A Level French Topics by Exam Board: Full List

This article will clearly outline all examinable A Level French topics across the main UK exam boards, helping you understand exactly what you need to revise for your course. It explains how the subject is structured, how topics and themes are grouped within each specification, and which components assess each area of content.

Whether you are planning your revision timetable, preparing for written exams, or practising your speaking and translation skills, this guide provides a complete, student-friendly overview of everything that can be assessed at A Level. It also highlights key principles, themes, literary and film works, and language skills you need to master to succeed in all aspects of the course.

Key Takeaways

• Knowing your exam board’s syllabus is essential for focused and effective revision, ensuring you study the topics that will actually be assessed.

• Using the topic list to build a revision timetable, prioritise weaker areas, and match topics to past paper questions makes study more efficient and improves exam performance.

• Regularly referring to syllabus references, case studies, and official materials allows for deeper understanding, helping you apply knowledge confidently in exam scenarios.

• Learning and using correct French vocabulary and terminology is key to explaining, analysing, and evaluating texts, films, and cultural concepts accurately.

Why It's Important to Know Your Exam Board

Being clear about the topics your exam board includes is crucial for effective revision. Each exam board organises its syllabus differently, so some topics may appear on one board but not on another. If you revise from the wrong list, you could spend time on material that won’t be examined and miss topics that could cost you marks. Knowing your board’s specific requirements allows you to focus your study, plan your revision efficiently, and enter your exams confident that you have covered everything that counts.

AQA A Level French Topics (7652) 

The course is structured into three main components.

AQA Theme 1 - Social Issues and Trends

In your exam, you must show understanding of the following themes and sub-themes in relation to at least one French-speaking country. You must study the themes and sub-themes using a range of sources, including material from online media.

You must show understanding of:

• The changing nature of family

• The ‘cyber-society’

• The place of voluntary work 

• Positive features of a diverse society 

• Life for the marginalised 

• How criminals are treated

AQA Theme 2 - Political and Artistic Culture

In your exam, you must show understanding of the themes and sub-themes below in relation to at least one French-speaking country.

You must show understanding of:

• A culture proud of its heritage

• Contemporary francophone music 

• Cinema: the 7th art form 

• Teenagers, the right to vote and political commitment

• Demonstrations, strikes and power

• Politics and immigration

AQA Theme 3 - Grammar

In your exam, you will need to show understanding of the grammatical system and structures of the language. You are required to use, actively and accurately, grammar and structures appropriate to the tasks set, drawn from this list.

• Nouns

• Articles

• Adjectives

• Numerals

• Adverbs

• Quantifiers/Intensifiers

• Pronouns

• Verbs

• Prepositions

• Conjunctions

• Negation

• Questions, Commands, word order

• Other constructions

• Discourse markers

• Fillers

AQA Theme 4 - Works

In your exam, you will need to show understanding of either one text and one film or two texts from this list. You can study:

Eduqas A Level French Topics

The course is structured into three main components.

Eduqas Theme 1 – Speaking

For your non-exam assessment, you will need to complete a speaking task lasting 21–23 minutes. In Task 1, you will present your independent research project for 2 minutes, followed by a 9–10 minute discussion. In Task 2, you will have 5 minutes of preparation before taking part in a 5–6 minute theme-based discussion. 

Your research project can be based on your own area of interest or one of these suggested themes:

• Families and citizenship

• Youth trends and personal identity

• Education and employment opportunities

• Migration and integration

• Cultural identity and marginalisation

• Cultural enrichment and celebrating difference

• Discrimination and diversity

• Regional culture and heritage in France, French-speaking countries and communities

• Media, art, film and music in the French-speaking world

• France June 1940–May 1945

• The cultural dimension in occupied France

• France 1945-1950

Eduqas Theme 2 – Listening, Reading and Translation

In your exam, you will be expected to demonstrate competence in a range of skills, including listening to and responding to spoken passages from various contexts, reading and responding to texts for different purposes and audiences, and understanding both the main points and detailed content. 

You need to know:

• Social issues and trends

• Political culture

• Intellectual culture

• Artistic culture

Eduqas Theme 3 – Critical and Analytical Response in Writing

In your exam, you will be expected to show your understanding of the two chosen works taken from the following table. You will be expected to write an essay of approximately 300 words on each of the two works. One essay will be based on a literary work and the second on an additional literary work or film. You can study:

Edexcel A Level French Topics (9FR0) 

The course is structured into three main components.

