French

    OCR
    GCSE

    This subject will help you develop key knowledge and skills required for exam success.

    16

    Topics

    85

    Objectives

    68

    Exam Tips

    55

    Pitfalls

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    Study Guides

    17 revision guides for OCR GCSE French

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    Key Features

    • Master key concepts
    • Develop exam technique
    • Apply knowledge effectively

    Assessment Objectives

    AO1
    25%

    Listening: Understand and respond to different types of spoken language.

    AO2
    25%

    Speaking: Communicate and interact in speech.

    AO3
    25%

    Reading: Understand and respond to different types of written language.

    AO4
    25%

    Writing: Communicate in writing.

    What Gets Top Grades

    A*/Grade 9

    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

    OCR
    State
    1 mark

    Give a single fact or term

    Identify
    1 mark

    Name or select

    Describe
    2-4 marks

    Account of process or features

    Explain
    3-6 marks

    Give reasons with BUSINESS-FACING outcomes

    Analyse
    6-9 marks

    Examine methodically showing cause→effect→outcome

    Evaluate
    9-12 marks

    Judge, weigh up evidence, reach SYNOPTIC conclusion

    Common Exam Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exams

    • •Confusing phonetically similar words (e.g., 'cheveux' for hair vs 'chevaux' for horses)
    • •Failing to identify negative structures that reverse meaning (e.g., 'ne... plus', 'ne... que')
    • •Transcribing the first detail heard (the distractor) rather than waiting for the connective (e.g., 'mais', 'cependant') that introduces the correct answer
    • •Misinterpreting 'faux amis' (false friends) leading to incorrect lexical identification (e.g., 'actuellement' as 'actually' instead of 'currently').
    • •Overlooking negative structures (ne...plus, ne...jamais, ne...que), resulting in the exact opposite meaning.
    • •Failing to distinguish between the conditional ('would like') and the future ('will'), altering the certainty of the information.
    • •Indiscriminate lifting: Copying a whole sentence which contains the answer but also incorrect information.
    • •Distractor traps: Selecting the first option heard in Listening without waiting for the qualifier (e.g., 'mais', 'cependant').

    Top Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for exam success

    • •Utilize the 5-minute reading time to predict vocabulary fields and question types before the audio starts
    • •Listen for 'signpost' words (d'abord, ensuite, enfin) to track the narrative structure of the recording
    • •Annotate the question paper immediately; cross out distractors as soon as they are negated in the audio
    • •Check the mark allocation; 2 marks implies two distinct points or a complex detail with a qualifier
    • •Read the question phrasing specifically to determine if the answer requires a specific detail (who/when) or a general gist (why/feeling).
    • •In Listening, use the 5 minutes reading time to annotate the questions, predicting likely vocabulary and word classes (noun, verb, adjective).
    • •For 'gap-fill' tasks, ensure the selected word makes sense grammatically and contextually within the sentence structure.
    • •Pay close attention to qualifiers (e.g., 'beaucoup', 'assez', 'trop') as these often determine the correct option in multiple-choice questions.

    Specification Topics

    16 topics

    Understanding native speakers

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Identifying key information in written French

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Identifying key information in spoken French

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Inferring meaning from context

    10 objectives8 tips6 pitfalls2 subtopics

    Understanding authentic texts

    5 objectives4 tips4 pitfalls

    Pronunciation and intonation

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Using a range of vocabulary

    5 objectives4 tips4 pitfalls

    Responding to questions confidently

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Using appropriate vocabulary and grammar

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Structuring sentences and paragraphs

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Verb conjugations

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Adjectives and adverbs

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Articles (definite, indefinite, partitive)

    5 objectives4 tips4 pitfalls

    Identity and culture: Me, my family and friends

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Life at school/college

    5 objectives4 tips3 pitfalls

    Free-time activities

    5 objectives4 tips4 pitfalls

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