French

Details of the Examination Specification

French AQA (7651) AS (7652) A-level

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course? 

In order to study A-Level French, students will normally have acquired the knowledge, understanding and skills equivalent to those specified for GCSE at Higher Tier. 

What equipment is needed? 

App: Larousse French Dictionary 

Headphones 

What kind of student is this course suitable for? 

The independent, future European citizen who may wish to combine the study of French with a degree in Law, Theatre Studies, Psychology, European Studies, Medicine, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, German, Accountancy, Mathematics etc. 

AS/A Level Year 1 (AS certification 7651) 

Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Writing: Written exam, 1 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks, 45% of AS 

Paper 2: Writing: Written exam, 1 hour 15 minutes, 60 marks, 25% of AS 

Paper 3: Speaking: Oral exam, 12-14 minutes, 90 marks, 30% of AS 

Subject Content 

• Social Issues and Trends 

  • The changing nature of the family (La famille en voie de changement) 

  • The ‘cyber-society’ (La cyber-société) 

  • The place of voluntary work (Le role du bénévolat) 

• Artistic Culture 

  • A culture proud of its heritage (Une culture fière de son patrimoine) 

  • Contemporary francophone music (La musique francophone contemporaine) 

  • Cinema: the 7th art form (Cinéma: le septième art) 

  • Grammar 

  • Literary Texts and Films 

    • Students study one film: ‘La Haine’ by Mathieu Kassovitz 

A Level (A Level certification 7652) 

Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Writing: Written exam, 2 hours 30 minutes, 160 marks, 50% of A-Level 

Paper 2: Writing: Written exam, 2 hours, 60 marks, 20% of A-Level 

Paper 3: Speaking: Oral exam, 21-23 minutes (including 5 minutes preparation time), 60 marks, 30% of A-Level 

Subject Content - AS content plus: 

• Social Issues and Trends 

  • Positive features of a diverse society (Les aspects positifs d’une société diverse) 

  • Life for the marginalised (Quelle vie pour les marginalisés?) 

  • How criminals are treated (Comment on traite les criminels) 

• Political and Artistic Culture 

  • Teenagers, the right to vote and political commitment (Les ados, le droit de vote et l’engagement politique)

  • Demonstrations, strikes, - who holds the power? (Manifestations, grèves – à qui le pouvoir?) 

  • Politics and immigration (La politique et l’immigration) 

  • Grammar 

  • Literary Texts and Films 

    • Students study one literacy text: ‘Kiffe kiffe demain’ by Faiza Guène