Family Celebrations: Exam Skills (AQA GCSE French): Revision Note
Exam code: 8652
The topic of ‘family celebrations’ can appear in any of the exams - you might be asked to speak or write about yourself, or understand information about others. Let’s use the vocabulary, grammar and phonics we have seen so far to take a closer look at some typical exam questions and how you might tackle them.
Family celebrations: listening
In the listening exam, you will need to answer some comprehension questions in English. This question will help you to practise answering in English.
Worked Example
Emma is talking about a family event. Answer the questions in English.
When did the event take place? [1 mark]
What kind of event was it? [1 mark]
What did Emma find beautiful? [1 mark]
What did her mum enjoy? [1 mark]
Answers:
Here are the correct answers:
(last) summer
l’été dernier
(her brother’s) wedding
le mariage de mon frère
the flowers
les fleurs étaient belles
the meal / food
ma mère pensait que le repas était délicieux
Family celebrations: speaking
In part 3 of the speaking exam, you need to describe two photos and then have a conversation with your teacher about the theme covered in the photos. This question will help you to practise describing a photo on the topic of family celebrations.
Worked Example
Parle-moi de la photo.
Answer:
Here is an example response.
Sur la photo il y a un groupe de personnes. Je pense que c’est une famille parce qu’il y a des enfants et des parents. Je crois que c’est un événement spécial et familial, peut-être une fête d'anniversaire. Ils sont dans le jardin dehors, et il y a une grande table avec des cadeaux, des cartes et un gâteau, et je pense qu’on va le manger. Tout le monde est content et c’est un jour amusant.
In the photo there is a group of people. I think it’s a family because there are children and parents. I believe it’s a special family event, maybe a birthday party. They are outside in the garden, and there is a big table with gifts, cards, and a cake, and I think they are going to eat it. Everyone is happy and it’s a fun day.
Use the acronym PALM to help you to describe a photo - People and objects, Action, Location, Mood. Here are the aspects of PALM covered in the response above:
People and objects
il y a un groupe de personnes; il y a des enfants et des parents; il y a une grande table avec des cadeaux, des cartes et un gâteau
Action
je pense qu’on va le manger
Location
ils sont dans le jardin dehors
Mood
tout le monde est content et c’est un jour amusant
Family celebrations: reading
In the reading exam, you will need to identify different tenses and say what people do in the past, present and future. Remember that there are two past tenses in French - the perfect and the imperfect. Look out for both.
Worked Example
Louise is talking about birthdays. What does she say about each aspect?
Write P for something that happened in the past.
Write N for something that happens now.
Write F for something that will happen in future.
C’est mon anniversaire aujourd'hui mais c’est très tranquille parce que l'année dernière, nous sommes allés en vacances à l’étranger pour le fêter et c'était très cher. Quand j’étais plus jeune, ma mère organisait toujours une énorme fête dans le jardin, avec beaucoup d’amis et des feux d’artifice. L’année prochaine, mon père va avoir cinquante ans, donc ma mère va organiser une fête surprise et inviter tous ses amis !
having a quiet birthday
her mum organising a party
a surprise party taking place
going on holiday to celebrate
Answers:
Here are the correct answers:
having a quiet birthday
N - c’est mon anniversaire mais c’est très tranquille
her mum organising a party
P - ma mère organisait toujours une énorme fête
a surprise party taking place
F - nous allons organiser une fête surprise
going on holiday to celebrate
P - l'année dernière, nous avons décidé d’aller en vacances à l’étranger pour le fêter
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Look out for time phrases indicating each tense. In the text above, you can see:
Present - aujourd'hui
Past - l'année dernière; quand j’étais plus jeune
Future - l’année prochaine
Family celebrations: writing
In the writing paper, there will be one question where you need to write a 90-word response guided by bullet points. The same question will appear on both Foundation and Higher papers.
Worked Example
You are writing a social media post about family celebrations.
Write approximately 90 words in French.
You must write something about each bullet point.
Mention:
a favourite celebration when you were younger
how you usually celebrate your birthday a celebration which will take place in future
Answer:
Here is an example response of 87 words.
Quand j’étais petite, ma célébration préférée était Noël. Nous recevions toujours beaucoup de cadeaux et nous passions du temps avec toute la famille.
Aujourd’hui on va normalement au restaurant pour célébrer un anniversaire, mais quelquefois il y a des fêtes chez moi - on danse, on chante et on mange beaucoup !
Mes parents et moi allons organiser une grande fête d’anniversaire pour mon frère le mois prochain car il va avoir dix-huit ans. Ça va être très amusant, et je vais lui offrir un cadeau génial.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This paragraph includes:
a range of tenses to match the bullet points - present, imperfect, and simple future
different subjects - ‘I’, ‘we’, ‘he’
a range of conjunctions - mais, car, et
different time phrases - normalement, quelquefois, le mois prochain, quand j’étais jeune
Check that your answer includes a variety of language and that you have written something about each bullet point.
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