Seven Skills Assessed
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | Viewing | Presenting | Interaction IB Middle Years Programme Spanish Language Acquisition (Years 1–5)
🇪🇸 IB MYP Spanish Reference Sheet 2026
A complete reference sheet for IB MYP Spanish students across Phases 1–6 — verb conjugations, ser vs estar, articles, adjectives, pronouns, negatives, question formation and topic vocabulary aligned to assessment criteria A–D.
Phases 1–6 Ser vs Estar Grammar Tables Criteria A–D
Our reference sheets are free to download — save this one as PDF for offline revision.
Aligned with the latest 2026 syllabus and board specifications. This sheet is prepared to match your exam board’s official specifications for the 2026 exam series.
All the Core MYP Spanish Grammar and Skills in One Reference Sheet
IB MYP Spanish Language Acquisition develops listening, reading, speaking, writing, viewing, presenting and interaction across six phases. This reference sheet brings together verb conjugations, the ser vs estar distinction, key grammar, vocabulary and assessment criteria so you can revise efficiently.
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Phase descriptors mapped from emerging to proficient
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Verb conjugations across present, preterite, imperfect and future
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Ser vs Estar — DOCTOR / PLACE acronyms made simple
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Topics, opinion phrases and assessment criteria A–D
Skills & Phase Descriptors
MYP language acquisition runs across six phases — know where you are and where you're heading.
Phase Descriptors
Phases 1–2 (Emerging)
Familiar words, simple sentences, predictable topics Phases 3–4 (Developing)
Wider vocabulary, paragraphs, clear opinions, common tenses Phases 5–6 (Proficient)
Extended texts, sustained argument, varied tenses and registers Verb Conjugations
Master the core tenses — they unlock most MYP Spanish tasks.
Present Tense — Regular Verbs
-AR (hablar)
hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, habláis, hablan -ER (comer)
como, comes, come, comemos, coméis, comen -IR (vivir)
vivo, vives, vive, vivimos, vivís, viven Future, Past & Conditional
Immediate future
IR + a + infinitive — e.g. voy a comer Preterite (regular)
-AR: -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron | -ER/-IR: -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron Imperfect (regular)
-AR: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban | -ER/-IR: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían Simple future
Infinitive + -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án Conditional
Infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían Key Irregular Verbs (present + preterite + past participle)
ser (to be — permanent)
soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son | pret: fui, fuiste, fue... | pp: sido estar (to be — state/place)
estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están | pret: estuve, estuviste... | pp: estado tener
tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen | pret: tuve... | pp: tenido hacer
hago, haces, hace, hacemos, hacéis, hacen | pret: hice... | pp: hecho ir
voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van | pret: fui... | pp: ido poder
puedo, puedes, puede, podemos, podéis, pueden | pret: pude... | pp: podido querer
quiero, quieres, quiere, queremos, queréis, quieren | pret: quise... | pp: querido decir
digo, dices, dice, decimos, decís, dicen | pret: dije... | pp: dicho Ser vs Estar
Both mean 'to be' — but they describe different things.
Use SER (DOCTOR)
Description
Physical and personality traits — Ella es alta Occupation
Soy estudiante Characteristic
El libro es interesante Time
Son las dos | Es lunes Origin
Soy de España Relationship
Es mi hermano Use ESTAR (PLACE)
Position
El libro está en la mesa Location
Madrid está en España Action (progressive)
Estoy estudiando Condition
Estoy cansado | La sopa está fría Emotion
Está feliz hoy Articles, Adjectives & Pronouns
Get gender, number and agreement right — small details, big marks.
Articles
Definite
el (m) | la (f) | los (m pl) | las (f pl) Indefinite
un (m) | una (f) | unos (m pl) | unas (f pl) Adjectives
Agreement
Match noun in gender (-o/-a) and number (+s/+es for plural) Position
Usually after the noun (un coche rojo) Comparative
más / menos + adjective + que | tan + adjective + como (as ... as) Superlative
el/la/los/las más + adjective Pronouns
Subject
yo, tú, él/ella/usted, nosotros/as, vosotros/as, ellos/ellas/ustedes Direct object
me, te, lo/la, nos, os, los/las Indirect object
me, te, le, nos, os, les Reflexive
me, te, se, nos, os, se Gustar-type
Me gusta + singular noun/infinitive | Me gustan + plural noun Negatives & Question Formation
Two structures you will use in every speaking and writing task.
