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A-level French
A-level French is a good foundation for a variety of careers. This course aims to equip you to deal with everyday social and work situations in French-speaking countries. Not only will you become more confident when speaking the language, you will gain an in-depth understanding about the history and culture of France.
- Fast Track
- In a rush? You can complete this course under a year at no extra charge
- 98% Pass Rate
- Students have enjoyed a 98% pass rate
- Exam Pass Guarantee
- If you don't pass first time, we'll support you for free until your next exams
- Online Learning
- Study on your own terms with our learning platform, MyOxbridge™
- Unlimited Tutor Support™
- Get as much help as you want from your expert personal tutor
Course Introduction
French is spoken by approximately 74 million people worldwide – and not just in France, also Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, Africa and many more countries. If you’d like to learn a language that will truly open up the world, as well as a range of career options such as teaching, translation, travel and tourism, sales and marketing – then A-level French is the course for you!
With your personal tutor’s unlimited support and guidance, you’ll develop your French speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. You’ll explore topics such as political and artistic culture in the French-speaking world, social issues and trends, as well as grapple with the finer points of grammar. You’ll further develop your ability to speak and write coherently, confidently communicate with native speakers, express ideas fluently and accurately comprehend and discuss source material.
Course Info
- Duration
- Study Hours
- Difficulty
- Outcome
- UCAS Points
- Syllabus Code
- Units
-
9–24 months
(Fast Track available)
-
300
-
Level 3
-
AQA A-Level
-
56
-
7651
-
15 units (view units)
Awarding Body: AQA
AQA qualifications are internationally recognised and taught in 30 countries worldwide, highly valued and recognised by employers and universities and enable you to progress to the next stage of your life. AQA qualifications suit a range of abilities and include GCSE courses, IGCSE courses and A-level courses.
UCAS
This course carries UCAS points. This means that it can be used to gain direct access to university courses and other higher education qualifications, through the UCAS system.
What you will learn
Below is an outline of the course material you will study:
Unit 1: The Changing Nature of Family (La famille en voie de changement)
- Family structures
- Relationships between the generations
- Translating small texts into the target language
- Forming, recognising and using the imperfect tense
- Using a monolingual dictionary
- Grammar: l’imparfait
- Grammar: le passé simple
- Grammar: le parfait’ / ‘le passé composé
Unit 2: The ‘Cyber-Society’ (La cyber-société)
- Grammar: ‘les constructions à l’infinitif’
- Grammar: les pronoms compléments (subject and reflexive pronouns)
- Grammar: les présent
- Vocabulary and strategies to expand vocabulary
- The dangers of the ‘cyber society’
- ‘Cybernauts’
Unit 3: The Place of Voluntary Work (Le rôle du bénévolat)
- Grammar: coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, temporal conjunctions, casual conjunctions
- Grammar: the conditional
- Grammar: Future tense
- Who are volunteers and what do they do?
- Value of volunteering
- Who do volunteers help?
Unit 4: A Culture Proud of its Heritage (Une culture fière de son patrimoine)
- Grammar: adjectives, comparisons, and superlatives
- Grammar: ‘Si’ clauses
- Grammar: the subjunctive
- Improving your language level
- National, regional and local heritage
- Heritage and tourism
- How heritage reflects culture
Unit 5: Contemporary Francophone Music (La musique francophone contemporaine)
- Grammar: the imperative
- Grammar: modal and impersonal verbs in the conditional
- Justifying your opinion
- The diversity of contemporary Francophone music
- Who listens to and appreciates contemporary Francophone music?
- How to safeguard contemporary Francophone music
Unit 6: Cinema: The 7th Art Form (Cinéma: le septième art)
- Grammar: ‘Si’ clauses
- Why is cinema the seventh art?
- Evolution of cinema: the main lines
- Cinema: a national passion
Unit 7: Positive Features of a Diverse Society (Les aspects positifs d’une société diverse)
- Grammar: the conditional
- Enrichment due to ethnic mixing
- Diversity, tolerance, and respect
- Diversity – learning for life
Unit 8: The Positive Aspects of a Diverse Society (Les Aspects Positifs D’une Société Diverse)
- Grammar: l’imparfait
- Grammar: ‘le parfait’ / ‘le passé composé’
- Grammar: le plus-que-parfait
- Who are the marginalised?
- What help is there for the marginalised?
- Attitudes towards the marginalised
Unit 9: How Criminals are Treated (Comment on traite les criminels)
- Grammar: le passé simple
- Grammar: ‘Si’ clauses
- Grammar: infinitive constructions
- Attitudes towards crime
- Prison – failure or success?
