AQA GCSE Spanish 2020–2025 Past Papers (8698) – All Past Papers with Examiner Tips For All Papers
- Archie Johnson
- Feb 18
- 12 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
¡Hola y bienvenido! You'll find all the latest AQA GCSE Spanish past papers (8698) right here, with Listening, Reading, and Writing papers for both Foundation and Higher tier, complete with official mark schemes and listening transcripts, all in one place. Practising with real exam papers is one of the most effective things you can do to improve your technique, get comfortable with how AQA structures its questions, and understand exactly how marks are awarded. Whether you're working towards the 2026 or 2027 GCSE Spanish exams, these papers are an essential part of your preparation.
Before attempting these papers, please take a few minutes to read the essential tips and tricks from our GCSE Spanish examiners and teachers for each paper. Click here for Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing guidance — countless hours have been spent identifying the most common mistakes so that students like you can avoid them and secure top grades. You may also click here for the commonly asked questions, including what changed for the AQA GCSE Spanish syllabus in 2026.
2024 AQA GCSE Spanish Past Papers (8698) – Paper 1 Listening, Paper 3 Reading & Paper 4 Writing Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
AQA GCSE Spanish 2024 | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Spanish 2024 Paper 1 Listening (Foundation) 8698/LF | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2024 Paper 1 Listening (Higher) 8698/LH | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2024 Paper 3 Reading (Foundation) 8698/RF | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2024 Paper 3 Reading (Higher) 8698/RH | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2024 Paper 4 Writing (Foundation) 8698/WF | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2024 Paper 4 Writing (Higher) 8698/WH | ||
2023 AQA GCSE Spanish Past Papers (8698) – Paper 1 Listening, Paper 3 Reading & Paper 4 Writing Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
AQA GCSE Spanish 2023 | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Spanish 2023 Paper 1 Listening (Foundation) 8698/LF | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2023 Paper 1 Listening (Higher) 8698/LH | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2023 Paper 3 Reading (Foundation) | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2023 Paper 3 Reading (Higher) | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2023 Paper 4 Writing (Foundation) | ||
QA GCSE Spanish 2023 Paper 4 Writing (Higher) | ||
2022 AQA GCSE Spanish Past Papers (8698) – Paper 1 Listening, Paper 3 Reading & Paper 4 Writing Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
AQA GCSE Spanish 2022 | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Spanish 2022 Paper 1 Listening (Foundation) 8698/LF | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2022 Paper 1 Listening (Higher) 8698/LH | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2022 Paper 3 Reading (Foundation) | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2022 Paper 3 Reading (Higher) | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2022 Paper 4 Writing (Foundation) | ||
QA GCSE Spanish 2022 Paper 4 Writing (Higher) | ||
2021 AQA GCSE Spanish Past Papers (8698) – Paper 1 Listening, Paper 3 Reading & Paper 4 Writing Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
AQA GCSE Spanish 2021 | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Spanish 2021 Paper 1 Listening (Foundation) 8698/LF | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2021 Paper 1 Listening (Higher) 8698/LH | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2021 Paper 3 Reading (Foundation) | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2021 Paper 3 Reading (Higher) | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2021 Paper 4 Writing (Foundation) | ||
QA GCSE Spanish 2021 Paper 4 Writing (Higher) | ||
2020 AQA GCSE Spanish Past Papers (8698) – Paper 1 Listening, Paper 3 Reading & Paper 4 Writing Foundation and Higher with Mark Schemes
AQA GCSE Spanish 2020 | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Spanish 2020 Paper 1 Listening (Foundation) 8698/LF | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2020 Paper 1 Listening (Higher) 8698/LH | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2020 Paper 3 Reading (Foundation) | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2020 Paper 3 Reading (Higher) | ||
AQA GCSE Spanish 2020 Paper 4 Writing (Foundation) | ||
QA GCSE Spanish 2020 Paper 4 Writing (Higher) | ||
What AQA GCSE Spanish Examiners Want to See in the Writing Paper (Paper 4)
1. Get the Basics Right First
Handwriting matters more than many students realise. Examiners can only credit what they can actually read — and when handwriting is barely legible, verb endings become impossible to distinguish, which is particularly costly because they're central to clear communication. If you make a mistake, don't scribble it out — draw one clean line through it and write the correct version clearly beside it.
