Overview
- FRQ 1 - Email Reply: 15 minutes, 12.5% of total exam score (25% of free-response score)
- FRQ 2 - Argumentative Essay: 55 minutes, 12.5% of total exam score (25% of free-response score)
- Both tasks require formal written Spanish with different objectives
- Scored holistically on a 5-point scale focusing on task completion, language control, and communication effectiveness
The Email Reply tests interpersonal writing through a formal email exchange. You'll respond to an incoming email, answering all questions, requesting additional information, and maintaining appropriate formal register throughout. The Argumentative Essay tests presentational writing by requiring you to synthesize information from three sources (two print, one audio) to defend your position on a given topic.
Strategy Deep Dive
These written tasks test different competencies simultaneously. The email reply evaluates your interpersonal writing skills through formal correspondence, while the argumentative essay assesses your presentational writing through source synthesis and position defense.
Email Reply Strategy
The email reply seems deceptively simple, but it's actually testing multiple competencies simultaneously. You're being evaluated on your ability to maintain formal register, respond appropriately to all prompts, and show cultural awareness through proper conventions.
Formal register in Spanish requires careful attention to detail. It's not just about using "usted" consistently - it's about employing subjunctive constructions that soften requests: "Me gustaría saber" or "Quisiera informarme sobre." This indirect style demonstrates cultural awareness and politeness.
Elaboration requires adding specific details that demonstrate depth of thought. When describing experiences, provide context and specific achievements. Instead of "Trabajé con niños," write something like: "Durante mi estadía en las alturas de Cusco, cada mañana subía por las calles empedradas hacia el centro educativo, donde los niños me esperaban con sus cuadernos gastados pero sus sonrisas brillantes. Les ayudaba con matemáticas usando piedritas del patio como ábacos improvisados, y ellos me enseñaban palabras en quechua durante el recreo."
Your request for information is a required element that students often treat as an afterthought. Make it genuine and relevant. If they mention an interview, ask about the format, duration, or other participants. This shows you're thinking beyond the task requirements: "Me gustaría saber si la entrevista será individual o grupal, y si debería preparar algún material visual sobre nuestra experiencia."
Email closings vary by cultural context. Mexican correspondence often uses "Le envío un cordial saludo" (warm yet formal), while Spanish emails might prefer "Atentamente" (crisp and professional). Argentine formal emails often close with "Le saluda muy atentamente." Avoid informal closings like "Saludos" or "Hasta pronto" in formal contexts.
Argumentative Essay Strategy
The argumentative essay is the most complex writing task because it requires simultaneous management of multiple skills: source comprehension, synthesis, argumentation, and formal presentation. The 55 minutes break down strategically:
- 6 minutes: Read prompt and print sources
- 4 minutes: Listen to audio source twice
- 5 minutes: Organize argument and evidence
- 35 minutes: Write essay
- 5 minutes: Revise and polish
Effective source integration means creating dialogue between different perspectives rather than simply summarizing each source separately. Strong integration shows how sources relate to and challenge each other: "Si bien la fuente 1 indica que el 80% prefiere X, es fascinante observar cómo la fuente auditiva revela las voces de los jóvenes que están revolucionando estas tradiciones, creando lo que el artículo llama 'una nueva identidad híbrida.'"
The audio source often contains the contrasting viewpoint or the nuance that elevates your argument. During your first listen, identify the speaker's main position. During the second listen, note specific examples or statistics. Between listens, quickly consider how this perspective relates to the print sources.
Your thesis should acknowledge complexity while maintaining a clear position. A nuanced thesis demonstrates sophisticated thinking: "Si bien la tecnología promete democratizar la educación, como vemos en las escuelas rurales de Colombia, su verdadero poder surge cuando respeta y amplifica las pedagogías locales en lugar de reemplazarlas." This shows understanding of contextual challenges while taking a definitive stance.
Spanish academic writing follows a structured framework with clear transitions. Connecting phrases guide readers through your argument: "En primer lugar" introduces initial points, "Por otro lado" presents alternative perspectives, "No obstante" creates contrast. These transitions aren't mere formalities - they provide the logical structure that makes arguments coherent and persuasive.
Rubric Breakdown
Understanding what graders actually look for transforms these rubrics from abstract descriptors into concrete goals.