- Other penalties
Unit 10: Teenagers, the Right to Vote and Political Commitment (Les ados, le droit de vote et l’engagement politique)
- Grammar: The Passive Voice
- Grammar: avoiding passive voice
- Grammar: the subjunctive
- The right to vote – for or against?
- Teens and political engagement – motivated or demotivated?
- What is the future of politics?
- Trends and statistics
Unit 11: Demonstrations, Strikes – Who Holds the Power? (manifestations, grèves – à qui le pouvoir?)
- Grammar: The use of direct and indirect complementary pronouns
- Grammar: Relative pronouns
- The power of unions
- Demonstrations and strikes – are they effective?
Unit 12: Politics and Immigration (La politique et l’immigration)
- Grammar: demonstrative pronouns and adjectives
- Grammar: imperfect and past tense
- Grammar: the future perfect and the conditional
- Political solutions to the issue of immigration
- Immigration and political parties
- Political engagement amongst immigrants
Unit 13: Preparing for Paper 3: Speaking
- Preparation and techniques
- Planning revision
- Reinforce vocabulary
Unit 14: Preparing for Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Writing
- Preparation and techniques
- The format of Paper 1
- Translation from French to English
- Translation from English to French
Unit 15: Preparing for Paper 2: Writing
- Preparation and techniques
- The format of Paper 2
- Critical and analytical responses
- Texts
- Films
Course Outcome
Upon successfully completing this home learning course, you will receive an A-level in French, issued by AQA, the leading awarding body. Your certificate is identical to that issued to students at any other school, college or university.
A-level French is a qualification that can be utilised both personally and professionally. Employers and universities both value the ability to speak a different language. Being able to communicate with French-speakers could also be beneficial in social settings, particularly when abroad.
Progression Routes
After completing A-level French, you will be adequately equipped to study for degrees in Modern Languages, International Relations, Linguistics, and Translation & Interpreting. You will also be presented with several career opportunities, including Translating & Interpreting, Teaching & Education and International Business.
Examinations and Assessments
For this A-level French course, you’ll be required to complete three assessments:
Written Exams
Paper 1: 2 hours 30 minutes, 50% of A-level, 100 marks
Paper 2: 2 hours 30 minutes, 20% of A-level, 80 marks
Speaking Exam:
Oral Exam 1: 21-23 minutes, 30% of A-level, 60 marks
The exams contain multiple-choice, structured, closed short answer and open response questions
Exam FAQs
Are exams required to pass the course?
For A-levels and GCSEs you will need to sit an exam. You can purchase your exams when you enrol on a course, or you can book them later via MyOxbridge. Either way, once you're on board with us, your tutor will guide you through the process.
Where are the exams held?
Exams will require attendance at a physical exam centre, with detailed information available on our Exam Centres page. We offer guaranteed exam spaces at our partnership centres across the UK, or you can register as a private candidate at a centre of your choice, keeping in mind that fees may vary by location.
When do exams take place - are there set dates?
Exam dates are set nationally and cannot be changed, so it's important to plan accordingly. They are usually late spring to early summer. For example, forthcoming A-level exams are scheduled from 1st March to 31st May 2025, while GCSE exams will run from 5th May to 25th June 2025.
Can exams be taken online?
For A-level and GCSE courses, exams must be taken in person at a designated exam centre.
Are mock exams available? Are they compulsory?
Yes, we offer both compulsory Internal Mocks in the autumn (included in your course fees and delivered online) and optional External Mocks in the spring (for an additional fee, taken at an exam centre). Mock exams are a great way to prepare for the real thing, and we encourage you to take advantage of them.
How and when do I register for exams?
Exam registration opens in the autumn before the summer exam period, so if you plan to take exams next summer, you should register by November of the preceding year. You can complete the exam registration form in your student portal, and our Student Support team is available to help with the process.
Can you take exams outside of the UK?
While our MyOxbridge learning portal is accessible worldwide, most exams must be taken within the UK. Check with us for specific exam requirements to avoid any surprises.
Do I have to buy the exam from Oxbridge in order to study with you?
No, you are not obligated to purchase your exam through Oxbridge. You can either book your own exam centre independently, or take advantage of our partnerships with exam centres for a more streamlined process.
Entry Requirements
GCSE French or equivalent is recommended before starting this course. This French A-level syllabus is a difficulty level three: the equivalent difficulty of an A-level or BTEC, usually suitable for most learners of all ages.