Free-time activities

    OCR
    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
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for accurate distinction between 'jouer à' (ball games), 'jouer de' (instruments), and 'faire de' (activities) with correct article contraction
    • Credit responses that integrate three distinct time frames (past, present, future) seamlessly within the 150-word task
    • Candidates must link opinions to specific reasons using varied adjectives (e.g., 'passionnant', 'ludique') rather than generic terms
    • Reward the use of complex structures such as 'après avoir joué' or 'avant de sortir' to demonstrate grammatical range

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have listed activities; now justify your preference using a comparative structure to access higher marks"
    • "Check your auxiliary verb choice in the perfect tense—remember 'sortir' and 'aller' take 'être'"
    • "Expand your answer by including a future intention to demonstrate control of multiple time frames"
    • "Avoid repetition of 'c'est'; try 'je trouve ça' or 'ça me rend' to vary your language range"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for accurate distinction between 'jouer à' (ball games), 'jouer de' (instruments), and 'faire de' (activities) with correct article contraction
    • Credit responses that integrate three distinct time frames (past, present, future) seamlessly within the 150-word task
    • Candidates must link opinions to specific reasons using varied adjectives (e.g., 'passionnant', 'ludique') rather than generic terms
    • Reward the use of complex structures such as 'après avoir joué' or 'avant de sortir' to demonstrate grammatical range

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In Listening, identify the 'distractor'—an option mentioned but negated (e.g., 'je ne fais plus...')—before selecting the answer
    • 💡For the 150-word writing task, plan two points for each bullet to ensure sustained development of ideas
    • 💡Check agreement of adjectives and past participles carefully, especially when referring to plural nouns or female subjects
    • 💡Use the 'if' clause (si clauses) to add complexity, e.g., 'Si j'avais le temps, je ferais...'

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusion of prepositions, specifically 'jouer le foot' instead of 'jouer au foot' or omitting the partitive with 'faire'
    • Incorrect auxiliary verb selection in the perfect tense for movement verbs (e.g., using 'j'ai allé' instead of 'je suis allé')
    • Over-reliance on 'c'est' for opinions; failure to use varied structures like 'je trouve ça' or 'ça me plaît'
    • Phonetic spelling errors in writing, particularly confusing 'er' (infinitive) and 'é' (past participle) endings

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