Need more clarity

Question

Past tenses are confusing and these lessons do not have enough of an explainer. In this Idefinite Past, I see:

Ella hizo una tarta para mi cumpleaños.She made a cake for my birthday.

But, under the Present Perfect lesson, I see:

He hecho un pastel de chocolate.I made a chocolate cake.

There is not enough information to distinguish between the two forms. I do not see the difference. "I made a cake" and "she made a cake" are identical in format, yet different. If both answers are correct- after all, there are often several ways to say the same thing, I think that needs to be reflected here if that is the case.

Can you explain?

Answer

She made a cakeVsI have made a cake (he from verb hacer)EgHas hecho un pastel = you have made a cakeHiciste un pastel = you made a cake

Answer

Hola Jeffrey
That lesson you came across is only a conjugation lesson for the verb hacer, so there are no specific explanations on the usage of that tense. We have a lesson talking about the contrast of these two tenses where you find the explanations. Have a look here. I hope it helps.
Saludos

Answer

It's easy really. In spanish their Present Perfect [preterito perfecto] I have made the cake can be used to show a completed process on the past where english just says >I made the cake

Answer

I think (could be wrong of course) Jeffrey's point of ambiguity may be referring to the fact that both sentences basically mean, and can be stated as, "She made a cake".  But, in Spanish "Ella hizo una tarta/pastel" (simple past - action done with, and no longer connected to the present) and "Ella ha hecho una tarta/pastel" (present perfect - action completed in immediate past, and still connected to the present) are literally translated as "She made a cake" vs. "She has made a cake".