The AQA GCSE Spanish exam,
paper by paper.
The current AQA GCSE Spanish specification (8692) was first examined in summer 2026. It has four papers, each worth a quarter of the grade, and all four lean on the same prescribed vocabulary. Here's what's in each one and what it means for revision.
Listening, with a dictation.
About 35 minutes at Foundation and 45 at Higher. Section A is comprehension: you hear recordings and answer in English or by choosing options. Section B is a dictation: you hear short sentences and write them down in Spanish. It's at least 20 words at Foundation and 30 at Higher, and includes a couple of words from outside the vocabulary list, so you need to know how Spanish sounds are spelled.
Revision tip: hear words as well as read them. Listen to each word and write it from the sound, accents and all.
Speaking, in three parts.
Conducted by your teacher during a window in April and May, recorded and marked by an AQA examiner. It runs 7 to 9 minutes at Foundation and 10 to 12 at Higher, after 15 minutes of supervised preparation.
Role-play
Five short tasks in a set situation, such as booking something or asking for information. Worth 10 of the 50 marks.
Reading aloud
You read a short Spanish text aloud (at least 35 words at Foundation, 50 at Higher), then answer four questions on its topic. Worth 15 marks: 5 for the reading itself and 10 for your answers.
Photo card
You describe two photos, then have an unprepared conversation on the topic. The largest part at 25 marks.
Revision tip: say every word out loud as you learn it. If you've only ever read a word silently, it won't come out fluently under pressure.
Reading, with translation into English.
45 minutes at Foundation and an hour at Higher. Section A is comprehension of Spanish texts, answered in English or by choosing options. Section B is a translation from Spanish into English: at least 35 words at Foundation and 50 at Higher.
Revision tip: learn words inside example sentences. Translation rewards knowing how a word behaves in context, not just its dictionary meaning.
Writing, with translation into Spanish.
Foundation: 1 hour 10 minutes
Five sentences about a photo; a short piece of about 50 words; a grammar gap-fill; a translation into Spanish of at least 35 words; and a choice of tasks of about 90 words.
Higher: 1 hour 15 minutes
A translation into Spanish of at least 50 words; a choice of tasks of about 90 words; and a choice of open-ended tasks of about 150 words.
What it rewards
Producing Spanish from memory: the right word, with the right gender and spelling, in a range of tenses. Recognition isn't enough here.
Revision tip: test yourself from English to Spanish, and write the answers down. Spelling and accents only become reliable through writing them.
The four papers in one table.
| Paper | Foundation | Higher | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Listening | About 35 min | About 45 min | Comprehension; dictation |
| 2 Speaking | 7–9 min + 15 min prep | 10–12 min + 15 min prep | Role-play; reading aloud; photo card |
| 3 Reading | 45 min | 1 hour | Comprehension; translation into English |
| 4 Writing | 1 hr 10 min | 1 hr 15 min | Writing tasks; translation into Spanish |
All four papers are taken at the same tier and each is worth 25%. Not sure which tier you'll sit? Read Foundation or Higher: how the tiers differ.
Three themes, nine topics, one word list.
AQA organises the course into three themes, each split into three topics. The papers draw on a published vocabulary list: AQA describes it as 1,200 Foundation words and phrases plus 500 more for Higher. Every paper uses that same list, which is why vocabulary pays off four times over.
Identity and relationships with others
Family, friends, describing people, and getting on (or not). 244 practice entries.
Healthy living and lifestyle
Food, exercise, illness, the body and staying well. 190 practice entries.
Education and work
School subjects, routines, rules, jobs and future plans. 332 practice entries.
Free-time activities
Sport, music, film, reading and what you do at the weekend. 283 practice entries.
Customs, festivals and celebrations
Fiestas, traditions, food and how the Spanish-speaking world celebrates. 154 practice entries.
Celebrity culture
Fame, role models, social media and the price of being famous. 175 practice entries.
Travel and tourism
Holidays, transport, directions, hotels and places worth visiting. 239 practice entries.
Media and technology
Phones, the internet, TV, gaming and staying safe online. 137 practice entries.
The environment and where people live
Home, town, countryside, weather and the environment. 401 practice entries.
Quick answers.
Is there a dictation in GCSE Spanish?
Yes. In the current AQA GCSE Spanish specification, the listening paper ends with a dictation: you hear short sentences in Spanish and write them down. It is at least 20 words at Foundation and at least 30 at Higher, and includes a couple of words from outside the vocabulary list.
How long is the AQA GCSE Spanish speaking exam?
The speaking exam lasts 7 to 9 minutes at Foundation and 10 to 12 minutes at Higher, with 15 minutes of supervised preparation beforehand. It includes a role-play, reading a short text aloud with questions, and a photo card discussion.
When is the GCSE Spanish speaking exam?
Speaking tests are conducted by your teacher during a window of up to five weeks in April and May, before the written papers. They are recorded and marked by an AQA examiner.
Is there translation in GCSE Spanish?
Yes, in both directions. The reading paper includes a translation from Spanish into English, and the writing paper includes a translation from English into Spanish, at both Foundation and Higher.
What are the themes for AQA GCSE Spanish?
There are three themes: People and lifestyle; Popular culture; and Communication and the world around us. Each is split into three topics, giving nine topics in all.
Keep going.
How to revise GCSE Spanish vocabulary
Six habits that turn a word list into words you can produce in the exam, plus how to plan backwards from your paper date.
Foundation or Higher?
Grades, paper lengths and vocabulary for each tier side by side, and how to revise before your tier is decided.
Free vocabulary lists by topic
Every practice entry Sapling teaches, by AQA topic and tier, with translations, example sentences and pronunciation.
Vocabulary feeds all four papers.
Sapling turns the AQA vocabulary list into short daily sessions, planned around your exam date, with typing, listening, dictation and speaking practice. Try the first lesson free.
Download on theApp Store