Edexcel IAL Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes | YSP01
Prepare confidently for Pearson Edexcel International A Level Spanish (YSP01) with past papers, official mark schemes, listening audio, speaking materials and practical examiner tips. Find resources for WSP01, WSP02, WSP03 and WSP04, clearly organised by unit and exam series. Jump to the examiner tips or read the frequently asked questions for further revision and exam guidance.
June 2025 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
June 2025 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2025 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2025 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2025 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
January 2025 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
January 2025 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2025 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2025 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2025 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
June 2024 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
June 2024 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2024 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2024 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2024 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
January 2024 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
January 2024 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2024 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2024 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2024 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
June 2023 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
June 2023 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2023 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | Mark scheme not listed | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2023 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2023 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
June 2023 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
June 2023 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2023 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | Mark scheme not listed | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2023 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2023 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
June 2022 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
June 2022 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2022 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | Mark scheme not listed | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2022 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2022 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
January 2022 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
January 2022 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2022 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2022 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2022 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
June 2021 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
June 2021 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2021 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2021 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish June 2021 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
January 2021 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
January 2021 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2021 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2021 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2021 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
January 2020 Edexcel International A Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes
January 2020 Edexcel IAL Spanish | Downloads | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2020 Unit 1 (WSP01/01) – Spoken Expression and Response | Assessment materials not listed | |
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2020 Unit 2 (WSP02/01) – Understanding and Written Response | ||
Edexcel IAL Spanish January 2020 Unit 4 (WSP04/01) – Research, Understanding and Written Response |
Examiner Tips
1. Don't just retell the story — analyse it
When you're answering literary, film, history, or geography essay questions, don't fall into the trap of simply narrating the plot or describing what happens. If the question asks you to "Analiza...", you must analyse — not summarise. For every paragraph, use a Point–Evidence–Evaluate structure: make your point, back it up with specific evidence (a quotation, a technique, a statistic, a date), and then explain what it shows. Always tie your paragraph back to the exact wording of the question, and finish with a conclusion that sums up your argument and gives your own view.
2. Cover every bullet point in Unit 2 Question 9 — don't rush the last one
Missing bullet points is one of the most costly mistakes you can make. Miss one and your mark is capped at 16/20; miss two and it drops to 12/20; miss three and it falls to just 8/20. Before you start writing, spend a few minutes planning. Give each bullet point its own paragraph, come up with more than one idea per bullet, and once you've finished, go back and check each paragraph genuinely answers what was asked — not just what's on the same topic.
3. Proofread for accents, subjunctive spelling, and agreement in Question 8
Question 8 is marked purely on technical accuracy, so a single missing accent or spelling slip costs you the whole mark. Watch out for tilde accents (convirtiéndose, not convertiéndose), correct subjunctive spelling changes (signifique, not significe), using the subjunctive after conjunctions like para que, and making sure adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Always look back at the bolded phrase in the text to check the context before you transform it, and remember: the transformation should always be a single word or a tightly targeted structure that keeps the original meaning intact.
4. Keep comprehension answers short, targeted, and in your own words
Copying large chunks of text ("lifting") will not get you the mark, even if the correct answer is hidden somewhere inside it. Give short, precise answers using your own words. In listening tasks, remember to convert the verb person — if the speaker says "yo" or "tú," your answer usually needs to be in the third person. And don't pad your answer with extra, unrequested details: adding incorrect or irrelevant information around a correct answer can invalidate the whole thing.
5. Choose a genuinely debatable topic for Unit 3 Speaking
Avoid topics that are purely descriptive or a matter of taste, like "Spanish gastronomy" or "mass tourism has pros and cons" — these don't give your examiner anything to argue against. Pick a topic with a real moral, ethical, or political edge, and state your position clearly: "Estoy a favor de..." or "Estoy en contra de...". Narrow broad topics down to something specific and arguable — for example, instead of arguing against social media in general, argue for banning it for children under 12. And make sure your topic connects directly to the Spanish-speaking world.
6. Don't recite memorised monologues — listen and respond
Your speaking exam is a conversation, not a performance of pre-learned paragraphs. Reciting memorised material instead of engaging with what the examiner actually says will cost you marks for spontaneity. Listen closely to their questions and challenges, and respond to them directly. Build up a bank of natural debate connectors you can use in the moment, such as "Hasta cierto punto estoy de acuerdo..." or "Entiendo lo que dices, pero no creo que...", so your responses sound reactive rather than rehearsed.
