of writing:
| Exam Criteria | Standard Performance | H1 Standard Performance (Top Band) |
| Task Completion | Answers the prompt using generic, repetitive arguments. | Directly answers the question with deep, structured reasoning. |
| Vocabulary & Range | Relies heavily on basic terms and words from the text. | Uses topic-specific vocabulary and diverse idiomatic expressions. |
| Grammar & Structure | Uses only the present tense with minor spelling errors. | Seamlessly integrates past tenses, conditional structures, and the subjunctive mood. |
| Flow & Organization | Long blocks of text lacking clear paragraph divisions. | Excellent structure with elegant transitions between ideas. |
Achieve Your Goals with the Dublin Institute of Spanish
As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. Knowing the structure is a fantastic start, but writing under exam conditions and getting professional feedback is what truly bridges the gap to a top grade.
Whether you are a 5th or 6th-year student aiming for university points, an adult looking for a career change, or a senior learner exploring a lifelong passion for languages, we have a space for you.
Located in the heart of Dublin, the Dublin Institute of Spanish offers highly specialized courses tailored to your personal goals. Led by our founder Mila Fernández, our native, expert team brings authentic Spanish culture and language directly to you.
Give it a go and let us know how it goes.
As we have heard so many times, practice makes perfect.
We wish you all the best with your Leaving Certification Examination.
If you want us to have a look at your opinion piece, we will gladly do it for you.
Also, feel free to check our wide variety of Spanish Courses for Leaving Certification, DELE, Business and many other classes!
We are currently offering a trial private lesson at our school in Dublin!
Ready to boost your language skills? We are currently offering an exclusive trial private lesson at our Dublin school!
Contact the Dublin Institute of Spanish today to book your trial spot!
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