Negatives
no (not) | nunca (never) | nada (nothing) | nadie (nobody) | tampoco (neither/either) Spanish allows double negatives — No tengo nada is correct.
Question Formation
Yes/no questions
Inversion or intonation — ¿Vienes? ¿Tú vienes? Question words
qué (what), quién (who), dónde (where), cuándo (when), por qué (why), cómo (how), cuánto/a (how much), cuántos/as (how many) Always include the opening ¿ and closing ?.
Topics & Useful Phrases
Six global contexts give your work cultural and personal relevance.
Global Contexts (with sub-topics)
Identities and relationships
Familia, amigos, rutina diaria, salud, identidad Personal and cultural expression
Aficiones, música, fiestas, tradiciones, las artes Orientation in space and time
Viajes, vacaciones, historia, barrio Scientific and technical innovation
Tecnología, redes sociales, medio ambiente Globalization and sustainability
Clima, reciclaje, comida, ciudadanía global Fairness and development
Derechos, igualdad, ONG, problemas mundiales Connectives & Opinion Phrases
Opinion
creo que (I think that) | en mi opinión (in my opinion) | me parece que (it seems to me) Reason
porque (because) | ya que (since) | puesto que (given that) Linking
y (and) | pero (but) | así que (so) | también (also) | sin embargo (however) Assessment Criteria
Each MYP language acquisition criterion is marked 0–8.
Criteria A–D
A — Comprehending spoken and visual text
Listening + viewing — understand main ideas and detail B — Comprehending written and visual text
Reading + viewing — understand and interpret texts C — Communicating in response to spoken, written and visual text
Engage with texts and respond appropriately D — Using language in spoken and written form
Speak and write accurately, with range and clarity How to Use This Reference Sheet
Boost your Cambridge exam confidence with these proven study strategies from our tutoring experts.
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Listen Daily
Use Spanish podcasts, songs and short videos — your ear improves fastest with regular exposure.
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Drill Ser vs Estar
Make flashcards using DOCTOR and PLACE; choosing the right verb is one of the most common MYP mistakes.
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Speak Aloud, Even Alone
Describe your day in Spanish. Speaking practice cements grammar and builds fluency for oral tasks.
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Learn Vocabulary in Themes
Cluster words by global context so you can adapt them to different MYP prompts and tasks.
Reference Sheet FAQ
Quick answers about this free PDF and how to use it for exam revision and active recall.
Is the IB MYP Spanish Reference Sheet 2026 free to download as a PDF?
Yes. This Tutopiya formula sheet is free to use and you can download it as a PDF from this page for offline revision. There is no payment or account required for the PDF download.
What Spanish Language Acquisition topics and equations does this formula sheet cover?
This page groups key Spanish Language Acquisition formulas in one place for revision. Master IB MYP Spanish Language Acquisition (Phases 1–6) with this 2026 reference sheet. Covers verb conjugations, ser vs estar, articles, adjectives, pronouns, negatives, question formation and assessment criteria A–D. Always cross-check with your official syllabus and past papers for your exam session.
Can I use this instead of the official exam formula booklet in the exam?
No. In the exam you must follow only what your exam board allows in the hall—usually the official formula booklet or data sheet where provided. This page is a revision and teaching aid, not a replacement for board-issued materials.
Who is this formula sheet for (Middle School)?
It is written for students preparing for assessments at Middle School in Spanish Language Acquisition, including classroom revision, homework support, and independent study. Teachers and tutors can also share it as a quick reference.
How should I revise with this formula sheet?
Work through past paper questions, quote the correct formula before substituting values, and check units and notation every time. Pair this sheet with timed practice and mark schemes so you see how examiners expect working to be set out.
Where can I get more help with Spanish Language Acquisition revision?
Explore Tutopiya’s study tools, past paper finder, and revision checklists linked from our tools hub, or book a trial lesson with a subject specialist for personalised support alongside this formula reference.
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This reference sheet aligns with the IB Middle Years Programme Language Acquisition (Spanish) subject group framework.
Always check verb forms, gender agreement and ser/estar — accuracy and range together unlock the top phases.