French - A and AS Levels

French - A and AS Levels

What are the main features of this course?
You will build on your GCSE language skills.

The AS course will cover:

• Media: TV, advertising and communication technology
• Popular culture: cinema, music and fashion/trends
• Healthy living/lifestyle: sport/exercise, health and well-being and holidays
• Family/relationships: relationships within the family, friendships and marriage/partnerships.

The second year (A2) part of the course will cover:

• Environment: pollution, energy and protecting the planet
• The multi-cultural society: immigration, integration and racism
• Contemporary social issues: wealth and poverty, law and order and the impact of scientific and technological progress
• Cultural topic: the study of a target language speaking region/community or the study of a period of 20th century history from a target language-speaking country/community or the study of a novelist/dramatist/poet from a target language-speaking country/community or the study of a director/architect/musician/painter from a target language-speaking country/ community.

How is the course assessed?

The AS course consists of units 1 and 2.

Unit 1: Listening, Reading and Writing
Written Paper: 2 hours
Weighting: 70% of the total AS / 35% of total A Level marks

Candidates will answer a range of questions based on approximately 5 minutes of heard material and on a selection of written stimulus texts. They will also respond in writing to a question based on one of the AS topics.

Unit 2: Speaking Test

35 minutes (including 20 minutes preparation time)
Weighting: 30% of total AS / 15% of total A Level marks

Candidates will discuss a stimulus card based on one of the AS topics and take part in a conversation covering three further AS topics.

The A2 course condsists of units 3 and 4.

Unit 3: Listening, Reading and Writing
Written Paper: 2 hours 30 minutes
Weighting: 35% of total A Level marks

Candidates will answer a range of questions based on approximately 6 minutes of heard material and on a selection of written texts. They will also respond in writing to a question based on one of the four A2 cultural topic areas.

Unit 4: Speaking Test

35 minutes (including 20 minutes preparation time)
Weighting: 15% of total A Level marks

Candidates will present a point of view based on a stimulus card from one of the A2 topic areas and take part in a conversation covering two further A2 topics.

Who should study this course?
Most students taking 'A' level French will have a GCSE pass in French at grade B or higher.

Where can I go next?
Successful completion of this course will allow you to progress to higher education courses in French or support you with other courses at University. The qualification will both widen and strengthen your employment opportunities.