GCSE (9-1) French, German and Spanish 2024 - Your guide to our new qualifications

Oct 20, 2026

GCSE (9-1) French, German and Spanish 2024 qualification overview outlining first teaching in 2024 and first assessment in 2026, with a focus on inclusive, accessible and transparent Pearson Edexcel approaches. The guide explains vision and key features, including compassionate assessments, continuity across the four skills, and reliable assessment design with minimal surprises. It summarises what the guide contains and provides an assessment-at-a-glance breakdown for speaking, listening, reading and writing, plus thematic contexts and support for teachers and learners.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Key features

Assessment at a glance

Thematic contexts

Sample assessment materials

How we’re supporting you

GCSE (9-1) French, German and Spanish 2024 Your guide to our new qualifications First teaching: 2024 First assessment: 2026 Cover images: ©Shutterstock/AJtrace ©Shutterstock/Neo Geometric ©Shutterstock/Slanapotam 2 Our vision for the new GCSEs Language is more than words. Language is communication. Language is culture. Language is connection. Built on a foundation of inclusivity, accessibility and transparency, the Pearson Edexcel qualifications take a compassionate, student-centred approach and cater to the needs of all learners, regardless of their background, ability or reason for studying a language. Combining clear, concise and straightforward assessments with engaging, meaningful and relatable content, our new Pearson Edexcel GCSE Modern Languages qualifications are fit for the future, equipping students for life and careers in a global setting. 3 Register your interest or find out more information at [go. pearson.com/MFLGCSE24](go. pearson.com/MFLGCSE24) What’s in this guide? Key features 4 Assessment at a glance 6 Thematic contexts 7 Sample assessment materials 8 How we’re supporting you 14 © Pepe Laguarda /iStock Key features We have listened to feedback from all parts of the language community, including hundreds of teachers and students. We know that when you are teaching a language, you want your students’ eyes to be opened to other cultures and for them to learn how to communicate about subjects that interest them. Like you, we are passionate about growing a love of languages. Our GCSE qualifications are focused on the important ways that languages foster communication, broaden perspectives, introduce new cultures and develop students into global citizens. Language learning for today’s world – we have carefully selected our vocabulary and assessment content to reflect and represent diverse student experiences, so that all students feel included and will be able to speak and write about the things that interest them most. Compassionate assessments in a clear and familiar structure – our assessments are accessible and transparent, rooted in testing what students know and ensuring they can attempt the whole assessment confidently, with no surprises. We are committed to maintaining a sense of continuity with the separate assessment of the four skills, and a consistent assessment structure. 4 ©Eye Em/Getty Preparing for the future – we know how much you value additional assessment material, and weare committed to providing additional content, including secure mock material. We will provide digital solutions to ease the administrative burden, and opportunities to be involved in innovative pilots for onscreen assessment pathways. Reliable and extensive support from switch to delivery – our Switch Consultants will provide one-to-one support to make switching to our new qualification pain free. Once you are with us, our dedicated Subject Advisor is here to help with any of your queries and we will provide regular training opportunities for all our teachers. Consistent Assessment Design – our assessments are designed to minimise surprises. Each year there will be the same question types, in the same place, for the same number of marks so your students will know what to expect. 5 ©Sergey Kur bat ov/iStock i Assessment at a glance |
Paper 1: Speaking (Non-examined assessment) 50 marks Prep time: 15 mins 25%
Foundation: 7-9 mins Higher: 10-12 mins | | --- | | l Task 1: Read aloud and 2 short unprepared questions
l Task 2: Role play in a transactional setting
l Task 3: Picture description, 2 short unprepared questions • Describe only one and follow-on conversation colour picture from
a choice of two | 1 minute in private assessment space for reading aloud preparation • Student selects the thematic context in advance |
Paper 2: Listening and Understanding
Foundation: 45 mins Higher: 60 mins

50 marks
25% | | ---

FAQs

When do the new GCSE Modern Languages qualifications first teach and first assess?

First teaching is in 2024 and first assessment is in 2026.

What principles guide the assessments in these qualifications?

Assessments are described as compassionate, clear and familiar, rooted in what students know, accessible and transparent, and designed to minimise surprises.

What topics are covered under the thematic contexts?

The guide lists contexts such as My personal world, Lifestyle and wellbeing, My neighbourhood, Media and technology, Studying and my future, and Travel and tourism, with specified vocabulary and grammar for listening, reading, speaking and writing.

Oct 20, 2026

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