Edexcel IAL Spanish 2027: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Edexcel IAL Spanish exam structure for 2027?
The full Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Spanish qualification consists of four externally assessed units:
Unit 1 (WSP01): Spoken Expression and Response
Unit 2 (WSP02): Understanding and Written Response
Unit 3 (WSP03): Understanding and Spoken Response
Unit 4 (WSP04): Research, Understanding and Written Response
Units 1 and 2 form the International AS qualification and contribute 50% of the full IAL. Students must complete all four units to receive the full Edexcel IAL Spanish qualification.
2. When are the Edexcel IAL Spanish exams in 2027?
According to Pearson’s final Summer 2027 examination timetable:
Unit 2 (WSP02/01) is on Monday 10 May 2027 in the afternoon and lasts 2 hours 30 minutes.
Unit 4 (WSP04/01) is on Thursday 27 May 2027 in the morning and lasts 2 hours 30 minutes.
Units 1 and 3 are speaking assessments conducted during Pearson’s designated oral examination window. Students should confirm their exact speaking dates and local examination starting times with their school or examination centre.
3. What happens in Edexcel IAL Spanish Unit 1?
Unit 1 is an 8–10-minute speaking examination worth 15% of the full IAL. Students receive 15 minutes of preparation time.
In Section A, students answer four prescribed questions about a written stimulus connected to one of their two chosen General Topic Areas. Section B develops into a broader discussion of the same topic area.
Students are assessed on their understanding of the stimulus, knowledge of the topic, grammatical accuracy, range of vocabulary, pronunciation, spontaneity and ability to develop responses.
4. What is included in Edexcel IAL Spanish Unit 2?
Unit 2 is a 2-hour-30-minute written examination worth 35% of the full IAL. It contains:
Section A: Listening
Section B: Reading and Grammar
Section C: Writing
In Section C, students write an email or article of approximately 240–280 words in Spanish. The task is based on a short Spanish stimulus and four related bullet points. Every bullet point should be answered fully and in the correct format and register.
5. What happens in Edexcel IAL Spanish Unit 3?
Unit 3 is an 11–13-minute speaking examination worth 15% of the full IAL.
Section A begins with a presentation of approximately one minute in which the student states a clear position on a chosen issue. The examiner then challenges that position in a debate lasting up to four minutes.
Section B consists of a spontaneous discussion of at least two additional issues chosen by the examiner. Students are assessed on research, critical analysis, debating ability, spontaneity, grammatical accuracy and range of Spanish.
6. What is assessed in Edexcel IAL Spanish Unit 4?
Unit 4 is a 2-hour-30-minute written examination worth 35% of the full IAL. It contains:
Section A: Listening
Section B: Reading and Grammar
Section C: Research-based Writing
For Section C, students answer one of two questions on their chosen prescribed topic, literary text or film. The recommended essay length is 300–400 words. High-scoring responses present a focused argument, use precise evidence and analyse the work rather than simply summarising its plot.
7. Which topics should I revise for Edexcel IAL Spanish in 2027?
The four IAS General Topic Areas are:
Youth matters
Lifestyle, health and fitness
Environment and travel
Education and employment
At IA2, students must also prepare:
Technology in the Spanish-speaking world
Society in the Spanish-speaking world
Ethics in the Spanish-speaking world
For the IA2-specific topics, students should learn relevant examples from Spanish-speaking countries. These may include Spain as well as countries in Latin America, provided that the evidence directly supports the issue being discussed.
8. How should I prepare for the Unit 3 Spanish speaking debate?
Choose a debatable issue with clear arguments on both sides and sufficient Spanish-language research available. Develop a definite position, prepare supporting evidence and anticipate the objections the examiner may raise.
Do not memorise a complete speech. Instead, practise responding spontaneously to questions such as:
¿Por qué piensa eso?
¿Qué diría a las personas que no están de acuerdo?
¿Puede dar un ejemplo concreto?
¿Cuáles serían las consecuencias?
Use named Spanish-language articles and reliable evidence to demonstrate genuine research rather than relying entirely on personal opinion.
9. What marks are needed for an A* in Edexcel IAL Spanish?
To receive an A*, a student must achieve:
At least 320 out of 400 uniform marks overall, which is the minimum required for grade A; and
At least 180 out of 200 uniform marks across Units 3 and 4 combined.
Strong IA2 performance is therefore essential. Students aiming for an A* should give particular attention to the researched debate in Unit 3 and the analytical essay in Unit 4, while continuing to practise listening, reading and grammar regularly.