What a rellenar huecos question is: A gap-fill (rellenar huecos) question gives you a sentence or note with a blank, and you complete it with the exact word(s) you hear. Spelling and accents count — «esta» and «está» are different words — and your answer must fit grammatically into the sentence.
The exam instruction you'll see: In the Spanish Paper 2 Listening, this question type is introduced by an instruction like:
«Completa los espacios en blanco.» → Complete the blanks.
What you have to do: Write the missing word(s) you hear into each gap — listen for the exact detail (a number, name, time, place). Spelling slips are tolerated if the word is recognisable, but write what was actually said, not a paraphrase.
- rellenar huecos
- to fill in the gaps
- el hueco
- the gap (the blank to complete)
- completar la frase
- to complete the sentence
- la ortografía
- spelling
- la tilde / el acento
- the accent mark (e.g. está)
- encajar gramaticalmente
- to fit grammatically
Spelling and accents are part of the answer: In gap-fill, the exact word is the answer — so spelling and accents matter. A right word spelled wrong, or missing its tilde, can lose the mark. Write only what's needed: usually one word or a short phrase.
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The mechanics on one card: Here is how a rellenar huecos item is built and marked. English explains the mechanics; the key rule is that the word you write must fit grammatically in the sentence and be spelled correctly.
| Aspecto | Rellenar huecos |
|---|---|
| Qué te dan | una frase o nota con un hueco (______) |
| Qué escribes | la palabra exacta que oyes |
| ¿Cuántas palabras? | normalmente una o unas pocas |
| Debe encajar | gramaticalmente en la frase |
| Ortografía | cuenta: tildes y letras correctas |
| No escribas de más | solo lo que pide el hueco |
Make it fit: The gap is part of a real sentence, so your word must agree (gender, number) and make grammatical sense. If your word doesn't fit the sentence, it's almost certainly wrong.
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A method for every gap: You don't need every word — you need a method. Run the same five steps on each gap and you'll write the right word, spelled right, that fits the sentence.
Fill the gap
Read the gapped sentence
Read the whole sentence with the blank so you understand what the missing word does.
Predict the word type
Predict what kind of word fits — a number? a time? a place? a noun? — so you know what to listen for.
Listen for it
Listen for that word in the recording. Knowing its type makes it jump out.
Write it correctly
Write the exact word with correct spelling and accents — accuracy is part of the answer.
Check it fits grammatically
Re-read the sentence with your word in it. If it doesn't fit (wrong gender, number or sense), it's probably wrong.
Read → Predict type → Listen → Write → Check fit
Predict the type first: Knowing what kind of word you need — a number, a time, a noun — turns listening into targeted hunting. You hear the clip twice, so use the second play to confirm the spelling before you write it down.
This is exactly how it feels: This is exactly how a gap-fill item feels — you hear it, you don't see the words. Read the gapped sentence first, predict the word type, play the clip, write the word, then reveal the transcript to check spelling. Remember: in the real exam you'd hear it twice.
Rellenar huecos — el cumpleaños de Hugo
Listen to Hugo invite a friend to his party, then complete the gap with the exact word(s) before you reveal the transcript — that's exactly how a Paper 2 gap-fill works.
- Completa: «La fiesta de Hugo empieza a las ______ de la tarde.»
Hola, te llamo para invitarte a mi fiesta de cumpleaños. Es el sábado que viene, a las siete de la tarde, en mi casa. Habrá música y comida, pero por favor no traigas regalos, solo ven con ganas de bailar. Avísame si puedes venir, ¿vale? Un abrazo.
Hi, I'm calling to invite you to my birthday party. It's next Saturday, at seven in the evening, at my house. There'll be music and food, but please don't bring presents, just come ready to dance. Let me know if you can come, okay? A hug.
- siete (7).
Predict the type, then catch it: The words «a las ______ de la tarde» tell you the gap needs a time — so you're listening for a number. You hear the clip twice, so use the second play to make sure you've spelled it right.
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Submit your answers and get instant feedback — what you did well, what's missing, and exactly what to write to score full marks.
Where marks are lost: Most gap-fill marks are lost on accuracy, not on understanding. Compare what good candidates do with the traps everyone else falls into.
Buenas prácticas
- Predict the word tipo (number, time, noun) before listening.
- Write the exact word with correct spelling and accents.
- Check the word fits grammatically in the sentence.
- Write only what the gap needs — no more.
Errores típicos
- Misspell the word or drop the accent and lose the mark.
- Write a word that doesn't fit the sentence grammatically.
- Write more than needed and bury the answer.
- Answer in English instead of the Spanish word heard.
Right word, wrong spelling = lost mark: Hearing the word is only half the job — you must write it accurately. A dropped accent («esta» for «está») or a misspelling can cost the mark, so use the second listen to check the spelling.