Towards the end of our Year 11 French GCSE course, we do some extension work which offers a ‘taster’ of our A Level French topics – which helps Senior School students to bridge the gap. We also encourage students to spend time in France, through a specialist travel company which arranges work experience for language students.

Before joining Sixth Form, you will also be encouraged to prepare report of French current affairs, and to watch some of the French films included in the A Level syllabus, as well as reading regularly in French.

AS Level content

• Paper 1 Listening, reading and writing: this paper covers two major topic areas with three sub-themes each:
  • Artistic culture in the French-speaking world (French culture and heritage/French music/French cinema)
  • Current trends of French-speaking society (family and relationships/role of technology/charity and volunteering work)
• Paper 2 Writing: This paper consists of a translation into French (passage of minimum 70 words) and an essay either on a French film or a French book (both chosen by the teacher from set lists).
• Paper 3 Speaking: This involves a discussion of two of the sub-themes above (6-7 minutes each) with the discussion based on a stimulus card for each sub-theme. You will study the cards for 15 minutes before the test begins.

A Level content

• Paper 1 Listening, reading and writing: this paper covers four major topic areas with three sub-themes each:
  • Current trends of French-speaking society
  • Current issues of French-speaking society
  • Artistic culture in the French-speaking world
  • Aspects of political life in the French-speaking world
• Paper 2 Writing: you will write two essays in all either on one text and one film or two texts from the lists set in the specification and chosen by the teacher.
• Paper 3 Speaking: this involves a discussion of a sub-theme based on a stimulus card (5-6 minutes, 25 marks) and a presentation (2 minutes) and discussion (9-10 minutes) of an individual research project (35 marks) chosen by you in advance.

AS Level assessment

• Paper 1 Listening, reading and writing: 1 hour 45 minutes (45% of AS Level)
  • There are assessments in:
    • Listening - students listen to material within their individual control (35 marks)
    • Reading - this section comprises three or four items requiring short answers (45 marks)
    • Translation into English - a passage of minimum 70 words (10 marks)
• Paper 2 Writing: 1 hour 30 minutes (25% of AS Level)
• Paper 3 Speaking: 12-14 minutes (30% of AS Level)

A Level assessment

• Paper 1 Listening, reading and writing: 2 hours 30 minutes (50% of A Level)
  • There are assessments in:
    • Listening - students listen to material within their individual control (30 marks)
    • Reading - this section comprises three or four items requiring short answers (50 marks)
    • Translation into English - a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks)
    • Translation into French - a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks)
• Paper 2 Writing: 2 hours (20% of A Level)
• Paper 3 Speaking: 21-23 minutes (30% of A Level)