Speaking Practice - Picture Task and Conversation: Studying and My Future
Get ready for the speaking exam on studying and the future. Build the vocabulary, master the near future (ir a + infinitive), and practise structuring a picture-task answer in Spanish.
Practise it, do not just read it
Free interactive practice you can do alone, with the answers checked as you go.
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Ready to speak
In the speaking exam you describe a picture and hold a conversation. This module prepares you for the theme Studying and My Future (los estudios y mi futuro). You will build the key vocabulary, master the near future for talking about your plans, and practise structuring a good spoken answer. Everything here is in real Spanish - with accents, the letter ñ, and the opening marks ¿ and ¡ - because that accuracy is marked.
School words in Spanish
Learn these with their articles - the gender matters.
Match the Spanish to the English
- los deberes
- el bachillerato
- la profesión
- estudiar
- homework
- sixth form
- a job or profession
- to study
What Voy a estudiar en la universidad means in Spanish
What does "Voy a estudiar en la universidad" mean?
- I am going to study at university
- I studied at university last year
- I would like to leave university
- I never study at university
Talking about the future
The easiest way to talk about plans is the near future (el futuro próximo): ir (conjugated) + a + an infinitive: voy a estudiar (I am going to study), vas a trabajar, vamos a viajar. At Higher tier you can also use the future simple (estudiaré = I will study) and the conditional (me gustaría = I would like), plus the preterite for results (aprobé = I passed). Now practise the near future.
Complete the plan
Después del _____, voy a estudiar las _____ que me gustan. En el _____, voy a _____ en la universidad. Mi amiga va a hacer una _____ profesional.
Two ways to say the future
Both talk about what will happen, but the near future is simpler and enough for a strong answer.
Which use the near future?
Select the TWO sentences that use the near future (ir a + infinitive).
- Voy a trabajar en España
- Vamos a viajar este verano
- Estudiaré matemáticas
- Me gustaría ser médico
Match each phrase to its meaning
- Voy a estudiar
- Me gustaría viajar
- Después del instituto
- En el futuro
- I am going to study
- I would like to travel
- After secondary school
- In the future
Build a strong answer
Put these Spanish sentences into a sensible order to build a developed picture-task answer.
- En la foto, veo a unos estudiantes en un aula
- En mi opinión, estudian para sus exámenes
- Me gustan las asignaturas como las ciencias
- En el futuro, voy a ir a la universidad
Describing the photo
In the picture task, what does "En la foto, hay..." mean?
- In the photo, there is...
- In the future, I will...
- In my opinion, I think...
- Yesterday, there was...
Hold the conversation
Three moments in the speaking exam. Choose the strongest Spanish response each time.
- The examiner asks: "¿Qué vas a hacer después del instituto?" Which answer is best?
- You must describe a photo of students in a library. Which opening is best?
- How do you turn a basic future answer into a higher-mark one?
Your turn: prepare an answer
Prepare a short spoken answer in Spanish. Imagine a photo of students at school, then talk about your own future. Write four or five sentences in Spanish.
- Describe the photo: use "En la foto, veo..." or "hay..."
- Give an opinion: use "En mi opinión..."
- Talk about your subjects: "Estudio asignaturas como..."
- Talk about your future with the near future: "En el futuro, voy a..."
Accents, every time
Top speaking answers do three things. First, they get the accuracy right - accents (la profesión, el bachillerato), the letter ñ, and the opening marks ¿ and ¡ - because that is marked. Second, they use the near future confidently (voy a + infinitive) and, at Higher tier, reach for the future simple or conditional for ambitions. Third, they develop every answer: describe, give an opinion with a reason (porque...), and link it to yourself and your future - never a bare one-word reply.