2.2 Reading Tarea 2: Notices, Bulletins & Short Announcements
Key Takeaways
Tarea 2 contains 8 independent items, each presenting a distinct short public text of 50–80 words with 3 multiple-choice options.
The task tests the candidate's ability to recognize the communicative function of public announcements, including informing, prohibiting, offering, selling, and inviting.
Essential A2 public signage vocabulary includes operating terms (horario, abierto/cerrado), conditions (obligatorio, prohibido), commercial terms (descuento, oferta), and capacity markers (plazas disponibles, aforo completo).
Correct answers usually restate the notice's meaning in different words rather than repeating it word for word.
Candidates should allocate approximately 15 minutes to Tarea 2, dedicating just under 2 minutes per notice to maintain a steady pacing rhythm.
Quick Focus: In Tarea 2, you read 8 short, independent texts (50–80 words each) adapted from informative or promotional material: very short magazine or newspaper articles, leaflets, adverts, posters, calls for participants, blog and forum posts, and event notices. The official model includes a metro ticket-price notice and a room-to-rent advert. Each item has 1 question with 3 options (A, B, C). Dedicate approximately 15 minutes to complete all 8 items.
Anatomy and Structure of Tarea 2
Unlike Tarea 1, which is one personal letter or email, Tarea 2 assesses rapid situational comprehension across 8 autonomous items. You are exposed to the concise, pragmatic language found on street signs, store windows, community notice boards, public transport stations, and municipal websites.
| Feature | Task Specification | Practical Application |
|---|---|---|
| Item Count | 8 discrete questions (items 6–13) | Highest question volume of any task in Prueba 1 (32% of total reading points) |
| Text Length | 50–80 words per text | Extremely concise; every word carries functional or regulatory weight |
| Text Diversity | Commercial, regulatory, municipal, and cultural | Rapid context switching between shopping, transit, health, and leisure |
| Time Allocation | ~15 minutes | Approximately 1 minute 50 seconds per item, including bubbling |
| Cognitive Focus | Pragmatic and functional intent | What does this sign require, offer, permit, or prohibit? |
Classifying Communicative Functions (Funciones Comunicativas)
Every notice is published to accomplish a specific communicative action. Pinpointing this primary communicative intent immediately narrows your answer choices:
- Informar (To Inform): Announces operational modifications, schedule changes, temporary disruptions, or venue adjustments.
- Common markers: Se comunica a los usuarios, Por motivos de obras, Aviso importante, A partir del lunes.
- Prohibir y Advertir (To Prohibit & Warn): Establishes behavioral restrictions, legal regulations, safety mandates, or access boundaries.
- Common markers: Prohibido el paso, No se permite fumar, Uso obligatorio de, Prohibida la entrada a menores, Atención al tren.
- Ofrecer y Promocionar (To Offer & Promote): Presents commercial opportunities, service discounts, bundles, or free consultations.
- Common markers: Oferta especial, Descuentos del 20%, Segunda unidad gratis, Clase de prueba sin coste, Promoción válida hasta.
- Vender y Alquilar (To Sell & Rent): Commercial transactions regarding second-hand goods, housing, vehicles, or physical commercial spaces.
- Common markers: Se vende piso amueblado, En perfecto estado, Precio negociable, Se alquila habitación para estudiantes, Contactar por teléfono.
- Invitar y Convocar (To Invite & Convene): Calls the public to participate in community activities, workshops, cultural festivals, or neighborhood meetings.
- Common markers: Te invitamos a la inauguración, Entrada libre hasta completar aforo, Ven a celebrar con nosotros, Inscripción abierta.
Essential A2 Public Notice Vocabulary
Public texts rely on specialized institutional, regulatory, and commercial vocabulary. Mastering these recurring semantic clusters is vital for rapid processing:
Operating Hours and Schedules (Horarios y Calendarios)
- Horario continuado / ininterrumpido: Open continuously without closing for the traditional afternoon rest (siesta).
- Días laborables: Working days (normally Monday through Friday, occasionally Saturday morning).
- Festivos: Sundays and official national, regional, or local public holidays.
- Cerrado por descanso del personal / descanso semanal: Closed for staff rest days (frequently Mondays in restaurants and museums).
- Abierto 24 horas / De lunes a sábado de 09:00 a 21:00: Operating hours specifying exact start and end times.
Access and Operational Conditions (Acceso y Condiciones)
- Entrada libre / gratuita: Free admission; no purchase or ticket required.
