A Level
Exam Board: AQA
Subject Leader: Miss C Donnellan

French A Level will enhance the linguistic skills of students in reading, writing, listening and speaking. The development of critical thinking is key on the basis of their comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the target language countries. Students will become independent researchers and equip themselves with transferable skills such as creativity, analytical thinking, as well as develop cultural and cognitive flexibility.

How is the course organised and assessed?

Students will be taught in small groups, with plenty of opportunity for individual feedback and paired or whole group discussions. Students will read a literary text and watch films to develop cultural understanding and develop their analytical and essay writing skills, as well as getting the chance to present to the group on cultural topics. 

The course is examined on three papers:
Paper 1: Listening, Reading, and Writing - This is a written exam that takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, and makes up 50% of the total marks. This paper covers aspects of French-speaking society, (e.g. family, technology, volunteering), Artistic Culture in the French-speaking world (e.g. Architecture, music and cinema), multiculturalism is French-speaking society (multiculturalism, crime, marginalisation), and aspects of political life in French-speaking society (e.g. immigration, young people and politics, trade unions).
Paper 2: Writing - This is a written exam that takes 2 horus and makes up 20% of the total marks. This paper requires students to analyse one text and one film and discuss the form and technique of the presentation as appropriate to the work studied.
Paper 3: Speaking - This is an oral exam that makes up 30% of the total marks, this paper is divided into two sections, the first has students discussing a sub-theme with the discussion based on a stimulus card (5-6 minutes) (25 marks), and the second a presentation and discussion (9-10 minutes) of individual research project (35 marks)

What's next?

A Modern Languages A Level gives an easy path to studying the language on a degree course, but it also leads itself easily to studying many other courses in Britain and abroad. It also gives you a skill that will set you apart from other candidates in the eyes of many employers.

View the learning journey for Modern Foreign Languages at NLS