Spanish · C1 · Family moment
What the New Grading Promise Means in Spanish
This guide helps C1 learners distinguish between reported passive processes (school policies) and reported future actions in Spanish. It focuses on using indirect speech to separate official school claims from personal guarantees.
What you'll learn
- Differentiate between reported ongoing assessments and reported future promises.
- Master the use of indirect speech in Spanish for school-related policies.
- Use formal vocabulary to discuss school assessments and assurances.
Spanish phrases for what the new grading promise means
La escuela dice que cada aportación es tenida en cuenta; esa es su garantía, no algo que yo pueda asegurar.
The school says that every contribution is taken into account; that is its assurance, not something I can guarantee.
Uses 'tenida en cuenta' (taken into account) and 'garantía' (assurance/guarantee).
Tu profesor explica que el esfuerzo individual se evalúa por separado del resultado del grupo.
Your teacher explains that individual effort is assessed separately from the group's result.
Uses the passive 'se evalúa' to report the current process.
Según el director, los comentarios se recopilan de forma anónima, así que puedes plantear tu duda sin poner tu nombre.
According to the headteacher, feedback is collected anonymously, so you can raise your concern without putting your name on it.
'Según' is a common way to introduce reported speech at C1 level.
El líder del proyecto dice que cada decisión se explica por escrito; preguntemos dónde puedes encontrar esa explicación.
The project leader says that each decision is explained in writing; let's ask where you can find that explanation.
Uses 'se explica' to denote the standard procedure.
La escuela dice que revisará la política el próximo trimestre; esa es una acción futura, no una descripción de lo que ocurre ahora.
The school says that it will review the policy next term; that is a future action, not a description of what happens now.
Distinguishes current policy from a future intention ('revisará').
Tu profesor dice que tu investigación está incluida en la evaluación, pero yo aún preguntaría cuánto peso tiene.
Your teacher says that your research is included in the assessment, but I would still ask how much weight it carries.
'Cuánto peso tiene' is a natural way to ask about the importance of a grade component.
El aviso dice que las preguntas se discuten en clase, mientras que la directora dice que responderá a las preguntas de los padres la próxima semana.
The notice says that questions are discussed in class, whereas the headteacher says that she will answer parents' questions next week.
Contrasts a process ('se discuten') with a future promise ('responderá').
La escuela informa que el trabajo en grupo se evalúa de forma justa; me gustaría escuchar lo que significa 'de forma justa' en tu experiencia.
The school reports that group work is assessed fairly; I would like to hear what 'fairly' means in your experience.
'De forma justa' captures the meaning of 'fairly' in a formal context.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
evaluar
to assess / to grade
The standard term for academic assessment.
aportación
contribution
Refers to a student's input or work in class.
garantía
assurance / guarantee
Used here for a promise made by the institution.
según
according to
A useful C1 preposition for citing sources or reports.
Reported Passive Processes vs. Future Actions
In Spanish, to report a current process (like a school policy), we often use the 'pasiva refleja' (se + third person) or the 'ser + participle' passive. To report a future promise, we use the simple future tense or the conditional.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Process (Reported) | se + [verb in present] | Se evalúa cada tarea (Each task is assessed). |
| Future Action | [verb in future tense] | La escuela revisará la política (The school will review the policy). |
| Indirect Speech | Dice que + [indicative] | Dice que se recopilan datos (He says data is collected). |
More examples
Se dice que la política se aplica a todos.
It is said that the policy is applied to everyone.
Example of reported process passive.
El director aseguró que se tomarían medidas.
The headteacher assured that measures would be taken.
Example of a promise in indirect speech using the conditional.