If you’re taking AQA GCSE French, this guide will walk you through exactly what to expect, from how the exam is structured to how to prepare effectively.
Whether you’re just starting revision or getting closer to exam day, understanding the exam format, assessment objectives, and key topics will help you feel calm, confident, and in control.
Key takeaways
AQA GCSE French is made up of four exam papers: listening, speaking, reading, and writing
There is no coursework, but the speaking exam is conducted by your teacher
Exams are available at Foundation and Higher tiers
Strong vocabulary and exam technique are key to reaching top grades
What’s the format for AQA GCSE French?
The AQA GCSE French (8652) exam consists of:
Four exam papers, all taken at the end of Year 11
Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writingskillassessments
A total of 240 marks across all papers
Students are entered for either Foundation tier (grades 1–5) or Higher tier (grades 4–9)
Your final grade is based entirely on exam performance
Each skill is worth 25% of your total grade, so balanced preparation across all four papers is essential.
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Each paper tests a different skill, with its own question types, mark focus, and expectations.
Understanding what each paper involves and how expectations differ by tier helps you revise more effectively and avoid surprises in the exam.
Listening
The Listening paper tests how well you can understand spoken French.
In the exam, you’ll:
Listen to a range of short and longer recordings, which are all played twice
Answer questions in English and French
Identify key details, opinions, and attitudes
At Foundation tier, recordings use more familiar vocabulary and clearer language.
At Higher tier, recordings are longer, faster, and include more complex vocabulary and opinions.
Speaking
The Speaking exam assesses how confidently you can communicate in spoken French.
It includes three parts:
Role play
Photo card
General conversation on two themes
At Foundation tier, answers are shorter and more structured, with simpler language expected.
At Higher tier, you’re expected to give longer answers, justify opinions, and use a wider range of vocabulary and tenses.
The exam is conducted by your teacher and recorded for external marking.
Reading
The Reading paper tests how well you can understand written French.
In the exam, you’ll:
Read a range of texts, from notices to longer passages
Answer questions in English and French
Translate a short text from French into English
At Foundation tier, texts are shorter and more straightforward.
At Higher tier, texts are longer, with more complex language and more demanding translation tasks.
Strong vocabulary knowledge is key at both tiers.
Writing
The Writing paper tests how accurately and clearly you can write in French.
Depending on your tier, you’ll be asked to:
Write short and longer responses
Describe events, give opinions, and explain reasons
Translate sentences from English into French
At Foundation tier, writing tasks are more structured and supported.
At Higher tier, you’re expected to write more independently, use different time frames, and show greater accuracy and range.
Examiners reward clear communication and accurate use of the language at both levels.
What are examiners looking for?
AQA French examiners mark your work using clear assessment objectives. In simple terms, they want to see that you can:
AO1: Understand and respond to spoken and written language
AO2: Communicate clearly in speech and writing
AO3: Demonstrate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary
To reach the top grades, you’ll need to:
Use a wide range of vocabulary Avoid repeating basic words. More precise language earns higher marks.
Use grammar correctly Correct verb forms, tenses, and word order matter, especially at Higher tier.
Develop your answers Longer responses should include opinions, reasons, and extra detail.
Match your language to the question Respond clearly and directly to what’s being asked, especially in writing and speaking tasks.
What are the grade boundaries for AQA French?
It’s important to remember that the exact grade boundaries for your GCSE exams will change every year. Exam boards adjust grade boundaries after an exam, depending on the exam's difficulty and how the cohort performed.
This is so students don’t have an advantage or disadvantage because of the year they took the paper. For example, if your paper were harder, grade boundaries would be lowered so that a grade 5 reflects the same level of knowledge as in previous years.
To give a sense of what to expect, here are the grade boundaries for AQA French GCSE from the last year:
Higher tier:
Foundation tier:
What key topics do I need to know for AQA GCSE French?
All students study the same three broad themes in AQA GCSE French.
Theme 1: Identity and culture
Me, my family and friends
Technology in everyday life
Free-time activities
Customs and festivals in French-speaking countries
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Home, town, neighbourhood and region
Social issues
Global issues
Travel and tourism
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
My studies
Life at school and college
Education post-16
Jobs, career choices, and ambitions
These themes appear across all four papers, so revising topics in an integrated way helps reinforce vocabulary and ideas.
Past papers help you understand question styles, see how marks are awarded, and build confidence with real exam timing and structure.
Head to the AQA website to find past papers and mark schemes from previous GCSE French exams.
How can I prepare for AQA GCSE French?
Here are 5 top tips to help you prepare confidently for your AQA GCSE French exams.
1. Build vocabulary a little and often
Vocabulary is the foundation of every paper.
Learn words by theme, not in isolation
Practise spelling as well as meaning
Revisit vocabulary regularly to lock it in
Top tip: Focus on high-frequency verbs and opinion phrases. Words like to be, to have, to like, to want, and phrases such as I think that… or because… appear across all topics and all four papers.
2. Practise each skill separately
Each paper needs a slightly different approach.
Listening: practise spotting key words and synonyms
Reading: scan for meaning before translating
Writing: plan answers and check verb tenses
Speaking: practise aloud, not just in your head
Short, regular practice is far more effective than last-minute cramming.
3. Master core grammar
You don’t need every tense, but you do need the basics secured.
Focus on:
Present, past, and future tenses
Adjective agreement
Key sentence structures
Examiners would rather see clear, correct sentences than ambitious grammar that isn’t accurate.
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