specification overview
Edexcel International GCSE Spanish (4SP1) is a single-tier linear qualification with three assessments covering the four skills, each skill weighted at 25%. Paper 1 (Listening and Understanding in Spanish, 30 minutes plus 5 minutes' reading time) is 25%; Paper 2 (Reading and Writing in Spanish, 1h 45m, 80 marks) is 50%; Paper 3 (Speaking) is 25%, internally conducted and externally assessed by Pearson.
subject content
1. Home and abroad
All papers- Life in the town and rural life
- Holidays and travel
- Services, customs, and everyday life, traditions and communities
2. Education and employment
All papers- School life
- Further education, training and future plans
- Work and career choices
3. Personal life and relationships
All papers- Family and friends
- Home life
- Daily routines
4. The world around us
All papers- Media and technology
- Environment and social issues
- Travel and transport; weather and climate
5. Social activities, fitness and health
All papers- Hobbies and interests
- Sport and exercise
- Health and food
assessment structure
| Paper | What's assessed | Length | Marks | Weight | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (Listening and Understanding in Spanish) | Listening comprehension across 5 topic areas | 30 minutes plus 5 minutes' reading time | 40 | 25% | Multiple-choice, matching and short-answer questions in Spanish and English |
| Paper 2 (Reading and Writing in Spanish) | Reading comprehension + written production | 1h 45m | 80 | 50% | Section A: reading comprehension (40 marks). Section B: writing tasks (40 marks) |
| Paper 3 (Speaking) | Speaking in Spanish | 8-10 minutes | 40 | 25% | Picture-based discussion and conversation. Internally conducted, externally assessed by Pearson. |
Paper 3 (Speaking) is internally conducted (recorded by the school) and externally assessed by Pearson. There is no coursework route on 4SP1.
assessment objectives
| AO | What it means | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Listening: understand and respond to spoken language. | 25% |
| AO2 | Writing: communicate in writing. | 25% |
| AO3 | Reading: understand and respond to written language. | 25% |
| AO4 | Speaking: communicate and interact in speech. | 25% |
key tips for success
Practise listening every day
Paper 1 is 25% of the qualification. Do 15 minutes daily: RTVE, podcasts, Spanish YouTube channels for learners.
Master 4-5 tenses
Present, preterite, imperfect, near future, conditional are essential. Higher-scoring answers use pluperfect and subjunctive. Learn -ar, -er, -ir regular endings plus key irregulars.
Learn ser vs estar cold
Spanish uses two verbs for 'to be'. Ser = permanent/essential. Estar = temporary/location. Drill until automatic.
Learn 250-300 core words per topic
The specification includes a minimum core vocabulary list (Appendix 1), and Section B writing rewards range. Work through the list topic area by topic area.
Practise Paper 2 writing under time
Paper 2 combines reading (40 marks) + writing (40 marks) in 1h 45m. Time-budget carefully: ~55 mins reading, ~50 mins writing + check.
Prepare thoroughly for the Speaking exam
Paper 3 is 25% of the qualification. It is internally conducted (recorded by your school) and externally assessed by Pearson, with a picture-based discussion and general conversation. Practise speaking aloud regularly.
Where to next
Start your learning journey today...
Practise with Cognito's free past papers for this spec – or browse grade boundaries and related specifications.