- Aforo limitado / Aforo completo: Capacity limit reached; no additional attendees permitted inside.
- Imprescindible reserva previa: Mandatory prior booking; you cannot attend without registering beforehand.
- Obligatorio presentar justificante / DNI: You must show proof of identity or receipt upon entry.
- Prohibido el acceso con comida o bebida: External food or beverages are strictly prohibited.
Commercial Transactions and Prices (Comercio y Precios)
- Rebajas / Liquidación: Seasonal sales or total clearance liquidation.
- A mitad de precio / 50% de descuento: Half price / 50% discount.
- Gastos de envío gratuitos: Free delivery / shipping on qualifying orders.
- Garantía de dos años incluida: Two-year commercial warranty provided with purchase.
- Plazas disponibles / Plazas agotadas: Available seats or registration spots remaining versus completely sold out.
Paraphrasing and Synonym Recognition
The exam developers design options to ensure candidates cannot succeed simply by matching identical words from the notice. The correct answer is usually a simple reformulation in different words:
| Notice Phrasing in Spanish | Question Option Paraphrase | Underlying Semantic Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entrada gratuita para menores de 12 años | Los niños no pagan para acceder al recinto | Gratuita → no pagan; menores → niños |
| Imprescindible pedir cita por teléfono | Hay que llamar antes de acudir a la oficina | Pedir cita → llamar antes; imprescindible → hay que |
| Se busca camarero con experiencia previa | Es necesario haber trabajado antes en hostelería | Experiencia previa → haber trabajado antes |
| Cerrado temporalmente por reformas | El local no abre porque están haciendo obras | Cerrado → no abre; reformas → obras |
| Descuento del 30% pagando en efectivo | La compra resulta más barata si se usa dinero en metálico | Descuento → más barata; en efectivo → en metálico |
| Aforo completo para el concierto del sábado | Ya no quedan entradas disponibles para esa fecha | Aforo completo → no quedan entradas |
Pacing and Step-by-Step Execution
Because Tarea 2 consists of 8 separate reading stimuli, cognitive fatigue can set in if you do not follow a standardized routine:
- Read the Question Stem Before the Notice: Know what information you are seeking (e.g., ¿Qué dice el cartel sobre el precio?, ¿Quién puede solicitar el puesto?).
- Scan the Heading and Visual Anchor of the Notice: Notices usually place the core function in large text at the top (AVISO, OFERTA, CURSO DE VERANO).
- Read the Qualifying Small Print: Essential restrictions and exceptions are almost always located in the final lines (e.g., Válido solo de lunes a jueves, Excepto vísperas de festivos).
- Match by Meaning, Not Words: Reject options that repeat words from the notice in distorted contexts; select the choice that accurately translates the condition into everyday Spanish.
- Allocate ~110 Seconds Per Item: If an item is ambiguous, mark your best assessment immediately on the answer sheet, star the item in your test booklet, and continue. Never sacrifice your remaining reading time on a single 1-point notice.
A community center notice displays: 'Taller de fotografía digital: Plazas agotadas para el grupo de mañanas. Matrícula abierta únicamente para las sesiones de los sábados por la tarde.' What does the notice inform the reader?
All photography workshops have been permanently cancelled for the remainder of the year.
Students can only attend morning sessions if they purchase special camera lenses.
Registration is completely closed and no additional students can enroll in any group.
Interested candidates can still register for the Saturday afternoon sessions.
A store window sign states: 'Horario comercial: Abierto los días laborables de 09:30 a 20:30 h ininterrumpidamente. Sábados de 10:00 a 14:00 h. Domingos y festivos cerrado por descanso.' When can a customer shop at this establishment at 15:00?
From Monday through Friday, because the store operates with continuous uninterrupted hours on working days.
On Sundays, provided they make an appointment with the manager.
On Saturdays, because weekend hours extend until late in the evening.
Only on national public holidays when special events are scheduled.
A retail announcement says: 'Promoción de otoño: Lleve dos prendas y pague la segunda unidad a mitad de precio. Descuento aplicable sobre el artículo de menor valor.' How is this commercial discount correctly explained?
Both selected clothing items are given to the customer completely free of charge.
The customer receives a 50% discount on the cheaper of the two clothing items purchased.
All clothing items in the store are permanently reduced by 75% for every shopper.
The discount is only granted if the customer pays using a foreign credit card.
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.