French Department Team

Department Leader:

Mrs L Hurtado-Read: lhurtado-read@tgschool.net

French Teachers:

Miss S Derry: sderry@tgschool.net

Miss N Sturgess: nsturgess@tgschool.net

Mr A Blagona: ablagona@tgschool.net

Examination Board: AQA

Examinations

Paper 1: Listening (25%)

Foundation: 35 mins + 5 mins reading time

40 marks

Higher: 45 mins + 5 mins reading time

50 marks 

Paper 2: Speaking (25%)

Foundation: 7-9 mins + 12 mins preparation time

60 marks

Higher: 10-12 mins + 12  mins preparation time

60 marks

Paper 3: Reading (25%)

Foundation: 45 mins

60 marks

Higher: 1 hour

60 marks

Paper 4: Writing (25%)

Foundation: 1 hour

50 marks

Higher: 1h15

60 marks

Co-curricular after school clubs

Monday Languages GCSE Revision 204
Tuesday French GCSE Revision 204
Wednesday French GCSE Revision 201
Thursday Languages GCSE Revision 205
Friday Languages GCSE Revision 205

Next steps

February Half Term

Complete your speaking booklet and practise all 3 themes

W/C March 10th

Speaking Mock Exam: There are three tasks which must be conducted in the following order:

Task 1 – a role play based on one topic that is allocated by AQA.

Task 2 – questions based on a picture stimulus based on one topic that is allocated by AQA.

Task 3 – conversation based on two themes. The first theme is based on the topic chosen by the student in advance of the assessment. The second theme is allocated by AQA.

March & April

Revision during lessons and co-curricular sessions following a personalised plan following feedback from mock exams.

April 28th - May 10th

Paper 2 Speaking

May 21st

Paper 1 Listening

Paper 3 Reading

June 5th Paper 4 Writing

How parents and carers can best support their child

  • Encourage students to follow a revision timetable at home.
  • Encourage students to attend co-curricular sessions regularly.
  • Encourage students to use their revision guides regularly. They can bring their work and get extra merit points for every topic they complete:
  1. French Revision Guide: This book offers clear explanations and vocabulary lists for every theme of the exam, as well as the grammar needed to get ready for A Level.
  2. French Revision Workbook: This book has exam-type questions on every topic explained in the Revision Guide. It also has practice papers and links to audio files to improve their listening skills.
  • Contact subject teachers if you are concerned about a student’s progress.
  • Encourage students to use the following websites for additional exam practice.

Revision

Activity 

Skill

Developed

Useful

Learning Links

You should be memorising the answers to your speaking questions from your Speaking Booklet. Start with Theme 2, your chosen theme.

You should spend time after each French lesson looking over and writing out your notes on to POST-ITs.  

Following this, continue with answering the general conversation questions in your booklet and practising them on a daily basis.

These answers will be very useful for your Writing and Speaking papers.

Writing

Speaking

Last Minute GCSE French Speaking Exam Tips

GCSE French Role Play Tips

GCSE French Photo Card Tips

Grade 9 Phrases to ACE your GCSE French Writing & Speaking (Complex Structures)

GCSE French Writing - How to Get Full Marks

French 20 Keys: Use this to add variety to your answers.

Autumn Speaking Mock Booklet: This is the booklet we used in the last mock, you can use it for further revision.

Task 3 Speaking Booklet: You need to complete this booklet to prepare for the general conversation. This will also help you with your writing practice. 

Make sure you are using Memrise to get through the relevant GCSE Vocabulary

Reading

Listening

Vocab Recall

Memrise AQA GCSE French 

Complete past papers (AQA website) and try your exam techniques and check against mark schemes.

Exam practice

AQA GCSE Past Papers (French)

Get used to the speed of spoken French by listening to relevant podcasts and radio stations

Listening

Spotify French Indie Playlist

Spotify Made in France Playlist

Spotify French Music Mix Playlist

Easy French YouTube Channel 

Use online grammar websites to practise the types of constructions that you will use in the writing and speaking examinations

Writing

Speaking

Grammar

French Grammar Revision

www.languagesonline.org.uk

www.senecalearning.com

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize