Writing (1) (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
GCSE Spanish Paper 4: Writing (1)
Paper structure and timing
Paper 4: Writing tests your ability to communicate in written Spanish across different contexts and situations.
Exam overview
All questions and instructions appear in English, making it easier to understand what's being asked of you.
- Foundation tier: 3 writing tasks + 1 translation (1 hour 15 minutes)
- Higher tier: 2 writing tasks + 1 translation (1 hour 20 minutes)
- All questions and instructions appear in English
- Each question connects to one of the thematic contexts you've studied
Thematic contexts covered
The exam will draw from these six key areas you've studied throughout your course:
- My personal world
- Lifestyle and wellbeing
- My neighbourhood
- Media and technology
- Studying and my future
- Travel and tourism
Foundation Question 1: Photo description
This question requires you to describe a photo using exactly four short sentences.
Critical Requirements:
- 2 marks available per sentence (8 marks total)
- Keep sentences short but complete - must include a verb
- Stick to vocabulary you know confidently
- Focus on communicating relevant information clearly
- No marks given for elaborating - keep it simple and accurate
Essential verbs to revise
These high-frequency verbs form the backbone of successful photo descriptions:
| Spanish | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| hay | there is/there are | describing what exists |
| son | they are | plural descriptions |
| es | he/she/it is | singular descriptions |
| tiene | he/she/it has | possession (singular) |
| tienen | they have | possession (plural) |
Sample Photo Description Sentences:
Describing existence:
- Hay una familia - There is a family
Describing identity:
- Es una fiesta - It's a party
Describing possession:
- El niño tiene un pastel - The boy has a cake
Describing location:
- Hay regalos en la mesa - There are presents on the table
Photo description strategy
You have flexibility in what to describe, but only describe what you can actually see in the picture:
- People present (using hair, eyes, clothes, colours)
- What they're doing (actions visible in the photo)
- The surroundings (weather, location, objects)
Remember that your goal is clear communication rather than impressive vocabulary. Four simple, accurate sentences will score full marks.
Foundation Question 2: Article writing
This task requires a 40-50 word response in Spanish worth 14 marks.
Task structure
You must cover three specific bullet points that typically include:
- A description or statement of fact
- An opinion
- A reference to a future event
Essential Exam Tips:
- What you write doesn't need to be true - you can be creative
- Focus on clear communication over complex grammar
- Aim for accuracy with vocabulary you know well
- Count your words to stay within the 40-50 word limit
Sample Task and Response:
Task: Write an article about a person you know. Include:
- A description of their appearance
- Your opinion of their personality
- When you will next see the person
Sample response (45 words): Mi mejor amiga, Sara, es alta y bonita. Tiene el pelo largo y marrón, y los ojos grises. Creo que es una persona muy simpática y me gusta mucho porque es divertida. Este sábado voy a ver a Sara y vamos a ir al cine.
Analysis: This response covers all three bullet points while staying within the word limit and using familiar vocabulary accurately.
Foundation translation into Spanish
This section contains five sentences to translate (35-40 words total) worth 10 marks.
Translation requirements
Understanding the structure helps you prepare effectively:
- Four sentences use present tense verbs
- One sentence requires past tense
- At least one verb in third person ('he', 'she', 'it', 'they')
- Sentences increase in difficulty as you progress
Mark allocation breakdown:
- Up to 6 marks for conveying the main meaning
- Up to 4 marks for vocabulary and grammar accuracy
This means getting the gist across is more important than perfect grammar!
Translation strategy
Key Strategy Points:
- Attempt every sentence - don't leave gaps
- Write as much as you can even if unsure
- Mistakes are acceptable if the meaning is clear
- Focus on getting the gist across rather than perfect accuracy
Key translation vocabulary
These essential words appear frequently in translation tasks:
| English | Spanish | Context |
|---|---|---|
| I am | soy/estoy | permanent vs temporary states |
| I have | tengo | possession |
| I go | voy | movement |
| I like | me gusta | preferences |
| I play | juego | sports/games |
| yesterday | ayer | past time reference |
| tomorrow | mañana | future time reference |
| with | con | accompaniment |
| in/at | en | location |
| very | muy | intensifier |
Practice Translation Exercises:
English to Spanish:
- I have a sister → Tengo una hermana
- Yesterday I went to the cinema → Ayer fui al cine
Spanish to English:
- Mi hermano juega al fútbol → My brother plays football
- Mañana vamos al parque → Tomorrow we're going to the park
Key exam strategies
General writing tips
Successful candidates follow these proven approaches:
- Use vocabulary from your prescribed list when possible
- Simple, accurate sentences score better than complex, incorrect ones
- Check your work for basic spelling and agreement errors
- Time management is crucial - don't spend too long on one question
Vocabulary building tips
Focus your revision on these high-impact areas:
- Learn high-frequency verbs thoroughly in different tenses
- Practise describing people, places and activities regularly
- Build topic-specific vocabulary for each thematic context
- Focus on words you'll definitely use rather than obscure vocabulary
Regular practice with photo descriptions and short article writing will build both your confidence and fluency. Aim to practice these skills weekly leading up to your exam.
Key Points to Remember:
- Keep Foundation Question 1 simple - four short, accurate sentences are better than elaborate attempts
- Question 2 needs exactly three bullet points covered in 40-50 words
- Translation focuses on meaning first - attempt every sentence even if uncertain
- All questions and instructions appear in English so read them carefully
- Practice describing photos and writing short articles regularly to build confidence and fluency