A LEVEL
French
French inspires curiosity, confidence and the courage to connect beyond borders.
French is your gateway to global understanding; you’ll be inspired to think critically, communicate creatively, and engage with ideas that transcend language.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
Why Choose French at St Paul’s?
Our French department invites you to explore language as a living, breathing experience and a way to see, think and connect beyond borders.
Lessons that bring the French-speaking world to life through film, debate, music and contemporary culture.
Teachers who share their love of language with energy and insight, inspiring you to communicate with confidence and authenticity.
Opportunities to practise your French beyond the classroom, from exchanges and trips to cultural events and university-style seminars.
A close-knit community that values curiosity, creativity and independent thought.
A subject that cultivates adaptability, empathy and global awareness.
Where French Can Take You
Students of French at St Paul’s don’t just master a language; they step confidently into international pathways, from university study in the humanities and social sciences to careers in diplomacy, media, and global enterprise.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
What You’ll Study
Listening and Reading – Build your understanding of spoken and written French through authentic sources. This paper includes listening and reading comprehension tasks, as well as translations between English and French.
Written Response to Works and Translation – Explore French literature and cinema by writing analytical essays on set texts and films, developing your ability to discuss ideas, themes, and techniques in French.
Speaking – Show your spoken confidence in French through discussion of a stimulus card and an individual research project on a topic that interests you.
Full details of the course can be found in the exam board’s official AQA specification.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
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French Exam Results
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PASS RATE
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achieved
A* to C
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achieved
A* to B
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achieved
A* to A
Entry Requirements
In addition to our standard entry requirements, a number of our courses have specific entry requirements to ensure you are ready to thrive in the subject. For Mathematics, you’ll need:
- Grade 6+ in French
These requirements are in place to help set you up for success and make sure you have the right foundation to enjoy the challenge of Sixth Form study.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
Hear From Our Students
The transition from Y11 to Y12 has been really good, I have loved the challenge of moving on to getting into topics are a higher level
It is so interesting to learn about and experience new cultures
Ms R Glentworth
SUBJECT LEADER FOR MFL
Thank you so much for your interest in French at A Level. We have a fabulous team of energetic and enthusiastic specialists at St Paul’s ready to support you on your journey. Â
Should you have any questions at all about studying French at A Level, or the possible career paths beyond College, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Send me a message
We’d love to hear from you, whether you want to talk about subject choices, entry requirements, or your future career ideas.
Are you ready to discover new cultures, build confidence in communication, and open doors to the wider world through the French language?
Start your French journey at St Paul’s.
Whatever course you choose, you’ll be joining a community where every student is known and loved. Our mission is not just to help you succeed academically, but to help you grow as a person, supported and celebrated every step of the way.
FrenchCourse Content
This course is designed to make language learning enjoyable and stimulating. It rewards advanced research and reading skills, and acknowledges the importance of French language culture.
| PAPER 1Listening, Reading & Writing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
50% (100 Marks) |
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LENGTH |
2 Hours 30 minutes |
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FORMAT |
Written Exam |
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This exam is divided into three sections:
- Section A: Listening (30 marks)
Listening and responding to spoken passages from a range of contexts and sources covering different registers and adapted as necessary. Material will include complex factual and abstract content and questions will target main points, gist and detail. Studio recordings will be used and students will have individual control of the recording.
All questions are in French, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in French
Â
- Section B: Reading (50 marks)
Reading and responding to a variety of texts written for different purposes, drawn from a range of authentic sources and adapted as necessary. Material will include complex factual and abstract content and questions will target main points, gist and detail.
All questions are in French, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in FrenchÂ
Â
- Section C: Writing (20 marks)
Translation into English; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks)
Translation into French; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks).
| PAPER 2Written Response to Works & Translation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
20% (80 Marks) |
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LENGTH |
2 Hours |
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FORMAT |
Written Exam |
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This exam is a choice of two options:
Either one question in French on a set text from a choice of two questions and one question in French on a set film from a choice of two questionsÂ
Or two questions in French on set texts from a choice of two questions on each text.
All questions will require a critical appreciation of the concepts and issues covered in the work and a critical and analytical response to features such as the form and the technique of presentation, as appropriate to the work studied (eg the effect of narrative voice in a prose text or camera work in a film).
| PAPER 3Speaking | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
30% (60 Marks) |
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LENGTH |
21-23 Minutes |
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FORMAT |
Speaking |
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Discussion of a sub-theme with the discussion based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes). The student studies the card for 5 minutes at the start of the test (25 marks).
Presentation (2 minutes) and discussion (9–10 minutes) of individual research project (35 marks).