2. Every Sentence Needs a Conjugated Verb
This is non-negotiable. A sentence without a conjugated verb — or one where an infinitive has been used where a proper verb form is needed — will limit your marks regardless of everything else around it. And when it comes to tasks like the 40-word response or photo description, don't feel pressure to be ambitious. Short, clear, accurate sentences will almost always serve you better than complex ones that introduce errors. One important note on photo descriptions: you can write as if you're in the photo using the first person — but using the second person will result in a mark of zero, so be careful.
3. Follow the Task Instructions to the Letter
Every bullet point in the task needs to be addressed — missing even one can make it impossible to reach the highest mark bands for content. Tick each bullet point off on the question paper as you cover it so nothing slips through. On word counts, aim for the suggested length — roughly 40, 90, or 150 words depending on the task. Writing significantly more often introduces unnecessary errors that can actually lower your marks for quality and accuracy rather than boost them.
4. Push Your Language Quality Further
Build a bank of varied vocabulary for expressing opinions — me encanta, me chifla, lo encuentro — so you're not relying on me gusta for everything. Make sure you're matching the right tense to the right bullet point, and at Higher level, work in subordinate clauses and connectives like ya que, dado que, and así que to add sophistication. Idiomatic phrases like es pan comido can impress — but only if they're used sparingly and in exactly the right context.
5. Never Leave a Translation Blank
A blank space is guaranteed to score zero — so even if you're unsure, always attempt a translation. Something is always better than nothing. And watch out for the small words: students regularly lose marks by accidentally skipping a minor word in the English sentence, leaving part of it untranslated. Before you move on, check that every single part of the original sentence has been accounted for.
Top Mistakes to Avoid in the AQA GCSE Spanish Speaking Exam (Paper 2)
1. Missing Specific Details in Role-Plays
This is a frustrating way to lose marks because the information is right there in the prompt — it just gets overlooked under pressure. Something as specific as a country name (Nicaragua, Bolivia, Spain) can be the difference between a full mark and none at all.
Use your 12-minute preparation time wisely. Write out exactly what you plan to say for each prepared task and check every element of the prompt has been covered before you go in. Don't leave anything to chance.
2. Using the Wrong Tense
Tense errors are one of the most consistent mark-losers in the speaking exam. Some students default to the present tense even when the prompt clearly calls for a past reference. Others overcomplicate things by attempting tenses they're not confident in — which often creates more problems than it solves.
Before you prepare your response, identify which bullet points relate to the past, present, or future. Then use verb forms you're genuinely secure with. A simple tense used correctly will always outscore an ambitious one used incorrectly.
3. Giving Answers That Are Too Short on the Photo Card
Brief, one-sentence answers on the Photo card leave marks on the table. Examiners reward students who can develop their responses — and development doesn't have to mean complexity, just substance.
Aim for at least three sentences for each of the three seen questions. Make sure every sentence contains a conjugated verb, and practise extending your answers with opinions, reasons, or additional details until it becomes a natural habit.
4. Failing to Ask a Question
Losing a mark in the General Conversation simply because you forgot to ask your question — or ran out of time before you got to it — is entirely avoidable.
Don't save your question for the end. Prompt your teacher early, ideally during the first theme, and get it in while there's still plenty of time. If the context allows for it, something as simple as ¿Y tú? can be enough to secure the mark.
5. Not Talking for Long Enough
If either theme in the General Conversation falls short of the minimum time — 1 minute 30 seconds for Foundation or 2 minutes 30 seconds for Higher — a penalty is applied. It's one of the more punishing rules in the exam, and it catches students who give short answers and wait to be prompted.