Email Reply Rubric - What Each Score Really Means:
5 (Strong):
- "Clearly appropriate within context" means you've matched the formal tone and responded as a real person would in this situation
- "Frequent elaboration" doesn't mean long sentences - it means relevant details that show you understood the context
- "Varied and appropriate vocabulary" includes formal expressions, subjunctive mood where appropriate, and absence of informal language
- "Control of cultural conventions" means proper greeting (Estimado/a), formal pronouns throughout, and appropriate closing
4 (Good):
- May have occasional register shifts (an informal phrase slipping in) but generally maintains formality
- Provides required information with "some elaboration" - answers are complete but may lack the depth of a 5
- "Some errors that do not impede comprehensibility" - graders expect errors but they shouldn't confuse meaning
3 (Fair):
- "Somewhat appropriate but basic" often means the response completes the task but sounds like a textbook exercise
- May use "usted" inconsistently or mix formal and informal vocabulary
- Answers all prompts but with minimal development
Common ways to drop from 4 to 3:
- Forgetting to ask for additional information
- Using "tú" forms when writing to someone with a professional title
- Providing single-sentence responses to complex questions
Argumentative Essay Rubric - Key Differentiators:
5 (Strong):
- "High degree of comprehension" means you caught nuances in sources, not just main ideas
- "Integrates content from all three sources" - integration means using sources to build your argument, not just citing them
- "Develops argument with coherence and detail" - each paragraph connects logically to your thesis
- "Variety of simple and compound sentences, and some complex sentences" - syntactic variety shows advanced proficiency
4 (Good):
- "Limited integration" often means sources are summarized in separate paragraphs rather than woven together
- "Develops argument with coherence" but may lack the supporting detail that elevates to a 5
- May have formulaic transitions rather than sophisticated connections between ideas
3 (Fair):
- "Summarizes content from at least two sources" - missing or misunderstanding one source is survivable
- "Some organization" - thesis might be unclear or paragraphs might not clearly support the main argument
- "Strings of mostly simple sentences" - lacks the syntactic complexity of higher scores
Critical differences between 3 and 4: A 3 tends to summarize sources separately then state an opinion. A 4 attempts to synthesize sources even if imperfectly. A 3 might miss the audio source entirely or misinterpret it significantly. A 4 shows comprehension of all sources even if integration is limited.
Common Pitfalls and Solutions
Email Reply Pitfalls:
Register confusion: Mixing formal and informal language creates jarring inconsistencies. Starting with "Estimado Señor Director" then switching to "te agradezco" demonstrates register confusion. Solution: Maintain consistent formality throughout - use "usted" forms exclusively and choose formal vocabulary appropriate for professional correspondence.
Missing the cultural context: Each Spanish-speaking country has distinct email conventions. Mexican formal emails tend toward elaborate courtesy: "Espero que se encuentre gozando de excelente salud." Spanish emails are typically more direct: "Espero que esté bien." Argentine correspondence often includes intellectual flourishes. Solution: Adapt your style to the cultural context indicated in the prompt.
Weak information requests: "¿Puede darme más información?" is too vague. Solution: Form specific questions based on details mentioned. If they discuss an interview, ask about format, duration, location, or preparation needed.
Argumentative Essay Pitfalls:
Source dumping: Summarizing each source in isolation misses the point of synthesis. Solution: Weave sources together to create dialogue: "Es fascinante cómo la Fuente 1 presenta datos que, a primera vista, contradicen la experiencia personal narrada en la fuente auditiva. Sin embargo, como sugiere la Fuente 2, esta aparente contradicción revela precisamente la complejidad del fenómeno..."
Losing the audio source: Missing audio information severely impacts your score. Solution: Use the two-listen strategy - first listen for overall perspective and tone, second listen for specific facts and examples. Develop a consistent note-taking system with symbols for key elements (¡! for surprising points, ¿? for questions raised, visual markers for emotional appeals or statistics).
Weak thesis statements: "Hay ventajas y desventajas" doesn't take a position. Solution: Force yourself to use "aunque" (although) in your thesis. "Aunque X presenta ciertos beneficios, sostengo que Y porque..." This structure acknowledges complexity while maintaining a clear position.
Time Management Reality
Email Reply - 15 minutes breakdown:
- 2 minutes: Read email and identify all required elements
- 2 minutes: Plan response and brainstorm elaborations
- 9 minutes: Write response
- 2 minutes: Review for register consistency and completeness
The email reply is deliberately placed first to ease you into the writing section. Don't overthink it. Native speakers would respond to such an email in 10 minutes - you have 15. The challenge isn't time but rather maintaining consistent formality while providing natural elaboration.
Argumentative Essay - 55 minutes breakdown:
- Minutes 1-6: Read prompt and print sources, underline key arguments
- Minutes 7-10: Listen to audio twice, take structured notes
- Minutes 11-15: Create outline with thesis and evidence distribution
- Minutes 16-45: Write essay (introduction: 5 min, body paragraphs: 25 min, conclusion: 5 min)
- Minutes 46-55: Revise for clarity and source integration
The time pressure in the essay is real but manageable. Many students spend too long perfecting their introduction. Remember: graders read holistically. A strong body with integrated sources matters more than a perfect opening. If you're running behind at minute 40, skip to your conclusion to ensure you have one - an incomplete essay scores lower than a complete but imperfect one.
Final Thoughts
These written tasks reward preparation and practice more than natural ability. The email reply tests whether you can function professionally in Spanish-speaking contexts. The argumentative essay tests whether you can participate in academic discourse. Both are skills you'll actually use beyond the exam.
The key to improvement is targeted practice with immediate self-assessment. After writing a practice email, highlight every formal element. Did you maintain consistency? After writing an essay, check whether each paragraph advances your thesis with integrated evidence. The rubrics aren't mysteries - they're roadmaps to success.
Remember that graders read hundreds of responses. Clear organization, obvious source integration, and consistent register make their job easier and your score higher. Focus on clarity over complexity - a well-organized essay with integrated sources and appropriate register scores better than elaborate writing that lacks structure. You don't need perfect Spanish; you need effective communication that demonstrates cultural competence and critical thinking.