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GCSE guide · checked October 2026

GCSE Spanish, explained simply

Four papers, each worth the same: listening, speaking, reading and writing. This is the new GCSE course, first taught in September 2024 and examined for the first time in 2026. This page shows how AQA and Edexcel set the papers, the marks needed for each grade in June 2026, and how to prepare. Pick your exam board and tier and the page changes to match.

  • 4 papers, 25% each
  • Speaking test is recorded
  • No coursework
  • Grades 9 to 1

Exam board

Tier

Not sure which board? Ask your child's school, or check the front of a mockA practice exam, usually set by school a few months before the real thing. paper. How to find your exam board

The exams at a glance

AQA GCSE Spanish (8692), Higher tier. 4 papers, 3 hours 12 minutes of exams and 200 marks in total. Each paper is worth 25% of the grade.

PaperNotesTimeMarks
Paper 1: ListeningRecordings with built-in repeats. Includes 5 minutes' reading time45 minutes50 (25%)
Paper 2: SpeakingRole-play, reading aloud and conversation, photo card. 10 to 12 minutes plus 15 minutes' preparation. Recorded by the teacher, marked by AQA12 minutes50 (25%)
Paper 3: ReadingComprehension, plus translation from Spanish into English1 hour50 (25%)
Paper 4: WritingTranslation from English into Spanish, plus writing tasks1 hour 15 minutes50 (25%)

Specification: AQA GCSE Spanish (8692)

What's in the exams

Listening, speaking, reading and writing are each worth 25% of the grade on both boards, so none can be left until last.

Foundation or Higher?

Foundation

Grades 1 to 5. Shorter papers with simpler language. A 5 is the top grade, so it suits students aiming for a standard pass (4) or a strong pass (5). Students must take all four papers at the same tier.

Higher

Grades 4 to 9, with a 3 allowed if you just miss a 4. Longer papers with more demanding language and translation. The risk: fall below the grade 3 mark and you get no grade at all.

The marks you really need for each grade

You do not need 90% for a top grade. Grade boundaries are set after the exams are marked, so a grade stays the same standard even when the papers are harder. These are the real AQA Higher boundaries from June 2026:

GradeMarks neededAs a percentageChart
9175 out of 20087.5%
8155 out of 20077.5%
7135 out of 20067.5%
6120 out of 20060%
5105 out of 20052.5%
490 out of 20045%
382 out of 20041%

Source: AQA, GCSE grade boundaries June 2026. Boundaries change slightly every year. See grade boundaries for every subject

Your target score in practice papers

Sit a full set of past papers under timed conditions every few weeks. Work out the percentage for each set, ignore your single worst result (everyone has an off day) and average the rest. Aim for:

93%

to secure a grade 9

83%

to secure a grade 8

73%

to secure a grade 7

We add 5 percentage points to last year's boundary, because boundaries move a little each year and exam nerves cost marks.

Past paper mock builder

Pick an exam series and we'll set out the full AQA Higher mock: which papers to sit, how long to allow and where to download them. Then type in your marks to see the grade they would have earned.

  1. Paper 1: Listening, June 2026 · Recordings with built-in repeats. Includes 5 minutes' reading time · 45 minutes

  2. Paper 2: Speaking, June 2026 · Role-play, reading aloud and conversation, photo card. 10 to 12 minutes plus 15 minutes' preparation. Recorded by the teacher, marked by AQA · 12 minutes

  3. Paper 3: Reading, June 2026 · Comprehension, plus translation from Spanish into English · 1 hour

  4. Paper 4: Writing, June 2026 · Translation from English into Spanish, plus writing tasks · 1 hour 15 minutes

Download the papers and mark schemes: AQA official past papers or Save My Exams past papers. Exam boards keep the most recent series for schools only for a while, so if the newest one isn't there, take the one before.

Enter your marks for each paper to see the grade they would have earned.

What Spanish is really about

Where the word comes from

"Spanish" comes from the Latin Hispania, the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish name for the language is español, from the medieval word for "from Hispania".

Where it comes from

Spanish grew out of the Latin spoken in the Roman province of Hispania, and it also took words from Arabic after 711, which is why Spanish has words such as almohada (pillow) and aceite (oil). The Spanish language spread to the Americas from 1492,. GCSE Spanish prepares students to understand and use the language in everyday situations.

Why it's still taught

Spanish is widely spoken across Spain, Latin America and the United States, and a GCSE in a language is valued by sixth forms and universities. It builds listening, memory and clear writing skills, and it opens the door to A-Level Spanish and to jobs in travel, business, law, teaching and international organisations.

How to do well in GCSE Spanish

  • Learn vocabulary little and often

    Ten minutes a day on flashcards beats one long session each week.

  • Listen every day

    Short Spanish podcasts, songs and videos train the ear for the listening paper.

  • Rehearse the speaking test out loud

    Practise the role-play, the photo card and the conversation by speaking, not just reading answers.

  • Prepare for translation

    Both boards include translation into and out of Spanish. Practise short sentences with the tenses you know.

  • Write with the tenses

    Extended writing rewards past, present and future tenses, opinions and reasons. Build a bank of useful phrases.

  • Mark it, then redo it

    After each past paper, mark it with the mark scheme and redo the questions you dropped a week later.

Swipe for more tips →

The three best places to revise

Our teachers' picks. We have no connection with these sites.

BBC Bitesize

Free Spanish revision guides, vocabulary and listening practice.

Save My Exams: AQA GCSE Spanish

Past papers for AQA. Some content is paid.

Languagenut

Games and quizzes for vocabulary practice, often provided through schools.

Online GCSE Spanish tutors

A tutor who knows your exam boardThe organisation that sets and marks the exam, such as AQA, Edexcel or OCR. Each has its own syllabus., live one-to-one on Zoom, Meet or Teams. It starts with a free 45-minute assessment.

From about £30 an hour for one-to-one online lessons. Your exact price depends on the tutor and how many hours a week: use our price calculator.

Questions parents ask

  • Is the GCSE Spanish course new?

    Yes. The new specifications were first taught in September 2024, so summer 2026 was the first time they were examined. Older past papers are from the previous course, so use the new sample papers and the 2026 papers first.

  • Which exam boards does this page cover?

    AQA (8692) and Pearson Edexcel (1SP1). Check with your child's school which one they sit.

  • Is the speaking test part of the grade?

    Yes. Speaking is 25% of the qualification. With AQA the test is recorded by the teacher and marked by an AQA examiner.

  • Do you need 90% to get a grade 9?

    No. The marks needed are set after the exams are marked. In June 2026 a grade 9 on the Higher tier needed 175 out of 200 with AQA (87.5%) and 179 out of 200 with Edexcel (89.5%).

  • Can my child change from Foundation to Higher?

    Usually yes, up to the school's entry deadline. Students must take all four papers at the same tier, and schools decide based on mock results.

  • When should GCSE Spanish tutoring start?

    Year 10 is ideal, because vocabulary and speaking confidence take time to build. Many families start in Year 11, and regular conversation practice with a tutor still makes a real difference.

Not sure where your child stands?

Our free 45-minute assessment often uses a real past paperA real exam from a previous year, used for practice., so you'll know their likely grade and exactly what to work on. Lessons online across the UK, or at our seven London hubs.

Sources