As AS and A level results day beckons tomorrow, we examine the importance of how studying Spanish at this level prepares students for future skills. Here we're highlighting some of the main differences between AS and A2 and also discussing how taking Spanish at A2 level can provide you with many useful skills for your future.What are the main differences between AS and A2 level?As you may have seen, Spanish at AS level includes topics such as Popular Culture, Work and Education, Healthy Lifestyles and Families and Relationships. A2 takes it a step further and introduces topics such as The Environment, Terrorism, Transport and Tourism, Europe and Politics, Immigration and Racism, Law, Human Rights, The Media and Technology. Occasionally students at AS level will have covered one or two of these A2 level topics, in accordance with the exam board.Aside from these topics, at A2 level students will usually study a film and a form of literature. They will be required not just to have a good level of the Spanish language but also to be able to demonstrate up to date knowledge and understanding of the specific subject area. The films and literature are likely to have common themes such as repression, the Civil War a well as norms and values in society. Students will learn to analyse the landscape, scenery, colours, sounds, music and metaphors. Sometimes, instead of studying literature and film, your teacher may decide to do an in-depth study of a particular Spanish region, which includes cultural aspects as well as recent news and developments.How relevant are these topics to modern society?Studying Spanish at A-level standard provides students with skills that will be valuable both at university and for future career prospects. Students will obtain not just a high level of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in the language, but they will also acquire historical and cultural knowledge about specific areas in Spain or Latin America. They are also likely to acquire an interest in and a general understanding of the news, current events and recent developments seeing as A-level standard requires students to do research, read news articles, listen to the radio and watch informative programmes. Aside from this, students will learn how to analyse texts, write essays and form arguments and opinions about important topics – all of which are priceless skills in the “real world”.So, get your books ready, take a few refresher lessons before school starts again and prepare to see a big improvement in your language ability!