Listening & Reading Exam Technique

This lesson covers the specific strategies and techniques you need to maximise your marks in AQA GCSE Spanish Paper 1 (Listening) and Paper 3 (Reading). While these are receptive skills -- you are understanding rather than producing language -- they require active, strategic approaches. Students who go into these exams with clear techniques consistently outperform those who simply "listen and hope" or "read and guess."

---

Paper 1: Listening Exam Technique

Timing and Structure

Tier	Duration	Reading Time	Total Marks
Foundation	35 minutes	5 minutes before audio	40
Higher	45 minutes	5 minutes before audio	50

You hear each recording twice. There are pauses between recordings and between the first and second play of each recording to allow you to write or check your answers.

The Golden Rule: Use Reading Time Wisely

Before the audio begins, you have 5 minutes of reading time. This is arguably the most valuable 5 minutes of the entire exam.

What to Do During Reading Time