French Paper 1 code: 8658/LH Listening

• Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language

• Written exam: 45 minutes (Higher 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.)

Section A – questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally

Section B – questions in French, to be answered in French or non-verbally

French Component 2 code: 8658/SH Speaking

• Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes

• Non-exam assessment

• 10–12 minutes (Higher Tier) + preparation time

• 60 marks

• 25% of GCSE

Role-play – 15 marks (2 minutes at Higher Tier)

Photo card – 15 marks (3 minutes at Higher Tier)

General conversation – 30 marks (5–7 minutes at Higher Tier)

French Paper 3 code: 8658/RH Reading

• Understanding and responding to different types of written language

• Written exam: 1 hour (Higher Tier)

• 60 marks

• 25% of GCSE

Section A – questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally

Section B – questions in French, to be answered in French or non-verbally

Section C – translation from French into English (50 words for Higher Tier)

French Paper 4 code: 8658/WH Writing

• Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes

• Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher Tier)

• 60 marks at Higher Tier

• 25% of GCSE

Question 1 – structured writing task (student responds to four compulsory detailed bullet points, producing approximately 90 words in total) – there is a choice from two questions – 16 marks

Question 2 – open-ended writing task (student responds to two compulsory detailed bullet points, producing approximately 150 words in total) – there is a choice from two questions – 32 marks

Question 3 – translation from English into French (minimum 50 words) – 12 marks