Tête-à-Tête
Plain-English guides to the GCSE and IGCSE speaking exams — what happens in the room, how the marks break down, and how to prepare. Written by the team behind Tête-à-Tête and checked against each board's official specification.
This hub covers the formats, timings and mark weightings for the AQA (French 8652, Spanish 8692), Edexcel (1FR1, 1SP1) and Cambridge IGCSE (0520, 0530) speaking exams, then how to prepare: which practice tools suit which student, how an app compares with a tutor, and a step-by-step method for the photo card.
Role-play, reading aloud and photo card — timings by tier, the 50-mark breakdown, and what examiners actually reward.
Last updated 21 August 2026
Read aloud, role play and the picture task in Edexcel's order — timings by tier, the 50-mark breakdown, and how the picture task's three phases work.
Last updated 9 September 2026
The untiered 0520 speaking test — role play and two topic conversations, marked out of 40, and how to prepare for it.
Last updated 9 September 2026
The same three-part AQA format as French — and the extra tenses, including the Higher subjunctive, that the Spanish specification expects.
Last updated 9 September 2026
Read aloud, role play and the picture task for 1SP1 — timings by tier, the 50-mark breakdown, and what each phase of the picture task asks for.
Last updated 9 September 2026
The untiered 0530 speaking test — role play and two topic conversations, marked out of 40, and how to prepare for it.
Last updated 9 September 2026
An honest comparison of GCSE French speaking practice apps and tools for AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE: what each does, where it falls short, who it suits.
Last updated 29 September 2026
Compare GCSE Spanish speaking practice tools for AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE: AI examiners, tutors and free revision sites, with who each one suits.
Last updated 29 September 2026
A simple four-step structure for the AQA GCSE Spanish photo card, with useful phrases, Foundation and Higher example answers, common mistakes and practice tips.
Last updated 26 September 2026
Should you pay for a tutor or use a speaking app for GCSE French or Spanish? Honest costs, what each does well, and a hybrid plan for most families.
Last updated 29 September 2026
A 14-day plan for the GCSE French or Spanish speaking exam on AQA, Edexcel or Cambridge IGCSE: role play, reading aloud, photo card, conversation and mocks.
Last updated 28 September 2026
Worked GCSE French and Spanish role play examples for AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE, with model answers, how each task is marked and common mistakes.
Last updated 28 September 2026
Speaking isn't graded on its own. What top-band marks need on AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE, with French and Spanish example answers.
Last updated 28 September 2026
How AI speaking practice marks GCSE French and Spanish: per-task role play marks, six-skill scores, estimated grades, and why no app can predict your grade.
Last updated 26 September 2026
Looking for a ScoreMySpeech alternative? A fair comparison of GCSE speaking practice options by need: exam simulation, free practice, tutors and revision.
Last updated 29 September 2026
Tête-à-Tête vs ScoreMySpeech compared for GCSE French and Spanish speaking: boards, feedback, mocks, free access, price and teacher tools, fairly.
Last updated 29 September 2026