Years 10-11 GCSE
Students will develop their French language skills to their full potential, equipping them with the knowledge to communicate in a variety of contexts with confidence.
Specification content
Students study all of the following themes on which the assessments are based.
Theme 1: Identity and culture
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
Awarding Body
AQA
Assessment
GCSE French has a foundation tier (grades 1–5) and a higher tier (grades 4–9) examination paper. Students must take all four question papers at the same tier. All question papers are sat at the end of the course.
Paper 1: Listening
What is assessed?
Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language.
Written exam: 35 minutes (foundation tier), 45 minutes (higher tier) 40 marks (foundation tier), 50 marks (higher tier)
25% of GCSE (Each exam includes 5 minutes’ reading time of the question paper before the listening stimulus is played.)
Paper 2: Speaking
What is assessed?
Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes.
Non-exam assessment
7–9 minutes (foundation tier) and preparation time
10–12 minutes (higher tier) and preparation time
60 marks (for each of foundation tier and higher tier)
25% of GCSE
Paper 3: Reading
What is assessed?
Understanding and responding to different types of written language.
Written exam: 45 minutes (foundation tier), 1 hour (higher tier) 60 marks (for each of foundation tier and higher tier) 25% of GCSE
Paper 4: Writing
What is assessed?
Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes. Written exam: 1 hour (foundation tier), 1 hour 15 minutes (higher tier) 50 marks at foundation tier and 60 marks at higher tier 25% of GCSE.
Topics covered
Students study all of the following themes on which the assessments are based.
Theme 1: Identity and culture
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
