Course information
Learning a second language is a skill that is useful for a lifetime and, if mastered at GCSE level, it can add an extra dimension to foreign travel and meeting new people.
As the third most spoken language in the world, not only is it extremely useful on holiday but it can also open the door for students who may wish to migrate to a Spanish-speaking country. Indeed, many of our students are already living in Spain.
The Oxford Home Schooling course is a self-contained study programme, intended to prepare students for the International GCSE examination, but please be aware that the course is not ideal for complete beginners and it will be helpful to have a little experience with the Spanish language.
The examination is designed to test your ability to use and understand Spanish in many different situations and to enable you to gain insights into the culture and civilisation of Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.
You should, therefore, try to read as widely as possible in the Spanish language. The course will provide guidance on sources of addition reading, speaking, and listening practice.
This course is designed to cover a broad range of topics, including the following:
- About me
- Day to day life
- Holidays and travel
- Modern life
- Speaking and listening skills
Oxford Home Schooling’s Spanish IGCSE course is designed to prepare students for the Edexcel IGCSE in Spanish (4SP1) for exams in 2025 and later years.
Hablas español? Apply Now!
Need more information? Enquire Now!
Examinations and Assessment
The International GCSE Spanish is assessed in three examinations.
Paper 1 – Listening – This paper last for 30 minutes + 5 minutes reading time and contributes 25% of the final mark.
Paper 2 – Reading and Writing – This paper lasts for 1 hour 45 minutes and contributes 50% of the final mark.
Paper 3 – Speaking – This assessment lasts 8-10 minutes. The student is expected to converse in Spanish on a prepared topic. Paper 3 contributes 25% of the final mark.
Course duration and study time
When you enrol with Oxford Home Schooling we will agree on an intended examination date with you. Your support will last all the way up to this examination date, regardless of whether you decide to do the course in 9 months or 30.
The recommended number of study hours for this course is 200 hours.
Online Course? Paper-based? Somewhere in between? It’s your choice!
All of our International GCSE Spanish students receive:
- Traditional printed learning materials
- Access to our online resources with on-the-go access to all your regular lessons
- Unmatched support by a fully-qualified teacher online and by phone
Course price
Our International GCSE Spanish course fee is £445.
You may pay using our interest-free easy payment scheme. Pay a £89 deposit followed by eight monthly instalments of £44.50.
Multiple courses attract a discount. See our pricing page for further details.
You will receive support from a fully-qualified tutor holding either a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or a degree in education.
This support includes:
- Marking all assignments for the course
- Written answers to specific study problems
- Telephone contact
When you begin this course, you will agree an examination date or dates with your Student Adviser. Your support period lasts up to this examination date.
Meet Our Tutors
I come from Barcelona, Spain, but moved to the UK in 2005. After I finished my degree, I taught English and French to people of all ages. I really enjoyed the variety of teaching this provided me and it gave me the opportunity to learn to adapt to different styles of learning. When I came to the UK, I continued teaching English, French and Spanish. I taught in colleges and I also provided one-to-one tuition as a private tutor. Since gaining my PGCE, I have worked in secondary schools. I’m an examiner for AQA Spanish A-level. This gives me a good insight into how examinations work and what students need in order to perform well in the exam.
Exploring the subjects that I love with my students and seeing how they make progress is what I like about teaching.
Angels Diez Manzanares
What’s next?
With an International GCSE Spanish tucked under their belt, students will have a number of options to choose from.
A popular option is to continue studying Spanish at A level, with some students even choosing to study Spanish at university.
Others prefer to test their Spanish skills out by taking a holiday to Spain or South America, while a small minority opt to move their focus onto another one of the family of Romance languages.
Whichever option you choose, you’ll love showing off your bi-lingual side to your friends and family!
FAQs
Why Should I choose Oxford Home Schooling?
- Oxford Home Schooling is a long-established educational trust that prides itself on
- treating every student as an individual
- customer service
- course quality.
- We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot by students who have studied with us.
- We provide online and printed resources so you can study your way – other providers do not give you that choice.
- We make it easy for you to home-educate your children with our flexible schedule, tutor support, and interest-free payment plan.
- Every year we help hundreds of children who have left mainstream education obtain the qualifications they need to progress and achieve their goals.
- Oxford Home Schooling is part of a not-for-profit trust so you can be sure that your course fees are spent on either your child’s tuition or on improving our courses.
What is an International GCSE?
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) qualifications are comparable to the UK GCSE specifications, with appropriate international content and assessment enabling successful progression for learners.
Pearson Edexcel International GCSEs are studied in over 80 countries worldwide and in independent schools in the UK. Available in 37 subjects, they are equivalent, grade for grade, to UK GCSEs and accepted by universities globally. Aimed at learners aged 14 to 16, they provide the skills and knowledge needed to progress to A Levels, International A Levels, university and into employment.
Full details of Pearson Edexcel’s International GCSEs can be found here
When can I enrol?
You can enrol and start any time you like, the earlier the better. The important thing to think about is when you wish to sit your exam and to give yourself plenty of time to work through your materials and revise successfully. Our cut-off dates for enrolment can be found here.
Once you have enrolled, you will get access to your course online immediately and your printed course materials will arrive a few days later.
When will I sit my exam?
The Spanish IGCSE exams are held in the Summer examination series which typically runs from mid-May to late June.
The Spanish IGCSE is not available in the Autumn series.
How and when do I book an exam?
The final date for booking summer exams with the exam board without incurring late entry fees is the 21st of February. You should book your place at an exam centre well in advance of this date. Start looking once the autumn term begins.
All the information you need to book an exam centre can be found in our Exams Hub. Here you will find
- detailed instructions
- entry codes needed to book exams
- our map of examination centres where our students have taken exams in recent years.
Tutors & Exams offers discounts to Oxford Home Schooling students and has nine current exam venues across the UK: Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Romford, St Neots, Taunton and Wimbledon.
Pearson Edexcel also publishes a list of exam centres that accept private candidates. This won’t cover every available centre, so if there’s nothing shown in your area, we recommend contacting local schools and colleges directly.
How much does a Spanish IGCSE examination cost?
Your exam fees aren’t included in the course cost as they’re paid directly to the exam centre. They will vary depending on which centre you choose. Generally speaking, dedicated examination services will be more expensive than a local school or college.
Prices range from £100 to £350 pounds.
How do I prepare for the speaking and listening aspects of the course?
Speaking and listening each contribute 25% to your final grade and are an important part of your course. There are listening exercises built into the course, your tutor will provide some time speaking to you on the phone as part of your tutor-marked assignments and general interactions during your course, particularly during Module 5.
However, you will need to find ways to practice these skills beyond the scope of your interactions with your tutor. Methods might include
- Using smartphone apps
- YouTube videos (there are many links given within the course materials)
- Watching French language films or television
- Booking Additional 1-1 paid tutorials with your tutor via Oxford Home Schooling’s Tutoring Platform
How do I arrange the oral exam?
If an exam centre agrees to enter you for Spanish IGCSE, they are also responsible for conducting the oral. It is not shown on the exam timetables as each entering centre has flexibility over the exact time and date, but it will be in a window of about 4 weeks before the first written paper.
Your entering centre will provide a teacher to conduct the oral test which will be recorded and sent to Edexcel for marking.
Do I take my oral exam with my Oxford tutor?
Is it necessary to have studied Spanish before?
No. The course begins with the most basic elements of the Spanish language. But, of course, any prior experience is advantageous and will make it easier to progress, especially in the early stages. It will also help to have studied another language, e.g. French or German, even though these may be organised very differently.
Hablas español? Apply Now!
Need more information? Enquire Now!