Train yourself to extend your responses without being asked. Justify your opinions, add examples, and vary your language beyond me gusta. Building a bank of varied adjectives and verbs will help you keep the conversation flowing naturally rather than grinding to a halt.
6. Not Knowing Key Question Words
Struggling with words like ¿quién?, ¿cuántos?, or ¿a qué hora? can lead to irrelevant answers or silence — neither of which scores marks.
Make question words a priority in your revision. Cuándo, cuántos, dónde, quién, cómo, qué — learn them cold. They come up in unprepared Role-play tasks and General Conversation prompts, so being confident with them gives you a real advantage across multiple parts of the exam.
7. Trying to Be Too Clever With Language
Attempting complex structures that are beyond your current level can cause communication to break down entirely — which is far more damaging than keeping things simple.
In the Role-play and Photo card sections, there are no bonus marks for complexity. Clear, accurate, simple language that successfully conveys the required information will always score better than ambitious language that confuses the message. Play to your strengths and communicate confidently.
Top Mistakes to Avoid in the AQA GCSE Spanish Reading Exam (Paper 3)
1. Don't Give Two Answers When One Is Asked For
Hedging your bets by writing "Journalist/TV presenter" or "Old or second-hand toys" might feel like a safe move — but it isn't. Examiners are instructed to mark answers with a slash or alternative as incorrect, because the ambiguity means you haven't committed to a clear response.
Choose one answer and write it clearly. If you're unsure between two options, make a decision and go with it. Two answers is the same as no answer.
2. Copying Too Much From the Text
When responding to the Spanish-language section, students often lift large chunks of text hoping the answer is somewhere in there. It rarely works — and including irrelevant or contradictory information in the same response will make the whole answer incorrect.
Use the example answer as your guide for length, and pay attention to the space provided on the page. Short answer lines are a visual cue that a brief, targeted response is all that's needed. Find the specific information and write only that.
3. Answering in the Wrong Language
It sounds like an easy mistake to avoid — but marks are still lost every year by students who provide English answers in Section B, where responses must be in Spanish.
Make a point of reminding yourself at the start of the exam which section requires which language. A quick check before you begin Section B takes seconds and eliminates a completely unnecessary way to lose marks.
4. Careless Spelling When Copying From the Text
This one is particularly frustrating because the correct answer is literally in front of you — and yet marks are lost through inaccurate copying. Missing an accent or misspelling a word that's right there on the page is a costly habit.
When copying a word directly from the source text, slow down and check it letter by letter. Make sure accents are in the right place and the spelling matches exactly. The answer is there — you just need to transfer it accurately.
5. Illegible Letters in Multiple Choice Questions
If an examiner can't tell whether you've written a B or a D, they can't award the mark. Similarly, changing an answer without clearly crossing out the first one creates confusion about which response to mark.
Write your letters clearly and deliberately — not as a rushed afterthought. If you change your mind, put one clean line through the rejected answer so there's no doubt about which one you want marked.
6. Struggling With Question Words
Question words like ¿cuánto?, ¿dónde?, and ¿cuándo? are tested regularly in the reading exam — and not knowing them well enough leads to answers that miss the point entirely.
Make the full list of question words a revision priority. They're the key to understanding exactly what each question is asking you to find, and getting them wrong means even a well-read text won't help you.
7. Skipping Small Words in the Translation
In the Section C translation task, it's the little words that catch students out — missing "and" or "the," or getting the person of the verb wrong (translating quiere as "I want" instead of "he/she wants") are classic examples that cost marks.
Never leave any part of the translation blank — a gap is guaranteed to score zero, so always attempt something. Once you've finished, go back and check your Spanish against the English word by word to make sure nothing has been accidentally skipped. Every word in the original sentence needs to be accounted for.
