IGCSE Spanish Topics by Exam Board: Full List

As you begin working toward your IGCSE Spanish qualification, understanding exactly what your exam board expects you to learn can make a huge difference to your confidence and revision. 

If you’re in Year 9 and deciding whether Spanish is the right subject for you, looking at the topic list can help you get a clear sense of what the course involves. 

For students already studying Spanish in Year 10 or 11, knowing the full range of themes and vocabulary you’ll be tested on allows you to plan your revision more effectively and stay focused on what really matters for exam success.

This guide offers a complete overview of IGCSE Spanish topics for the Pearson Edexcel (opens in a new tab), Cambridge (opens in a new tab) and OxfordAQA (opens in a new tab) exam boards to help you better organise your revision and stay on-track with your learning.

Key Takeaways

• Knowing your exam board’s topic list is essential: It helps you focus your revision on the themes and vocabulary that will actually appear in your assessments and prevents you from studying content you do not need.

• Organising your revision by theme supports steady progress: Grouping vocabulary, practising grammar within context, and rotating all four skills keeps your learning balanced and manageable.

• Regular past paper practice is one of the most effective ways to prepare: Working through real exam questions strengthens exam technique, builds confidence and highlights which topics you should review in more depth.

Why Exam Board-Specific Topic Lists Matter

As you begin learning IGCSE Spanish, it’s easy to overlook how much your exam board shapes what you need to focus on. Students often tell me they’re unsure which topics matter most or how the exam layout might differ from one board to another. These details can feel small, but they have a real impact on how you revise.

My advice as a tutor is that effective revision always starts with knowing your exact specification. Each exam board organises themes in its own way, so studying from the wrong one can leave important gaps.

If you’re unsure which board you’re taking, ask your Spanish teacher or check your course materials. The exam board is usually printed on the front of your textbook or mentioned in your school’s course outline.

Need IGCSE Spanish specifications and past papers to support your learning? Browse Save My Exams’ resources for Cambridge, OxfordAQA and Edexcel past papers.

Cambridge IGCSE Spanish (Foreign Language 0530)

For the Cambridge IGCSE Spanish course, the exams focus on Skills and Content. The Skills component requires you to develop key skills in the areas of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. These skills will need to be applied to five content areas, which are:

For more detailed information about the skills and content requirements for Cambridge IGCSE Spanish, review the official specification (opens in a new tab).

Edexcel IGCSE Spanish (4SP1)

For the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Spanish course, the exams also focus on Skills and Content. The Skills component requires you to develop key skills in the areas of Listening, Reading and Writing, and Speaking. These skills will also need to be applied to five content areas, which are:

For more detailed information about the skills and content requirements for Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Spanish, review the official specification (opens in a new tab).

OxfordAQA IGCSE Spanish (9269)

For the OxfordAQA IGCSE Spanish course, the exams similarly focus on Skills and Content. The Skills component requires you to develop key skills in the areas of Listening, Reading and Writing, and Speaking. These skills will also need to be applied to three content areas, which are:

For more detailed information about the skills and content requirements for OxfordAQA IGCSE Spanish, review the official specification (opens in a new tab).

How to Use IGCSE Spanish Topic Lists in Your Revision

To revise Spanish effectively, you need a method that helps you build confidence across vocabulary, grammar and exam skills. As an IGCSE tutor, here is the approach I recommend to help you use your topic list in a practical and productive way.

1. Sort Your Vocabulary By Theme

Start by collecting key words and phrases for each theme in your specification, such as personal relationships, social life, transport and travel. Keeping vocabulary grouped like this makes it easier to recall when you are answering speaking or writing questions. 

Many of my students use colour-coded notebooks or a separate digital document for each theme to keep things tidy and easy to find at a later date.

2. Practise Your Four Skills Regularly 

IGCSE Spanish assesses listening, reading, speaking and writing, so aim to rotate your practice rather than focusing on just one or two areas. 

For example, you might do listening and reading practice at the start of the week, then switch to speaking and writing at the end of the week. This balanced approach ensures you feel comfortable with every part of the exam and can apply all the skills to your exam board’s themes and content.

3. Make Past Papers Part of Your Routine

Past papers are one of the most useful tools for understanding what examiners expect. They help you get familiar with the style of questions, the difficulty level and the time pressure. 

You can find a full set of IGCSE Spanish past papers for both Cambridge (opens in a new tab) and Edexcel on Save My Exams, which makes it much easier to practise effectively. Past papers for OxfordAQA (opens in a new tab) can be found on the official website.

4. Target Topics You Find Most Challenging

Once you’ve tried a few past papers, look closely at the types of questions you struggled with more. Then go back to those specific themes and revise them in more depth. 

5. Use Flashcards and Self-Testing

Spanish relies heavily on vocabulary recall, so flashcards are a great way to build confidence. You can create your own I recommend adding verbs, tricky grammar structures and connectors too. Testing yourself little and often is one of the most effective ways to improve.

6. Keep Track of Your Progress Using a Checklist

Write down the topics and skills that still feel uncertain and return to them regularly. This helps you avoid last-minute stress and ensures your revision stays focused and organised.

By using your topic list in this structured way, you’ll make your Spanish revision much more manageable and purposeful. When you combine these steps with Save My Exams’ past papers, you’ll find that your preparation becomes more efficient and your confidence grows with each study session. 

For more general IGCSE revision tips, check out our guide on How to Prepare for IGCSEs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I check which exam board I’m following?

Your teacher, tutor or school can tell you which exam board you’re following. The name of the exam board may also be on your textbooks or learning materials.

Do I need to revise all IGCSE Spanish topics for the exam?

If a topic is included on your exam board’s specification, it could be on your exam. Learning every topic in detail will, therefore, help you prepare effectively for your exam.

What’s the best way to learn vocab by topic?

As a tutor, I know students sometimes find learning large amounts of vocab daunting. But with the right tools and frequent practice, learning key vocab doesn’t have to be challenging.

Here are my top tips for learning your Spanish vocab:

1. Regular practice is essential. Making using flashcards part of your routine is a great way to memorise new vocab and keep older material fresh in your mind.

2. Learning vocab within the context of an overall theme, topic or even a short phrase, can help it stick in your mind more effectively than learning them as stand alone words.

3. Breaking down longer topics into shorter themes or sub-topics can make learning vocab feel less daunting and build up your confidence.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for IGCSE Spanish becomes far more manageable when you understand exactly which topics your exam board requires and use them to structure your revision. 

Sorting vocabulary by theme, practising all four skills consistently, and making past papers part of your routine will help you grow in confidence and make steady progress. 

With clear organisation and reliable revision tools, you can stay focused on what matters most and approach your exams feeling prepared and in control.

Sources:

• Official Specification - Pearson Edexcel (opens in a new tab)

• Official Specification - Cambridge (CIE) (opens in a new tab)

• Official Specification - OxfordAQA (opens in a new tab)