How to Help Your Child With GCSE Speaking If You Don't Speak the Language

You don't need to speak French or Spanish to help. The most useful things a parent can do are about the practice, not the language: know which exam board and tier your child is sitting, make sure they practise out loud, and give them a timed run-through before the real thing.

What is the speaking exam?

It's a short spoken test with your child's teacher at school, worth a quarter of the qualification. For AQA and Edexcel it lasts 7–9 minutes at Foundation and 10–12 at Higher, after 15 minutes' preparation. Cambridge IGCSE takes about 10 minutes, after 10 minutes' preparation.

Our board guides explain each one: AQA French, AQA Spanish, Edexcel French, Edexcel Spanish, Cambridge IGCSE French and Cambridge IGCSE Spanish. For what each part rewards, see how the GCSE speaking exam is marked.

Find out the board and tier

Ask your child, or their French or Spanish teacher, which board (AQA, Edexcel or Cambridge IGCSE) and which tier (Foundation or Higher) they're entered for. Everything else follows from those two answers: the parts of the test, their order and how long it takes.

Out loud, not in their head

Speaking marks come from speaking. Reading notes and learning vocabulary help, but the exam rewards what your child can actually say on the spot. Ask them to say their answers to you, even if you can't follow every word. You'll hear whether they're speaking in full sentences or stopping after two words.

Use the card, even if you don't speak the language

On the AQA and Edexcel sample role-play cards, the tasks are set out in English, so you can follow along and check your child's answer covers each one. The boards publish sample cards on their websites. The real cards stay confidential until the exam.

A timed run-through before the mock

A few weeks before the school mock, set up a full run-through: the preparation time, then the whole test, against the clock. It takes under half an hour and makes the real thing feel familiar. Someone has to play the examiner. That can be you with a sample card, a friend or relative who speaks the language, or your child recording themselves on a phone and answering the card's tasks. An AI examiner such as Tête-à-Tête can play the part in French or Spanish for AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE, following up on what your child says and timing the mock like the real exam.

Is a tutor worth it for the speaking exam?

A tutor gives your child a real conversation partner, usually once a week. Practice between sessions, whether with you, a friend or an app, is what makes that hour count. Our guide to apps and tutors compares the options.

How ready is your child?

The parents' check is seven quick questions about how your child's speaking practice is going. Your result shows on screen, with nothing asked first. It checks the preparation, not your child.