In simple terms
A friendly intro before the formal notes — no formulas yet.
Mastering 'Sharing the Planet' for Paper 2
This theme covers global challenges like environmental crises, human rights, and ethical dilemmas. To score highly in Paper 2, you need to move beyond simple descriptions and construct well-argued, persuasive texts using sophisticated Spanish.
Think of writing a Paper 2 response like being a delegate at a Model UN conference. You aren't just stating a problem; you are presenting a structured, persuasive case. Your 'country' is your point of view, your 'research' is your theme vocabulary, and your 'speech' is the text type you choose. A successful delegate, like a top-scoring student, combines factual knowledge, persuasive language, and formal procedure to make a powerful impact.
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Deconstruct the Prompt: Identify the 4 Ws — What (text type), Who (audience), Why (purpose), and Which (topic). This dictates your register and content.
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Brainstorm & Structure: Create a quick mind map of 3-4 key arguments using advanced vocabulary. Plan your paragraphs: introduction, body points, and conclusion.
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Write with Precision: Focus on applying the correct conventions for your chosen text type (e.g., formal greeting for a letter, rhetorical questions for a speech). Use varied sentence structures and connectors.
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Review Against Criteria: Reread your work, checking for language accuracy (Criterion A), message clarity and development (Criterion B), and appropriate format/register (Criterion C).
Explore the concept
Use the live diagram and synced steps — play it or tap a step card to walk through.
Full topic notes
Formal explanation with the rigour you need for the exam.
Deconstructing the Theme: The Four Pillars of 'Compartir el planeta'
This broad theme is best understood through its four main sub-topics. In an exam, a prompt will typically focus on one or two of these areas, but the strongest responses often show an awareness of the connections between them.
El medio ambiente (The Environment): This includes climate change (el cambio climático), pollution (la contaminación), biodiversity loss (la pérdida de biodiversidad), and sustainable living (la vida sostenible).
Los derechos humanos (Human Rights): This covers issues like equality (la igualdad), poverty (la pobreza), education (la educación), and discrimination (la discriminación).
La ética (Ethics): This pillar explores moral questions related to globalization (la globalización), consumerism (el consumismo), animal welfare (el bienestar animal), and scientific advancements.
La paz y los conflictos (Peace and Conflict): This involves discussing war (la guerra), conflict resolution (la resolución de conflictos), refugees (los refugiados), and international relations (las relaciones internacionales).
Vocabulary for High-Impact Writing (Criterion A: Lengua)
To reach the top band for Criterion A, you must use a wide range of vocabulary accurately and effectively. Move beyond basic words and incorporate sophisticated, theme-specific language. Instead of saying 'es importante', try 'es imprescindible', 'es fundamental', or 'reviste una importancia crucial'.
Verbs for solutions: Fomentar (to promote), implementar (to implement), concienciar (to raise awareness), mitigar (to mitigate), salvaguardar (to safeguard), abogar por (to advocate for).
Nouns for problems: La escasez (scarcity), la desigualdad (inequality), la sobreexplotación (overexploitation), el deterioro (deterioration), la amenaza (the threat).
Adjectives for impact: Perjudicial/Nocivo (harmful), devastador (devastating), insostenible (unsustainable), equitativo (equitable), alarmante (alarming).
Connecting phrases: 'No se puede obviar el hecho de que...' (One cannot ignore the fact that...), 'Esto nos lleva a considerar...' (This leads us to consider...), 'Por un lado... por otro lado...' (On the one hand... on the other hand...).
Mastering Text Types (Criterion C: Comprensión conceptual)
Criterion C assesses your ability to use the conventions of the chosen text type. It is not enough to have good ideas; you must present them in the correct format. For 'Sharing the Planet', common text types include formal letters, articles, blog posts, and speeches.
Carta formal (Formal Letter): Must include date, addresses, a formal salutation (e.g., 'Estimado/a Sr./Sra. Director/a:'), a formal closing (e.g., 'Le saluda atentamente,'), and a clear, respectful, and persuasive tone.
Artículo (Article): Requires a catchy title (un titular), an introduction that hooks the reader, a body with well-structured paragraphs, and a concluding thought. The register can vary from formal to semi-formal depending on the publication.
Entrada de blog (Blog Post): Often more personal and direct. Use a conversational (but still correct) tone, an engaging title, and maybe even rhetorical questions to connect with the audience (e.g., '¿Alguna vez te has parado a pensar...?').
