French

Qualification: GCSE

Exam board: AQA

It is essential that pupils have studied French for at least two full years. Native speakers should not choose their home language as an Option; they will be entered for GCSE in Y10 in order to gain an extra GCSE qualification in this language, in addition to their other subjects. Pupils develop their application of grammar and apply new vocabulary and tenses to a variety of situations. They also gain an understanding of life and culture in French-speaking countries. Pupils are encouraged to express their opinions and narrate events, with the emphasis firmly placed on the active skills of speaking and writing, and extensive practice of listening and reading skills.

Assessment: There are four assessment components. They contribute equal amounts to the overall grade.

Component one (25%): Listening examination, 35 minutes (Foundation Tier) and 45 minutes (Higher Tier)
Component two (25%): Speaking examination, 7-9 minutes (Foundation Tier) and 10-12 minutes (Higher Tier)
Component three (25%): Reading examination, 45 minutes (Foundation Tier) and 1 hour (Higher Tier)
Component four (25%): Writing examination, 1 hour (Foundation Tier) and 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher Tier)