Top Mistakes to Avoid in the AQA GCSE Spanish Listening Exam (Paper 1)
1. Listing Multiple Answers Instead of Choosing One
When a question asks what someone likes "best," it's tempting to write down everything you heard — but that's exactly what loses the mark. The recording may mention several things, and the whole point of the question is whether you can identify the single preferred option.
Train yourself to listen for superlatives and words that signal preference. Then commit to one answer and write only that. If you list multiple options, the mark is gone.
2. Answering in English in Section B
This still catches students out every year — and it's one of the most avoidable ways to lose marks in the exam. Section B requires responses in Spanish, full stop.
At the start of the exam, write a physical reminder to yourself at the top of the Section B pages. Something as simple as "ESPAÑOL" in large letters can be enough to stop you from slipping into English on autopilot.
3. Not Being Specific Enough in "Exact" Questions
When a question uses the word "exactly," a general answer won't cut it. If the recording says al principio de agosto, writing "August" misses the detail the question is specifically testing.
When you spot the word "exactly" in a question, make a mental note to listen for the full detail — not just the gist. The difference between "August" and "the beginning of August" is the difference between zero and one mark.
4. Handwriting That's Hard to Read
If an examiner can't read your answer, they can't award the mark — and this is particularly costly when it comes to verb endings, where one unclear letter can change the meaning entirely. Crossing out a changed answer without making the correction obvious creates the same problem.
Write clearly and deliberately, especially when you're working quickly. If you change an answer, put one clean line through the original and write the new answer clearly beside it. Never scribble — just one neat line.
5. Ignoring the Question Word
Students often latch onto a familiar word or phrase in the question — like "setting off" — and miss the question word that tells them what type of information is actually needed. Focusing on the wrong element leads to answers about the wrong thing entirely.*
Before the recording begins, read the question carefully and identify the question word first — when, where, why, who. That's what tells you what to listen for. The rest of the question gives you context; the question word gives you the target.
6. Misreading Time Frames — Especially acabar de
Working out whether something has already happened, is happening now, or is about to happen is a skill that separates stronger listeners from weaker ones. The phrase acabar de is a particularly common stumbling block — many students hear it and assume the action is ongoing, when it actually means something has just happened.*
Make verb structures that signal timing a specific focus in your revision. Acabar de, estar + gerund, and ir a + infinitive each signal a different time frame — know them well enough to spot them under listening pressure.
7. Leaving Multiple Choice Questions Blank
A blank answer is a guaranteed zero. A guess, on the other hand, has a chance — and in a multiple choice question, the odds are in your favour if you can eliminate even one option.
Never leave a multiple choice question empty. If you genuinely have no idea, use the context of the question to make an educated guess and commit to it. Something is always better than nothing."
Which past papers are most relevant for students taking exams in 2026?
If you are sitting your exams in Summer 2026, you are likely the first cohort taking the new AQA Spanish specification (8692), which means the older 8698 papers (2018–2025) are still useful for drilling general vocabulary and grammar, but you must be aware of key structural differences: the new Listening paper includes a Dictation task absent from all 8698 papers; the Speaking format has replaced the Photo Card and General Conversation with a Read Aloud task and more spontaneous conversation; and the Writing paper has adjusted word counts, such as the Foundation task increasing from 40 to 50 words. For this reason, while the 8698 papers remain valuable practice material, you should prioritise the AQA 8692 Specimen Papers to familiarise yourself with the actual layout and task types you will encounter in your 2026 exam.
Why should I practise with real AQA GCSE Spanish past papers instead of just revision notes?
Past papers are the most effective way to prepare because they show you exactly how AQA asks questions, how marks are awarded, and what examiners expect in Listening, Reading, and Writing. Many students know vocabulary and grammar but lose marks because they are unfamiliar with the exam style. Regular past paper practice helps you improve timing, avoid common mistakes, and develop exam technique, which is often the difference between a Grade 6 and a Grade 9.
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