WJEC A-Level French
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32 topics
Course topics13 topics
- AS Unit 1: Speaking
- Prescribed Literary Works (A Level Unit 5) – one work from prescribed list
- A2 Unit 3: Speaking (Independent Research Project)
- AS Units
- A2 Unit 5: Critical and Analytical Response in Writing (Literary Work)
- A2 Unit 4: Listening, Reading and Translation
- Theme 1 (AS) – Being a Young Person in French-Speaking Society
- Theme 3 (A Level) – Diversity and Difference
- A2 Units
- Theme 4 (A Level) – France 1940–1950: The Occupation and the Post-War Years
- AS Unit 2: Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response in Writing
- Theme 2 (AS) – Understanding the French-Speaking World
12 of 13 shown
Grammar – A Level Additional2 topics
About this course
About WJEC A-Level French
WJEC A-Level French is designed for learners who want to deepen their understanding of the French language and Francophone cultures. Building on your GCSE knowledge, this linear two-year course equips you with advanced communication skills, critical thinking, and a nuanced appreciation of social, political, and cultural issues in French-speaking societies. You’ll explore themes such as the evolving nature of family, the world of work, regional identity, cultural heritage, and the impact of immigration, while also gaining insights into France’s Occupation and post-war years. The specification encourages you to become a confident, independent linguist, ready for further study, travel, or employment.
The course is structured around four broad themes that progressively broaden your horizons. In the first year, you’ll examine social issues like youth trends and education, as well as cultural topics from media to music. The second year adds depth with themes of diversity, marginalisation, and political philosophy, alongside a focused historical study. This thematic approach ensures you not only master vocabulary and grammar but also engage critically with real-world issues, comparing them to your own society.
A standout feature of WJEC A-Level French is the independent research project in the speaking exam, where you select a topic of personal interest related to a French-speaking country. This fosters intellectual curiosity and hones your presentation skills — excellent preparation for university interviews and dissertations. Additionally, you’ll study either one literary text and one film or two literary texts, sharpening your analytical writing. The specification is respected by universities and employers for its academic rigour and practical relevance.
Assessment Structure
The WJEC A-Level French qualification is linear, with all exams taken at the end of the two-year course. It consists of three externally assessed components: Component 1 (Speaking, 30% of the A-level) involves a discussion based on a stimulus card and a presentation on your individual research project; Component 2 (Listening, Reading and Translation, 50%) tests comprehension through authentic recordings and texts, as well as translation into English and into French; Component 3 (Critical and Analytical Response in Writing, 20%) requires two essays on a literary text and/or a film studied during the course. Each component is marked by WJEC examiners, and grades are awarded on the basis of total uniform marks (500 UMS).
Why Choose WJEC?
- The independent research project is unique to WJEC and allows you to tailor part of your exam to a passion — from French fashion to the politics of migration — building autonomy and advanced research skills that impress universities and employers.
- WJEC’s themes are highly contemporary and relevant, covering diverse topics such as digital media, cultural identity, and social mobility, which resonate with students’ own experiences and facilitate engaging classroom debates.
- The specification is clear and well-structured, with a logical progression from AS-style topics at the start to more complex, university-ready analysis by the end, and it is fully supported by WJEC’s extensive digital resources, past papers, and teacher guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any coursework in WJEC A-Level French?
How does the independent research project work in the speaking exam?
Do I have to study both a film and a book?
What's the difference between the AS and A-level in WJEC French?
How much grammar do I need to know for WJEC A-Level French?
Assessment and exam guidance
What Gets Top Grades
Knowledge & Understanding
Demonstrates comprehensive and accurate knowledge
- Uses correct subject-specific terminology
- Shows detailed understanding of concepts
- Makes accurate connections between topics
- Demonstrates depth beyond surface-level knowledge
Application
Applies knowledge effectively to new contexts
- Selects relevant knowledge for the question
- Adapts understanding to unfamiliar scenarios
- Uses examples appropriately
- Shows awareness of context
Analysis & Evaluation
Develops sophisticated analytical arguments
- Constructs logical chains of reasoning
- Considers multiple perspectives
- Weighs evidence to reach justified conclusions
- Acknowledges limitations and nuances
Key Command Words
Give a single fact or term
Name, select, or recognise
Set out main features briefly
Give an account of what something is like or what happens
Give reasons with developed cause→effect chains
State similarities AND differences (both required)
Examine in detail showing cause→effect→consequence chains
Weigh up BOTH sides, reach JUSTIFIED conclusion
Make judgments about importance with justification
Show formula→substitution→calculation→answer with units
Tips and common mistakes
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Overusing 'euh' as the only filler, which undermines the impression of fluency.
- •Inserting English fillers like 'like' or 'you know' under pressure.
- •Using fillers inappropriately in formal written tasks (e.g., in essays or summaries).
- •Applying fillers without adjusting for register, such as using overly colloquial 'bah' in a formal role-play.
- •Misplacing adverbs in compound tenses, e.g., using 'J'ai visité souvent' instead of 'J'ai souvent visité'.
- •Incorrect pronoun sequence, such as placing indirect before direct object pronoun (e.g., 'Je lui le ai donné' instead of 'Je le lui ai donné').
- •Forgetting to invert subject and verb in formal questions or after adverbs like 'peut-être' in sentence-initial position.
- •Using English word order in indirect questions (e.g., 'Je ne sais pas où est-il allé' instead of 'Je ne sais pas où il est allé').
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •In the speaking exam, prepare a mental list of go-to fillers (e.g., 'alors', 'enfin') to replace stock silence.
- •Practise spoken responses with a timer, consciously using different fillers to avoid monotony.
- •During the preparation time, note key discourse markers you will use to link arguments, such as 'd'abord', 'ensuite', 'pourtant'.
- •Listen to authentic French conversations to internalise natural filler placement and intonation patterns.
- •Memorise the canonical order of object pronouns using the mnemonic: me, te, se, nous, vous, le, la, les, lui, leur, y, en.
- •For translation, mentally identify adverb type: short and common adverbs generally follow the verb; longer adverbs often go to the end.
- •When faced with adjective placement, recall the BAGS acronym (Beauty, Age, Goodness, Size) for those that precede the noun, but also remember that some adjectives change meaning.
- •In essays, use inversion sparingly to add formal tone, particularly in rhetorical questions or after 'peut-être' and 'aussi'.
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