Quick Links

Quick Links

The Wavell School

Year 11 French

GCSE French

The course is divided into three main themes. Each theme is then further divided into four sub-themes. You will study all of these themes over the two years.

Theme 1: Identity and Culture

Me, Family & Friends

Technology

Free time

Customs & traditions

  • Relationships with family/friends
  • Marriage & partnership
  • Social media
  • Mobile technology
  • Music
  • Cinema/TV
  • Food & eating out
  • Sport
  • In France
  • In Other French speaking countries

Theme 2: Local, National, International, Global

You home & region

Social issues

Global issues

Travel & tourism
  • House
  • Town
  • Area
  • Charity/ voluntary work
  • Healthy living
  • Environment
  • Poverty/ homelessness
  • Holidays
  • Other countries

Theme 3: Current & Future Study and Employment

My studies

Life at college

Post 16 education

Jobs, careers & ambitions
  • Subjects
  • teachers
  • Your school day

 
  • School building
  • After school clubs
  • School rules/ uniform
  • What will you study?
  • Work experience
  • University/ apprenticeship
  • Dream job

Specification at a glance

Exam Board: AQA

Triple Science: Specification Code: 8658

All the assessments are completed in year 11, although you will have mocks during the two year course to ensure that you know how to get the best grades at the end.

Paper

What is assessed

Length

Marks

%

1 - Listening
  • Topics from across the two years
  • You will have questions in English and French. Answer in the question language.

 

35 mins – F

45 mins – H

40 – F

50 - H

25

2 – Non-Exam Assessment Speaking
  •  You will have preparation time before the exam
  • Role-play card (RP) (2 mins)
  • Photo card (PC)(2 mins – F, 3 mins – H)
  • General conversation (GC) (4 mins – F, 6 mins – H)

 

7-9 mins – F

10-12 mins - H

RP – 15

PC – 15

GC - 30

25

3 – Reading
  • Topics from across the two years
  • You will have questions in English and French. Answer in the question language.
  • Translation from French to English

 

45 mins – F

60 mins – H

60 – F

60 - H

25

4 - Writing

Foundation

  • 3 questions which require a written response – getting progressively longer and more challenging
  • Translation from English to French

Higher

  • 1 structured writing task
  • 1 open ended writing task
  • Translation from English to French

60 mins – F

75 mins - H

50 – F

60 - H

25

What did my child study during Year 10?

French GCSE is a topic-based course, the topics that will be covered during Year 10 are:

1st Term

2nd Term

3rd Term

Theme 1 – Identity and Culture

 

RELATIONSHIPS

·         Family

·         Personal descriptions

·         Marriage/Partnerships

·         Friendships

 

TECHNOLOGY

·         Social media

·         Mobile technology

·         Internet

 

FREETIME

·         Sports

·         Hobbies

 

Theme 2 – Local, National, International and Global areas of Interest

 

HOME

·         Types of home

·         Rooms

·         Furniture

·         Description – location

 

TOWN

·         Location

·         Facilities

·         Town v country

 

SOCIAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES

·         Environmental issues

·         Recycling

·         Healthy/ unhealthy living

·         Charity/voluntary work

·         Poverty/homelessness

 

Skills

 

REVISION

·         Pre-exam revision

·         Exam skills

·         Grammar

 

 

CUSTOMS AND FESTIVALS (T1)

·         National holidays

·         Family celebrations

 

 

 

 

What will my child study during Year 11?

1st Term

2nd Term

3rd Term

Theme 3 – Current and Future Study and Employment

 

SCHOOL

  • School life
  • Subjects
  • Education post 16
  • School rules

 

EMPLOYMENT

  • Jobs
  • Career choices/pathways
  • Chores/part-time work

 

FUTURE PLANS

  • Personal future plans
  • Ambitions

 

Theme 2 – Local, National, International and Global areas of Interest

 

HOLIDAYS

  • Travel
  • Accommodation
  • Activities
  • Weather

 

SPEAKING PREPARATION 

 

START OF REVISION PROGRAMME

Skills

 

 

REVISION

  • Pre-exam revision

 

GRAMMAR

  • Use of 3 time frames
  • Irregular verb patterns
  • High frequency phrases
  • Complex structures

 

EXAM SKILLS

  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading
  • Writing

How will my child be assessed and how will I know how well they are doing in French in Year 11?

The French course during Year 10 and 11 is a topic based course (see above for list of topics). At the end of each topic students will complete an informal test in class lasting 30-40 minutes based on previous GCSE questions. The assessment will be notified via Satchel with some revision materials published to support preparation. Students will be given an estimated GCSE grade to show the standard of their work (e.g 5, 6, 7, 8) and the marks and grade will be shared with students in lesson. During the Year 11 Mocks period, students will sit a formal exam in the Sports Hall during which they will complete full papers in Listening, Reading and Writing, which will be marked to exam board standards and a grade awarded. In addition, students will complete at least one mock speaking assessment. The marks/grades gained throughout the year will be used to provide a predicted grade and will be shared through Progress Reviews.

French?

Students will be set weekly homework that they will be expected to spend around 40 minutes completing. The homework will be a variety of tasks that will primarily be:

  • Grammar practice and vocabulary building exercises
  • Completion of past GCSE questions
  • Revision for tests and final exams
  • Online revision/quizzes using sites such as This is Language / Language Gym/ SAMLearning/ Quizlet/Seneca Learning

How can I support my child to do well in French during Year 11?

  • Ensure they complete their homework on time
  • Support them by ensuring they have somewhere suitable to work, away from distractions but with online access.
  • Subscribe to This is Language, via the School
  • Buy a revision guide (order forms available to download via this website)
  • Support them to revise and prepare properly for each test
  • Support them by listening to their speaking practice

My child is struggling during the course, what additional help is available to help them keep up?

  • Students can access the digital resources to help with revision.
  • Regular after school revision sessions will be available.
  • Revision books can be purchased to assist with understanding.
  • Students should be encouraged to seek assistance from their teacher when they are struggling with any aspect of their work.
  • Please contact the class teacher if your child has any concerns.
 

Last Updated September 2023

School website design by Greenhouse School Websites

↑