Bachillerato
/bat͡ʃiʝeɾato/from spelling rules
In Spanish, sixth form is Bachillerato.
Bachillerato refers to the final two years of secondary education in many Spanish-speaking systems, which is equivalent to sixth form or A-levels. You may also see the formal term Ciclo de Bachillerato used in Spain to refer to this two-year course for students between the ages of 16 and 18. Additionally, Curso de Orientación Universitaria (COU) was a term formerly used in Spain to describe the final year of secondary education before entering university.
Meaning: final two years of secondary schooling (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Bachillerato is a masculine noun. It is typically used with the definite article el when you are referring to the educational stage, as in el bachillerato.
How do you pronounce it?
/batʃiʝeɾato/
When do people say it?
A student who has successfully completed the Bachillerato is often referred to as a bachiller.
Did you know?
- The Latin root of Bachillerato combines bacca meaning 'berry' and laurea meaning 'laurel'.
- Many students in Bachillerato attend a academia alongside school. These are private, after-school tutoring centers specifically designed to help students pass the rigorous university entrance exams.
- In Spain, students in Bachillerato must choose between two main tracks: Ciencias y Tecnología or Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales. This choice dictates which university entrance exams they take.
Examples in context
- En España, el ciclo de bachillerato dura dos años.In Spain, the sixth form lasts for two years.
- Para ingresar a la universidad, es necesario completar el bachillerato.To enter university, it's necessary to complete sixth form.
- Estoy en segundo año de Bachillerato.I am in my second year of sixth form.
- Él terminó el Bachillerato el año pasado.He finished sixth form last year.
- Necesito estudiar mucho para el Bachillerato.I need to study a lot for sixth form.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their future academic plans.
- Sofía¿Vas a estudiar en el mismo sitio para el Bachillerato?Are you going to study at the same place for sixth form?
- AlejandroNo, quiero cambiar de instituto en el Bachillerato.No, I want to change schools for sixth form.
- SofíaEntiendo, yo también quiero buscar algo nuevo.I understand, I also want to look for something new.
- AlejandroEs una etapa muy importante para nosotros.It is a very important stage for us.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bachillerato, CC BY-SA 4.0.
