AQA AS French specification (7651)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA AS French exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
Examiner-written revision resources that improve your grades 2x
- Written by expert teachers and examiners
- Aligned to exam specifications
- Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t
In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official AQA AS French specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official AQA AS French (7651) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official AQA specification PDF.
Specification overview
The AQA AS Level in French enables students to develop linguistic competence while deepening their understanding of French-speaking societies and cultures. The course focuses on communication, critical thinking and creativity, with a strong emphasis on social issues, artistic culture and the influence of the past. Students explore contemporary topics through authentic sources and engage critically with literature or film. The linear structure supports co-teaching with A-level and encourages spontaneous use of the language in a range of contexts, fostering independent learning and intercultural awareness:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.Subject content breakdown
3.1 Social issues and trends
- Aspects of French-speaking society: current trends
- Changing nature of the family
- Grandparents, parents and children – concerns and problems
- Single-parent, same-sex parent, and blended families
- Couple life – new trends
- The ‘cyber-society’
- Who uses digital technology?
- How technology facilitates daily life
- Risks of the digital world
- The place of voluntary work
- Who volunteers and what do they do?
- Value for those helped and those helping
- Changing nature of the family
3.2 Artistic culture
- Artistic culture in the French-speaking world
- Pride in cultural heritage
- National, regional and local heritage
- How heritage reflects culture
- Heritage and tourism
- Contemporary francophone music
- Diversity and audience appreciation
- Preservation of the genre
- Cinema: the 7th art form
- Origins and national passion
- Historical development
- Pride in cultural heritage
3.3 Grammar
- Nouns, articles, adjectives, numerals, adverbs, quantifiers
- Pronouns (personal, relative, demonstrative, etc.)
- Verbs (regular, irregular, passive, subjunctive, tenses)
- Sentence structure, negation, commands, questions, prepositions, discourse markers
3.4 Works: Literary texts and films
- Texts (choose one):
- Le Tartuffe (Molière), Candide (Voltaire), L’étranger (Camus), Bonjour tristesse (Sagan), and others
- Films (choose one):
- Les 400 coups, La Haine, Un long dimanche de fiançailles, Entre les murs, and others:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Assessment structure
Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Writing
- 1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks
- 45% of AS Level
- Listening and responding to spoken passages with individual control of recordings
- Reading and responding to texts from authentic sources
- Translation into English (min. 70 words)
- No access to dictionary
Paper 2: Writing
- 1 hour 30 minutes, 50 marks
- 25% of AS Level
- Translation into French (min. 70 words)
- One essay on a studied text or film (critical response, ~250 words)
- No access to text, film, or dictionary
Paper 3: Speaking
- 12–14 minutes + 15 minutes preparation, 60 marks
- 30% of AS Level
- Two discussions based on stimulus cards, one for each theme
- Includes student-led questions based on cards
- No access to dictionary or external materials during preparation or assessment:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA AS French isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
Share this article