Buenas tardes, estimados alumnos.
Os dejo un modelo de examen de PAGS muy parecido al que veréis el día de vuestro examen.
Os dejo la tentación, como los mantecados, de bichear primero las respuestas.
Respuestas (Answer Key)
PART 1: READING
- b) It offers a sense of community and belonging.
- b) Increased rates of anxiety and depression.
- b) Because they compare themselves to unrealistic standards.
- c) Finding a healthy balance.
PART 2: USE OF ENGLISH
- c) were (Second Conditional)
- b) was (Past Simple Passive)
- c) who (Relative pronoun for people)
- c) Why don't (Suggestion structure "Why don't we...")
- b) is playing (Present Continuous for action happening now)
- a) have been (Present Perfect for life experience/unfinished time)
- c) was playing (Past Continuous for action in progress)
- c) will have finished (Future Perfect)
- a) find out (Discover)
- b) take off (Remove clothing)
- a) tech-savvy
- b) upload
PART 3: LISTENING
- b) The negative impact of social media.
- c) Everyone's life looked perfect compared to hers.
- b) They are often edited and filtered.
- b) To take a break and go for a walk.
Dialogue between Sarah and Emma regarding social media
Sarah: (Sighs) I honestly don't know why I keep doing this to myself, Emma.
Emma: Doing what? What's wrong?
Sarah: Scrolling through Instagram. I just spent an hour looking at photos, and now I feel terrible. Look at this girl, she's our age, she's travelling to Dubai, she looks perfect, and she has like five thousand likes.
Emma: Sarah, put the phone down. You know that's not real life, right?
Sarah: I know, logically. But it feels real. Everyone seems to be having an amazing time except me. I'm just here studying for exams and stressing out.
Emma: That's exactly what they want you to think. People only post their highlight reels, the best moments. Nobody posts a photo of themselves crying over math homework or having a bad hair day.
Sarah: True. But the photos look so perfect.
Emma: Filters, lighting, and angles! Half of those photos are heavily edited. It's creating this unrealistic standard that nobody can actually achieve. It's toxic.
Sarah: Yeah, you're right. It just makes me feel... not good enough.
Emma: That's why I turned off my notifications last week. It was distracting me from school, and honestly, I was tired of the FOMO.
Sarah: The fear of missing out? Yeah, I get that a lot.
Emma: Since I stopped checking it every five minutes, I sleep better, and I actually feel happier. You should try it.
Sarah: Maybe I should. It's just hard to disconnect.
Emma: Tell you what. Let's make a pact. Let's put our phones away for the rest of the afternoon. Let's go for a walk in the park and get some ice cream. Real life, no filters.
Sarah: (Laughs) That sounds like a great suggestion. Let's go.
English Entrance Exam
Higher Vocational Training Cycles - Andalusia
Level: B1 / 4º ESO
Social Media and the Youth: A Double-Edged Sword
In the last decade, social media has completely transformed the way teenagers communicate and perceive the world. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat allow young people to stay connected with friends, share their creativity, and access information instantly. For many, these digital spaces offer a sense of community and belonging that they might struggle to find in their physical environments. It can be a powerful tool for self-expression and learning.
However, this constant connectivity comes at a price. Studies suggest a strong link between heavy social media use and increased rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents. The pressure to present a perfect life often leads to unrealistic comparisons. Teenagers frequently measure their self-worth by the number of likes or followers they have, which can be damaging to their self-esteem. Furthermore, the "fear of missing out" (FOMO) keeps many glued to their screens late into the night, affecting their sleep patterns and academic performance. While social media is not inherently bad, finding a healthy balance is crucial for the well-being of the younger generation.
