Pearson Edexcel GCSE Spanish Picture Task Practice

The Pearson Edexcel GCSE Spanish Picture task is Task 3. Choose one of two pictures on your allocated stimulus, describe it and answer two compulsory questions. The Picture task is worth 12 marks; the conversation that follows is worth 16.

Spanish Pearson Edexcel

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Exam at a glance

Board and paper: Pearson Edexcel · 1SP1 · Paper 1 Speaking
Task and tiers: Picture Task · Foundation and Higher
Marks: Picture task 12 marks; conversation 16 marks
Approximate task duration / format: Foundation 4.5–5.5 minutes; Higher 7–8 minutes, including conversation
Preparation: 15 minutes supervised preparation for the whole speaking test, not per task
Whole speaking test: Foundation 7–9 minutes; Higher 10–12 minutes · 50 marks · 25% of the GCSE

Task order: Read aloud → Role play → Picture task with conversation.

What happens in this part of the exam?

Two weeks before the assessment, select your thematic context from two choices randomly generated by Pearson; your school manages this. You do not freely pick any context or bring your own picture.
During preparation, choose between the two pictures on the allocated stimulus. Describe only the selected picture, covering the people, location and activity.
Answer two compulsory, unprepared questions. Both are in the present tense at Foundation; at Higher, the second is in the past tense. Then move into an unprepared conversation based on the same thematic context.
Description and the two questions take approximately 1.5–2 minutes at Foundation or 2–2.5 at Higher. The broader conversation takes approximately 3–3.5 minutes at Foundation or 5–5.5 at Higher.
This is Pearson’s Picture task, not AQA’s two-photo discussion. Prepare vocabulary for the whole thematic context, not just one imagined scene.

What examiners are looking for

The description is worth 8 marks for communication and clarity, and linguistic and grammatical accuracy. The two questions are worth 4 marks for communication only.
In the separate 16-mark conversation, respond naturally and develop relevant ideas. Communication and clarity, and linguistic and grammatical accuracy, are assessed.
Keep visible facts separate from your own opinions. Opinions and reasons help when they answer the actual question, not when they replace observation.

Try one now

Original ScoreMySpeech practice task. This is a static website exercise: speak aloud on your own or with a partner; this page does not record you. It is not official exam-board material.

Original ScoreMySpeech practice task

Choose a scene from a day away

Practice thematic context: Travel and tourism. Select one of the two imagined scenes, describe it, answer two practice questions, then continue the conversation on the same context.

Picture A · A beach

Designed practice placeholder — not a photograph. Imagined scene: A family sits under a sunshade on a beach. Two children build a sandcastle. Bags and a towel are beside the adults.

Picture B · A city visit

Designed practice placeholder — not a photograph. Imagined scene: Three visitors stand in front of a museum. One holds a map. Another takes a photograph of the building.

Opening practice question

Describe la imagen que has elegido.

Original follow-up practice questions

Foundation

¿Qué te gusta hacer cuando estás de vacaciones?
¿Prefieres visitar la playa o la ciudad? ¿Por qué?

Higher

¿Qué te gusta hacer cuando estás de vacaciones?
¿Adónde fuiste en tus últimas vacaciones?

Continue the conversation

These are additional rehearsal questions after the two-question practice, not extra compulsory picture questions.

¿Prefieres viajar con tu familia o con tus amigos?
¿Qué ventajas tiene visitar otros países?

One language detail: Estar places people in a location; hay introduces what is present. Vacaciones is normally plural.

Foundation / Higher support

These are concise ScoreMySpeech example responses, not official model answers or guaranteed marks. Follow the demands of your actual stimulus.

Foundation approach

Make the message clear

En la imagen B, hay tres visitantes delante de un museo. Una persona tiene un mapa.

Describe your chosen scene only. Use hay for the people and delante de for their position.

Higher upgrade

Add what the task needs

En la imagen B, tres visitantes están delante de un museo. Mientras una persona tiene un mapa, otra hace una foto del edificio.

Link actions with mientras. As an extra Higher question, practise ¿Qué país te gustaría visitar en el futuro y por qué?

Common mistakes

Describing both pictures rather than the one you chose.
Assuming you can choose any thematic context without Pearson’s allocation process.
Forgetting the two compulsory questions before the conversation.
Preparing one speech instead of being ready for the wider thematic context.

A quick practice strategy

One focused rehearsal

Choose one scene and identify two visible details.
Describe it aloud, then answer two questions with a partner.
Move to a new question within the same thematic context.
Listen back, then improve one description and one conversation answer separately.

This is a revision routine, not official exam preparation timing.

Official specification

Exam information checked against the current Pearson Edexcel GCSE Spanish 1SP1 specification (first teaching September 2024; first examinations 2026 and beyond). Last reviewed: October 2026. Exam boards may update guidance; follow your school’s instructions too.

Official Pearson Edexcel GCSE Spanish 1SP1 specification

Practise it aloud with ScoreMySpeech.

Reading an example is a start. The speaking exam is about what you can actually say. Record your response in the app, receive practice feedback, then repeat and improve for your selected exam board. Feedback is not an official mark or grade prediction.