French (Edexcel)

Studying a language at A Level opens a wealth of opportunities in employment. International and multi-national companies are always seeking linguists who can grow their client base, developing new and exciting markets. From Engineering to Tourism and Leisure, Construction to Web Design, Architecture to Medicine, Journalism and Sports Coaching – linguists are sought after in every industry as our world becomes ever smaller in the face of Globalisation. Studying A level language will make you the desired candidate in any setting.

Teaching and learning in the Sixth Form is a different experience to that of lower school. Lessons are conducted in French with the 4 skills woven throughout each as you study engaging and relevant topics such as: Evolving society in France; Political / intellectual / artistic culture in Francophone countries; Immigration and the French multicultural society; The Occupation and Resistance to help you gain a better understanding of the social, political and historical context for modern French-Speaking society around the globe. To further immerse yourself in the language we will study literature and film in detail, analysing not only the texts themselves, but the context in which they were created and the thought-provoking themes they highlight. It is a challenging and highly rewarding course designed to ensure linguistic competence and a deepening cultural awareness.

A Level

Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Translation

– Section A: Listening (30 marks)

– Section B: Reading (30 marks)

– Section C: Translation into English (20 marks)

Assessment: Written exam, 2 hours, 40% of A Level

Paper 2: Written Response to Works and Translation

– Section A: Translation from English into French (20 marks)

– Section B: Written response to literary texts (50 marks)

– Section C: Written response to films (50 marks)

Assessment: Written exam, 2 hour 40 mins, 30% of A Level

Paper 3: Speaking

Students complete two tasks:

– Task 1: Discussion on a Theme (30 marks)

– Task 2: Independent research presentation and discussion on that research (42 marks)

Assessment: Spoken exam (internally conducted and externally assessed), 21-23 mins (including 5 mins prep), 30% of A Level

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Five GCSEs at Grade 5 or above, including Grade 6 in GCSE French.

Updated September 2023