How Many A Level French Papers Are There?

Most A Level French students take three papers. AQA (opens in a new tab), Pearson Edexcel (opens in a new tab) and WJEC Eduqas (opens in a new tab) have three compulsory papers, whereas WJEC CBAC (opens in a new tab) has five compulsory units.

This article summarises each exam board’s papers: their topics, weighting and duration, and how to prepare for them.

Key Takeaways

• AQA, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC Eduqas have three compulsory papers

• WJEC CBAC has five compulsory units: two for AS and three for A Level

• Prepare for your A Level French exams using daily immersion and a variety of resources

A Level French Assessment Structure Explained

AQA, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC Eduqas all offer linear qualifications for A Level French. This means you’ll sit your three exams at the end of Year 13.

WJEC CBAC is unitised, with two AS and three A Level exams.

All specifications cover similar core areas, including aspects of French society and culture.

How Many Exam Papers Are There For A Level French?

AQA, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC Eduqas have three compulsory papers, whereas WJEC CBAC has five compulsory units.

AQA

1) Paper 1: Listening, Reading & Writing
2) Paper 2: Writing
3) Paper 3: Speaking

Pearson Edexcel

1) Paper 1: Listening, Reading & Translation
2) Paper 2: Written Response to Works & Translation
3) Paper 3: Speaking (opens in a new tab)

WJEC Eduqas

1) Component 1: Speaking
2) Component 2: Listening, Reading & Translation
3) Component 3: Critical & Analytical Response in Writing

WJEC CBAC

1) Unit 1: Speaking (AS Level)
2) Unit 2: Listening, Reading, Translation & Critical Response in Writing (AS Level)
3) Unit 3: Speaking (A Level)
4) Unit 4: Listening, Reading & Translation (A Level)
5) Unit 5: Critical & Analytical Response in Writing (A Level)

Breakdown by Exam Board

AQA A Level French

The table below provides an overview of each paper:

*See the current specification (opens in a new tab) for more information.

Pearson Edexcel A Level French

The table below provides an overview of each paper:

*See the current specification (opens in a new tab) for more information.

WJEC Eduqas A Level French

The table below provides an overview of each component for the current specification:

*See the current specification (opens in a new tab) for more information.

WJEC CBAC A Level French

The table below provides an overview of each unit:

*See the current specification (opens in a new tab) for more information.

For more information on topics, see our article on A Level French Topics by Exam Board: Full List.

Tips for Preparing for A Level French Papers

Immerse yourself daily

Rather than reading your textbook for hours on end, you can incorporate French into your everyday routines and habits:

• For your speaking exam, speak to your classmates in French as much as possible – both during and outside of class

• To improve your knowledge of French politics, social issues and trends, keep up to date with French news. I found reading/watching France 24 (opens in a new tab) on my way to school to be a really useful habit for improving my A Level French

• For writing and translation skills, start reading French literary texts and watching French films. For example, I had to write about La Haine for A Level French. To improve my understanding, I watched the film several times: first with English subtitles, then French, and then no subtitles

Read examiner reports

• Find out what mistakes to avoid and what other students did well by reading what examiners have said

• Here’s a sample examiner report from AQA and one from Pearson Edexcel (opens in a new tab)

Use Save My Exams

• Read our ‘Is A Level French Hard?’ article for tips to succeed in A Level French

• Complete past papers and assess how you did against the mark schemes

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all A Level French papers compulsory?

Yes. AQA, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC Eduqas have three compulsory papers, and WJEC CBAC has five compulsory units.

Do the papers have equal weighting?

No. The Listening, Reading & Writing/Translation component has the highest weighting of the components. AQA’s Paper 1, for example, is worth 50%.

Can I resit individual A Level French papers?

A Level resits require you to resit all papers for linear qualifications. You therefore can’t resit individual AQA, Pearson Edexcel or WJEC Eduqas papers.

WJEC CBAC does allow you to resit an individual unit. However, if you attempt any unit twice and want to try a third time, you’ll have to re-enter all units.

Check with your teacher for more information on resits.

References

• AQA A Level French (opens in a new tab)

• Pearson Edexcel A Level French (opens in a new tab)

• WJEC Eduqas A Level French (opens in a new tab)

• WJEC CBAC A Level French (opens in a new tab)

• France 24 (opens in a new tab)