Course overview
Theme 1: People and lifestyle Theme 1 covers the following three topics:
•Topic 1: Identity and relationships with others
•Topic 2: Healthy living and lifestyle
•Topic 3: Education and work
Theme 2: Popular culture Theme 2 covers the following three topics:
•Topic 1: Free-time activities
•Topic 2: Customs, festivals and celebrations
•Topic 3: Celebrity culture
Theme 3: Communication and the world around us Theme 3 covers the following three topics:
•Topic 1: Travel and tourism, including places of interest
•Topic 2: Media and technology
•Topic 3: The environment and where people live
Requirements
GCSE Spanish with AQA is a challenging but rewarding subject that requires commitment, practice, and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone.
You’ll need to develop strong skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, building up your vocabulary and grammar along the way. Stay focused, practice often, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—that’s how you’ll improve.
Career Pathways
A career in languages offers both prestigious and practical opportunities across various industries. For example: a translator, interpreter (e.g., UN or government interpreter), language teacher, university lecturer, international diplomat, intelligence analyst, foreign correspondent, international business consultant, luxury travel consultant, corporate negotiator, multilingual journalist, international lawyer, global marketing director, film and TV subtitler, high-profile tour guide, luxury brand ambassador, humanitarian aid coordinator, speechwriter for world leaders, political analyst, audiobook narrator, language consultant for film industries, AI and tech linguist, content writer, proofreader, editor, localization specialist, NGO coordinator, and international event planner.
These careers can offer a mix of travel, influence, creativity, and global impact.
Four papers, each worth 25% of the GCSE
Paper 1: Listening
Understanding spoken extracts & dictation
Paper 2: Speaking
Role-play, reading aloud, & photo discussion
Paper 3: Reading
Understanding texts & translating Spanish → English
Paper 4: Writing
Writing in Spanish & translating English → Spanish
Learning a language is a skill for life and opens new opportunities to work, study, or travel abroad. Many students go on to study the subject at A-level and university. Once students have begun to master one language, they are eager to develop their ability in others. Your transferrable skills will most certainly be valued by employers across all sectors including marketing, journalism, business sales and publishing.