2026 speaking windows confirmed
The prescribed speaking window dates for centres to conduct their Modern Foreign Language oral assessments have now been confirmed for the May/June 2026 series.
May/June 2026 speaking windows
| Qualification | Speaking window | |
|---|---|---|
GCSE (2024) French, Spanish & German |
16th April - 21st May 2026 * | |
| GCSE Arabic, Chinese, Gujarati, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish and Urdu |
16th April - 21st May 2026 | |
| A level Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish |
16th April - 21st May 2026 | |
| International A/AS levels French, German and Spanish This qualification is only available in international centres. |
16th April - 21st May 2026 | |
| International GCSE Chinese, French, German, Spanish, English as a Second Language |
23rd March - 1st June 2026 | |
International GCSE The speaking test is optional for this qualification. |
23rd March - 1st June 2026 |
|
*GCSE (2024) French, German and Spanish: candidate selection of thematic context.
On 19th March 2026, the Pearson Sequencing Tool will open and present a randomised choice of two thematic contexts for each candidate. Candidates must select one of these thematic contexts, which will form the basis of their task three (picture task with conversation). Teachers must submit their candidates’ choices by 2nd April 2026 at the latest.
Full training on use of the Sequencing Tool will be provided in due course along with all our usual support for conducting speaking exams, including our administrative support guide.
FAQs:
What happens if the submission deadline falls during our Easter break?
You can submit your students’ selected thematic contexts at any time between 19th March and 2nd April, so you may choose to submit yours before you break up for Easter.
What do I do if a student selects one of the thematic contexts and then changes their mind?
If you have not yet submitted your students’ choices via the Sequencing Tool, you will be able to update the selected thematic context for the student yourself. If the student changes their mind after submission, you will need to contact Pearson. Further information will be provided in due course.
Further speaking support for GCSE French, German and Spanish (2024)
Conducting the Speaking training
Training recordings and materials
- A level: Arabic, Gujarati, Greek, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Turkish and Urdu
- International GCSE: Arabic (first language), Bangla, Greek (first language), Sinhala and Tamil
- International A level*: Arabic and Greek
*only available in international centres
For the November 2025 and January 2026 International qualifications speaking windows please consult the following post:
International November and January speaking assessment windows
Submitting speaking assessments
All speaking recordings should be submitted via our online Learner Work Transfer (LWT) platform within 2 working days of completing the oral examinations for that language qualification in your centre.
If completing your speaking assessments on a Friday, for example, you would therefore need to submit them via LWT by the end of the following Tuesday. This enables us to ensure that assessments are allocated to our examiners throughout the window and avoids the marking of speaking assessments impacting on the marking of other language qualification components.
Guidance on submitting assessments via LWT is available on our website.
LWT guidance PowerPoint and recorded training for language qualifications
Subject advisor
Rebecca Waker
Languages
