Common mistakes in DELE & SIELE writing (and how to fix them)

Ser vs estar

Use ser for identity and permanent characteristics (Es profesora, La casa es grande) and estar for states, locations and results (Estoy cansado, La casa está en el centro). When you proofread, check every 'is/are' and ask: characteristic or state?

Preterite vs imperfect

The preterite (fui, comí, escribí) narrates completed actions; the imperfect (era, comía, escribía) describes background, habits and ongoing states. A common exam error is telling a story entirely in the present or mixing the two — pick the past frame and stay consistent.

Por vs para

As a rough guide, para points to a goal, destination or deadline (Estudio para aprobar), while por expresses cause, exchange or movement through (Gracias por tu ayuda). Learn a few fixed phrases and you'll cover most exam cases.

Subjunctive triggers

At B1–B2, examiners expect some subjunctive. Watch for triggers of wish, doubt, emotion and recommendation: Quiero que vengas, No creo que sea, Es importante que estudies. Even one or two correct uses signals range.

Register and connectors

Keep the register consistent: don't switch between tú and usted. And use linking words to organise your ideas — además, sin embargo, por lo tanto, en resumen — because coherence and cohesion are marked directly.

Accents and spelling

Missing accents change meaning and cost accuracy marks: él vs el, sí vs si, más vs mas, tú vs tu. In your final read, scan specifically for common accented words (está, también, más, aquí).

The fastest way to stop repeating these mistakes is to get them flagged and explained on your own writing. Escrito highlights each error, tells you the rule, and shows a corrected version — try it free.