Tourist Attractions: Exam Skills (AQA GCSE French): Revision Note

Exam code: 8652

Amy Bates

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Amy Bates

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The topic of ‘tourist attractions’ 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.

Tourist attractions: listening

In the listening exam, you need to answer questions by completing the sentences in English. Before you listen, think about the types of answers which might be possible to complete each sentence.

Worked Example

Lucas is talking about a holiday. Complete the sentences in English.

  1. He is happy because … 

  2. He would like to visit … 

  3. He loves …

  4. He always tries to …

Teen Male
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Answers:

Here are the correct answers:

  1. his room has a sea view

    ma chambre a une vue sur la mer

  2. the church

    je voudrais visiter l’église

  3. discovering a country's culture

    j'adore découvrir la culture d'un pays

  4. learn the language

    j’essaie toujours d’apprendre la langue

Tourist attractions: speaking

In part 1 of the speaking exam, you will take part in a role-play. Your teacher will play the part of your friend, and you will ask and answer questions.

  • The role-play lasts between 1 and 1.5 minutes

  • You need to prepare answers to the prompts

  • You need to ask your teacher a question when you see the ? symbol

  • Each response must include a verb, but you don’t need to develop your sentences fully like you would in conversation tasks

This question will help you to respond to role-play prompts on the topic of tourist attractions.

Worked Example

Prepare the following role-play.

  1. Say something that tourists can do in your region. (Give one detail.)

  2. Give an opinion about holidays. (Give one detail.)

  3. Say what you did in the last summer holidays. (Give two details.)

  4. Say something you would like to do on holiday in future. (Give one detail.)

  5. ? Ask your friend a question about holidays.

Answer:

Here are some example responses.

  1. On peut visiter le pont historique.

  2. Je pense que les vacances sont importantes.

  3. Je suis allé à la plage et j’ai joué dans la mer.

  4. Je voudrais manger dans un restaurant traditionnel.

  5. Où vas-tu en vacances ?

Tourist attractions: reading

In the reading exam, there will be some multiple-choice questions where you need to select the correct ending for each sentence. This question will help you to practise this.

Worked Example

You are reading a blog post about a tourist attraction.

Choose the correct answer and write the letter.

Bienvenue au château ! On a ouvert ses portes au public il y a cinquante ans. Pour moi, les tableaux sont très intéressants, mais les jeunes préfèrent le jardin. Si on a faim, on peut manger quelque chose sur la place centrale, mais il n’est pas possible d’acheter des souvenirs dans le château. On peut acheter les billets en ligne - l'entrée coûte dix euros pour les adultes et c’est gratuit pour les moins de seize ans.

  1. The castle …

    1. is 500 years old.

    2. opened to the public 50 years ago.

    3. was rebuilt 50 years ago.

  2. Young people prefer …

    1. seeing the paintings.

    2. taking photos.

    3. visiting the garden.

  3. It is not possible to …

    1. buy souvenirs in the castle.

    2. eat in the central square.

    3. buy tickets online.

  4. Tickets cost €10 for …

    1. adults.

    2. under-16s.

    3. everyone.

Answers:

Here are the correct answers:

  1. B - on a ouvert ses portes au public il y a cinquante ans

  2. C - les jeunes préfèrent le jardin

  3. A - il n’est pas possible d’acheter des souvenirs dans le château

  4. A - l'entrée coûte dix euros pour les adultes

Tourist attractions: 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 an article for a travel magazine.
Write approximately 90 words in French.
You must write something about each bullet point.
Mention:

  • the advantages of tourism

  • a tourist attraction you have visited

  • a tourist attraction you would like to visit

Answer:

Here is an example response of 94 words.

Le tourisme est très important pour ma ville, par exemple pour les restaurants et les magasins locaux. Quand on est touriste, on peut découvrir de nouvelles cultures.
Pendant mes dernières vacances, je ne suis pas allé à l’étranger, mais j'ai decidé de rester chez moi et j’ai visité un musée. Il y avait trop de touristes, mais c’était très intéressant.
J’aime apprendre sur l’histoire de France, donc à l’avenir je voudrais visiter le château de Versailles. Je rêve de voir les jardins, les tableaux et les appartements royaux, et je voudrais prendre de belles photos.

Tourism is very important for my city, for example for local restaurants and shops. When you are a tourist, you can discover new cultures.
During my last holiday, I didn’t go abroad, but I decided to stay at home and visit a museum. There were too many tourists, but it was very interesting.
I like learning about the history of France, so in the future I would like to visit the Palace of Versailles. I dream of seeing the gardens, the paintings and the royal apartments, and I would like to take beautiful photos.

Examiner Tips and Tricks

This paragraph includes:

  • a range of tenses to match the bullet points - present, perfect, imperfect, and conditional

  • a range of adjectives with correct agreement - locaux, nouvelles, belles

  • some advanced constructions using infinitives - je rêve de voir, j'ai decidé de rester

Check that your answer includes a variety of language and that you have written something about each bullet point.

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Amy Bates

Author: Amy Bates

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Amy writes content for Spanish and French at Save My Exams.