During the writing section of the Spanish Praxis you will be given 5 minutes to practice using the writing tool. Though it is simple to use, it will reduce your anxiety during the writing portion if you have already practiced. It's one less thing to think about while you are writing if you have already practiced. Take a few minutes to practice using the writing tool. This is the tool that will allow you to use accent marks, etc. My strategy for this was to just write my essay without using the tool because it would have stopped my flow of ideas and thinking. I watched the clock and allowed myself time to go back and place all the correct vowels with accents where they belonged. It would be nice if they made this tool available online to practice writing with it.
I noticed on the sample questions that ETS provides that they show you the format for an email, so use that exact format, but of course change the salutation / closing and the use of formal / informal based on the task.
You will be asked to write three essays; one memo/email/letter at least 60 words and two other essays about 120 words each. Practice doing this ahead of time if you are not in the regular habit of writing in Spanish. In fact, you could even practice just hand writing out the email memo they have provided. One thing that is nice is that you will be given a passage to read and then you will respond to that passage in writing as directed. If you are nervous about doing this then practice until you are not nervous. Find articles on Reader's Digest in Spanish or El Pais for example, both links on this blog. Print the article. Read it. Then write a summary or opinion of what you just read in around 120 words within the time required. Type out your response in Word so you can see the Word count. Set a timer to go off so you know what it feels like to write under pressure. Then you can do a spell check with Word using its language tool. This will give you a good feel for what a 120 words feels like, writing under pressure, and how many errors you are making. If this seems easy to you after one time, then stop. You're probably ready. But, if you feel nervous still, keep doing this everyday until you don't feel nervous.
A typical typed double spaced page is about 250 words, so 120 words isn't really a lot. They are looking for your ability to respond to question asked with a beginning, a middle, and an end, use complete sentences, spell correctly, and use accent marks correctly, etc. Ask your teacher or an educated native speaker to proof read your writing showing them the printed article so they can see how well you wrote the summary or opinion of that article.
Reviewed Spanish sources for students and teachers.
