Free-time activities

    AQA
    GCSE

    This study component necessitates a critical analysis of contemporary leisure habits (les loisirs) within France and the wider Francophone world. Candidates must evaluate the tension between traditional cultural consumption—specifically cinema (le septième art) and literature (la lecture)—and the rapid proliferation of digital entertainment. The scope includes the sociological impact of sport on national identity, the decline of print media among youth, and the efficacy of government cultural initiatives. Assessment focuses on the ability to articulate complex viewpoints regarding the evolution of free time in the 21st century.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for accurate conjugation of irregular verbs (faire, aller, voir) across three time frames
    • Credit complex structures such as 'avant de' + infinitive or 'après avoir' + past participle in writing
    • Candidates must link opinions with clear justifications using connectives like 'puisque', 'car', or 'étant donné que'
    • Differentiate strictly between 'jouer à' for team sports and 'jouer de' for musical instruments

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have listed activities well; now add a justified opinion using 'parce que' to access higher marks"
    • "Check your auxiliary verbs in the past tense—remember the 'Dr & Mrs Vandertramp' verbs take être"
    • "Excellent range of vocabulary; try incorporating a negative structure like 'ne... jamais' for complexity"
    • "Ensure you address all bullet points in the writing task to avoid a cap on Content marks"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for accurate conjugation of irregular verbs (faire, aller, voir) across three time frames
    • Credit complex structures such as 'avant de' + infinitive or 'après avoir' + past participle in writing
    • Candidates must link opinions with clear justifications using connectives like 'puisque', 'car', or 'étant donné que'
    • Differentiate strictly between 'jouer à' for team sports and 'jouer de' for musical instruments

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In the 150-word writing task, plan two distinct paragraphs per bullet point to ensure depth of analysis
    • 💡For Reading, identify the tense of the question first to ensure the answer matches the timeframe
    • 💡Allocate 5 minutes to check verb endings and adjectival agreements in the Writing paper
    • 💡Use the 'palm card' strategy for Speaking: keywords only, do not memorize full scripts to avoid sounding robotic

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Using 'j'ai allé' instead of 'je suis allé' when describing past leisure activities
    • Omitting the preposition or article in 'jouer à' or 'faire de' constructions (e.g., 'je joue foot')
    • Confusing 'écouter' (to listen) with 'entendre' (to hear) in listening transcripts

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Décris
    Écris
    Explique
    Translate
    Identify
    Suggest

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