Discurso (Speech): Written to be heard. Use rhetorical devices like repetition, direct address to the audience ('vosotros', 'todos nosotros'), and powerful, emotive language to persuade and inspire.
For any text type, structure is key. Use connecting words and phrases (conectores) to ensure your ideas flow logically. Words like 'además' (furthermore), 'sin embargo' (however), 'en consecuencia' (consequently), and 'en resumen' (in summary) are essential tools to guide your reader through your argument and are explicitly rewarded under Criterion B.
Developing Nuanced Arguments (Criterion B: Mensaje)
To score in the top band for 'Message', your ideas must be relevant, clear, and well-developed. Avoid making simplistic, one-sided statements. The best responses acknowledge complexity, consider different perspectives, and link local issues to global contexts.
Worked examples
See the formulas applied — reveal one step at a time, like the exam.
Prompt: Escribe un artículo para la revista de tu colegio sobre la importancia de adoptar un estilo de vida más sostenible. Tu objetivo es persuadir a tus compañeros para que realicen pequeños cambios en su día a día. (250-400 palabras)
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Model Paragraph (Body): 'Más allá de las acciones individuales, es fundamental que exijamos un cambio sistémico. Si bien es loable llevar nuestra propia botella de agua, el impacto más significativo surge cuando presionamos a las grandes corporaciones y a los gobiernos para que implementen políticas de desarrollo sostenible. La transición hacia las energías renovables, por ejemplo, no es una elección personal, sino una necesidad estructural que requiere una inversión masiva y una voluntad política férrea. Por lo tanto, nuestro papel como jóvenes ciudadanos no se limita a consumir de forma responsable, sino también a alzar la voz y abogar por un futuro en el que la sostenibilidad no sea una opción, sino la única norma.'
Prompt: Has observado que en tu comunidad hay un gran problema con el desperdicio de alimentos. Escribe una carta formal al ayuntamiento proponiendo una iniciativa para mitigar este problema. (250-400 palabras)
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Model Paragraph (Proposal): 'Propongo, por tanto, la creación de un programa municipal de 'Neveras Solidarias'. Esta iniciativa, que ya ha demostrado su éxito en otras ciudades españolas, consiste en instalar frigoríficos comunitarios en puntos estratégicos. Los restaurantes, supermercados y ciudadanos particulares podrían depositar alimentos en buen estado que de otro modo desecharían, y aquellos que los necesiten podrían recogerlos libremente. Este sistema no solo aborda el problema medioambiental del desperdicio, sino que también ofrece una solución digna y anónima a la inseguridad alimentaria que, lamentablemente, afecta a algunos de nuestros vecinos. La implementación de este proyecto tendría un doble beneficio: ecológico y social, reforzando el sentido de comunidad.'
How it all connects
The big idea sits in the middle — tap a linked idea to explore the link.
Tap a linked idea to see how it connects back to the main topic — that connection is what examiners reward.
Glossary
Try to recall each definition before you reveal it.
Quick check
Answer in your head first — then tap to check. No pressure.
Revision flashcards
Flip the card. Test yourself before the exam.
El desarrollo sostenible
Sustainable development. Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Key takeaways
Review these before you close the topic — retrieval beats re-reading.
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El medio ambiente (The Environment): This includes climate change (el cambio climático), pollution (la contaminación), biodiversity loss (la pérdida de biodiversidad), and sustainable living (la vida sostenible).
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Los derechos humanos (Human Rights): This covers issues like equality (la igualdad), poverty (la pobreza), education (la educación), and discrimination (la discriminación).
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La ética (Ethics): This pillar explores moral questions related to globalization (la globalización), consumerism (el consumismo), animal welfare (el bienestar animal), and scientific advancements.
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La paz y los conflictos (Peace and Conflict): This involves discussing war (la guerra), conflict resolution (la resolución de conflictos), refugees (los refugiados), and international relations (las relaciones internacionales).
Practice — then mark it
The whole point: a real Cambridge question, marked mark-by-mark.
Test your skills with an exam-style prompt on 'Sharing the Planet' and get expert feedback.
Test your skills with an exam-style prompt on 'Sharing the Planet' and get expert feedback.
Extra simulations & links
PhET, GeoGebra and other curated tools — open in a new tab.
Frequently asked
Checkpoint
One marked question is worth ten re-reads — close the loop before you move on.
Reading it isn’t knowing it — prove it.
Before you move on: do Test your skills with an exam-style prompt on 'Sharing the Planet' and get expert feedback. on paper, snap a photo, and get examiner-style feedback on exactly where you win and lose marks.