How to Help Your Teen Ace AQA A-level Spanish: A Parent’s Guide

Published 29th August 2025

Introduction

A-levels can be a pretty big step up from GCSEs, especially when it comes to Languages. The days of simple sentences and subject pronouns are well behind your teen, replaced with an intense learning schedule that can be a shock to the system (to say the least).

You can't do any of the learning for your teen, but you can help them feel confident and prepared for their AQA A-level Spanish exam with the right support. In this article, we're breaking down all the key things you should know to help your teen ace their Spanish A-level.

The AQA A-level Spanish Exam Structure

There are three AQA A-level Spanish papers: one that combines Listening, Reading and Writing; one that solely focuses on Writing; and one for Speaking.

Each exam paper counts for a different percentage of the final grade. The marks your teen gets on each paper are scaled so they match that weighting. These adjusted marks are then added up to give their final score, which is used to set the grade.

Still not sure you know what A-levels are, let alone A-level Spanish? Check out our comprehensive guide to A-levels here.

Paper 1: Listening, Reading, and Writing

• Exam 1 has a 2 hour, 30-minute duration and tests your teen's ability to listen and respond, read and respond, and translate a passage.
• The minimum raw mark for exam 1 is 100, with the maximum scaled mark being 200.

Paper 2: Writing

• Exam 2 has a duration of 2 hours. Here, your teen will answer two essay questions in Spanish (writing around 300 words for each) for two of the works they've studied (either two books or one book and one film).
• The minimum raw mark for this exam is 80, and the scaled mark is the same.

Paper 3: Speaking

• Exam 3, speaking, takes place in two parts: in part 1, your teen will discuss a chosen stimulus card, and in part 2, they'll present and debate findings from their individual research project.
• The exam duration is 21–23 minutes, including 5 minutes of supervised preparation time, and the total raw mark is 60. The maximum scaled mark is 120.

If your teen is unsure about the structure of the exams they're sitting, it's worth reading through the official AQA A-level Spanish breakdown together, so you can help them understand exactly what they're revising for. This is the first step to reducing the anxiety they may feel in the run-up to exam time.

Key Skills Needed for Success

Your teen will need to strengthen their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to perform well across each section of the AQA A-level Spanish exam.

• For the Listening, Reading, and Writing paper, they should practise understanding a range of Spanish accents and interpreting authentic texts, as well as answering comprehension questions.
• For the Speaking exam, your teen should focus on discussing stimulus cards, and presenting and debating ideas from their individual research project. The best way to build their fluency and confidence is with regular practice.
• In the Reading and Writing tasks, they'll need to analyse texts and interpret meaning under time pressure. Their revision should focus on practising their ability to write extended responses and demonstrating their grammar and vocabulary understanding.
• For the essay portion of the Writing paper, they should practise structuring arguments and developing critical opinions in clear Spanish.

Across all the sections of the exam, your teen will have the best chance of success if they can confidently use accurate grammar and a broad vocabulary. They'll also boost their grades by demonstrating their cultural knowledge.

Encouraging Consistent Practice

As with all A-level exams, your teen will feel far less anxious and much more prepared if they take the little-and-often approach to revision in the run-up to exam day.

They might have got away with last-minute cramming for GCSE Spanish, but this method is unlikely to get them their deserved grades at A-level. See how you can help them set a realistic revision schedule that won't require hours of desperate, energy drink-fuelled practice the night before the exam.

Make sure your teen's revision involves a good balance of essay outlines, timed listening, grammar and pronunciation practice, and mock speaking tasks. Offer to help them as much or as little as they want, and respect their wishes – some teens revise best on their own, and some just don't want to get Mum involved!

If your teen is struggling to manage their revision, a tutor can be a helpful option. A tutor specialising in AQA A-Level Spanish can provide guidance and tailored practice beyond what you can offer at home.

Comparing AQA A-level Spanish with Other Exam Boards

Wondering how A-level Spanish compares with other exam boards? The content across Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC Eduqas is broadly similar, but there are a few small differences in exactly how the assessments are structured. For instance, while the same core skills apply across all boards, the choice of set texts and films can vary, along with the exact format of the papers.

What makes AQA unique is its emphasis on cultural knowledge and analytical essays, which means your teen will need to show their understanding of themes, contexts, and critical opinions in their writing.

Making Spanish Part of Everyday Life

Not only is textbook Spanish pretty uninspiring, but sticking to the same structured topics and themes can prevent Spanish culture from feeling real for your teen.

When they want to take a break from the textbooks but keep learning passively, encourage them to engage with Spanish media. That could mean listening to Spanish music or podcasts, watching Spanish TV shows, or reading news articles and blogs in Spanish.

For ultimate entertainment, they could watch their favourite film dubbed in Spanish, or take a complete break from revision by learning to cook a traditional Spanish dish. The more that Spanish feels like part of their everyday life, the more comfortable they'll feel revising.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has answered the questions you had about the AQA A-level Spanish exam, and given you the tools you need to support your teen in their revision.

You can absolutely help your teen make revision less stressful and more productive, with no outside input needed. But if they need extra support to achieve their full potential, A-level Spanish tutoring offers several benefits as a supplement to their own independent practice.