Pearson Edexcel A-Level Spanish Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Pearson Edexcel A-Level Spanish (specification 9SP0) is the fastest-growing major MFL at A-Level, reflecting the global reach of Spanish across 20+ countries. The specification's cultural content spans both peninsular Spain and Latin America, requiring students to engage with the political legacy of Franco, immigration debates in modern Spain, dictatorships and democratisation in Latin America, and the cultural diversity of the Hispanic world. Paper 1 (Listening, Reading and Translation — 2 hours, 80 marks, 40%) features recordings from a range of Spanish-speaking countries, so students must be comfortable with Latin American pronunciation and vocabulary alongside Castilian Spanish. Listening passages include news reports, interviews, and discussions at native speed, while reading texts draw on journalism, opinion pieces, and literary extracts. The translation sections test precision with structures that differ markedly between English and Spanish — ser vs estar, the personal 'a', and subjunctive usage after expressions of doubt, desire, and emotion. Paper 2 (Written Response to Works and Translation — 2 hours 40 minutes, 120 marks, 30%) requires critical essays in Spanish on prescribed literary works and films. Set works frequently include García Lorca's 'La Casa de Bernarda Alba', García Márquez's 'Crónica de una muerte anunciada', and films such as 'El Laberinto del Fauno' or 'Volver'. Students must write analytically about character motivation, social context, and artistic technique entirely in Spanish. Paper 3 (Speaking — approximately 30 minutes, 72 marks, 30%) covers themes like regional identity in Spain (Catalonia, the Basque Country), social inequality in Latin America, or the impact of tourism on Spanish communities, followed by the student's independently researched project. With 237 resources, this archive provides the most extensive Spanish A-Level practice collection available.