AQA AS French Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Listening comprehension at AS level requires specific strategies. On the first hearing, focus on the overall topic and tone — don't try to catch every word. On the second hearing, listen for the specific details the questions target. Common traps include distractors (the speaker mentions multiple numbers or dates but only one answers the question), negatives and qualifiers (ne...pas, ne...que, seulement), and speaker attitudes that contradict surface-level statements (irony, reluctance, hesitation). Practise with past paper audio files at normal speed — slowing down recordings during revision creates a false sense of security. Translation into French is the most technically demanding task at AS level. Common errors include incorrect adjective agreement (une grande maison but un grand jardin), confusion of prepositions (penser à but rêver de), incorrect use of depuis with the present tense for ongoing situations (j'habite ici depuis trois ans, not j'ai habité), and failure to use the subjunctive after conjunctions of doubt or emotion (bien que, pour que, avant que). After translating, re-read your French version as a standalone text — does it read naturally, or does it sound like English word order with French vocabulary? For the writing essay, structure is essential. Open with a clear introduction that signals your thesis (not a rhetorical question or a dictionary definition). Develop three or four paragraphs, each advancing a distinct point with specific evidence — named examples from French society, statistics from French media, or references to specific policies (la loi sur la laïcité, les ZEP, le PACS). Conclude by synthesising your argument, not by repeating your introduction. The speaking exam rewards candidates who can sustain conversation beyond prepared responses. Your examiner will probe with follow-up questions designed to take you beyond rehearsed material. Prepare by practising with someone who can challenge your opinions in French — if you say 'je pense que la diversité est positive', be ready to respond when asked 'mais quels sont les défis concrets de l'intégration dans les banlieues?' Develop three or four detailed talking points per sub-theme, but practise discussing them flexibly rather than memorising scripts.