Edexcel Theme 1 – Listening, Reading and Translation

In your exam, you will be expected to show understanding of spoken and written French across four different themes, as well as your ability to translate accurately from French into English. 

The four themes are:

Edexcel Theme 2 – Written Response to Works and Translation

In your exam, you will be expected to show your understanding of the two chosen works taken from the following table. This can be either two literacy texts or one literacy text and one film. 

You can study:

Edexcel Theme 3 – Speaking

In your speaking exam, you will be expected to demonstrate understanding across the four themes outlined in Edexcel Theme 1. You will be assessed on your ability to use a range of language accurately, communicate and interact effectively, summarise and analyse information from written sources, and show knowledge and understanding of the culture and society where the language is spoken.

You should refer back to the four themes listed in Edexcel Theme 1 for information about each topic.

How to Use This Topic List for Revision

Using the complete topic list for your exam board effectively can make your revision more focused and efficient. This section will tell you how you can get the most out of it.

Build a revision timetable

Break the topic list for your exam board into smaller, manageable sections and assign specific times to study each one. For example, dedicate one session to ‘Themes in French Society’ and another to ‘Literary Texts and Films’. Spreading your revision across several weeks ensures that you cover every area and prevents last-minute cramming. A timetable also helps you balance study with breaks, making revision less overwhelming and more productive.

For step-by-step guidance on building your own revision timetable, take a look at the Save My Exams article How to Make an A Level Revision Timetable. It offers practical tips on structuring your study plan, staying organised, and keeping your workload manageable throughout the revision period.

Prioritise weaker areas

Not all topics will feel equally easy. Use the list to identify the areas you find most challenging and allocate extra time to these first. For example, if you struggle with a particular theme, grammatical structure, or translation skill, focus on these early so you have time to practise, review, and ask for help if needed. Strengthening weaker topics can significantly improve your overall exam performance.

Match topics to past paper questions

Go through past papers and highlight which questions relate to each topic. This helps you see how examiners test your knowledge and gives you a clear idea of the types of answers expected. Practising with real questions also builds exam confidence, improves timing, and helps you apply theory to practical scenarios.

For further guidance, take a look at the Save My Exams article How to Use Past Papers Effectively for Exam Revision. It offers practical strategies for getting the most out of past papers, including when to start using them, how to review mark schemes effectively, and how to track your progress over time. Using these techniques alongside your topic notes will make your revision more focused and exam-ready.

Use syllabus references for deeper study

Many topics include syllabus references, which guide you to more detailed examples and case studies. For instance, explore cultural case studies, social issues, or key themes in your prescribed literary texts and films. This deeper understanding helps you write more thorough answers and think critically rather than simply memorising facts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to revise all A Level French topics for the exam?

Yes. You should aim to revise all the topics listed in your exam board’s specification. Each topic could appear in any of the papers, so a thorough understanding ensures you are prepared for listening, reading, writing, translation, and speaking tasks.

Are these topics the same across all exam boards?

No. Each exam board structures its A Level French syllabus differently. Some themes, literary works, or films may be specific to a particular board. Always use your board’s official specification to guide your revision.

How do I know which topics I struggle with most?

You can identify your weaker areas by practising past papers, completing listening exercises, reading comprehension tasks, translations, and speaking activities. Keep track of which questions you find difficult or take longer to answer, then focus extra revision on those topics.

Do all topics come up in every exam paper?

Not necessarily. Some papers may cover a range of topics or focus on specific themes, literary texts, or films. However, any topic from the specification could appear, so it’s important to revise everything to avoid surprises.

Where Can I Find the Official Syllabus?

The latest syllabus can be found on the exam board’s website. Here are the direct links for easy access:

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

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

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

Final Thoughts

Understanding the full list of A Level French topics for your exam board is essential for effective revision. This guide provides a clear overview of the themes, grammar, literary works, films, and assessment components you need to master. By using it as the foundation of your study plan, you can organise your revision efficiently, focus on weaker areas, and ensure you are prepared for all aspects of the exam—listening, reading, writing, translation, and speaking.

Treat the topic list as your roadmap: refer to it regularly, match it to past papers, and build your knowledge step by step. Doing so will give you confidence, improve your exam performance, and help you approach each paper with clarity and focus. Mastery of the topics is not just about memorising facts—it’s about understanding the language, culture, and context so you can respond critically and creatively in every exam task.

References:

AQA A Level French (opens in a new tab)
Eduqas A Level French (opens in a new tab)
Edexcel A Level French (opens in a new tab)