GCSE Spanish Speaking: Role-play and Photo Card, People and Lifestyle

The speaking exam of the reformed GCSE in Spanish (first exams in 2026) includes a role-play and a conversation based on photos. In AQA's version, for example, the role-play has five tasks printed in English, one of which asks you to ask a question, and lasts about one to one and a half minutes; the photo card has two photos from one theme, which you describe before an unprepared conversation on that theme. This material rehearses both parts on the first theme, People and lifestyle: family and relationships, healthy living, and school and future work.

The oral exam is the heart of the material. You receive a role-play card in English, as in the real test: you are staying with a Spanish exchange family, and the examiner plays the mother, speaking Spanish only. After the five tasks you get short feedback in English on whether each task was completed and on your real errors. Then comes the photo card: since this is a text chat, the two photos (a family meal and two teenagers out jogging) are described to you in English, and you describe them in Spanish. The examiner then asks conversation questions in Spanish, one at a time, about your family, fitness, food, school subjects and plans after school, with one Higher-level question on your ideal job. Final feedback in English covers strengths, errors, time frames and one target. A second role-play at the doctor's is available if you want to continue.

The quiz trains the decisions that make a role-play task complete: the question that asks what time, the tense that 'usually' or 'last weekend' requires, the frequency that 'how often' needs, an opinion with a reason, and the polite usted form. It also covers describing a photo (en la foto hay, a la izquierda, al fondo at Higher tier, estar + present participle, creo que están contentos) and choosing the answer that fits a conversation question.

The flashcards summarise role-play technique, question words, tú and usted, frequency expressions, the language of photo description and how to keep a conversation going. The written sheet asks you to write your answers to two role-play cards, describe the two photos, answer four conversation questions and explain how to use your preparation time, with model answers throughout.

• Complete role-play tasks with the information and time frame they ask for
• Ask questions in Spanish and choose between tú and usted
• Describe two photos with en la foto hay, positions, present continuous verbs and opinions
• Answer unprepared questions on family, health and school with opinions, reasons and several time frames
• Use the preparation time effectively

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the DfE GCSE modern foreign languages subject content (2022) and on the role-play and photo card tasks as described, for example, in AQA's GCSE Spanish specification (8692, version 1.0), Theme 1 People and lifestyle. The role-plays, photo descriptions and questions are original.