Specifications that use this resource:
Switching to AQA from Edexcel
To save you time and help you compare our GCSE French specification with the Edexcel specification, we’ve created some comparison tables.
These tables highlight the content and requirements side-by-side, so you can make the right choice for your students.
Let us know if you’d like to hear from us, we’ll send you everything you need to get started.
Assessment structure
Listening paper
Foundation
AQA – GCSE French | Edexcel – GCSE French |
|---|---|
Foundation Paper 1 - Listening | Foundation Paper 1 - Listening |
Written exam | Written exam |
35 minutes (including 5 minutes reading time) | 35 minutes (including 5 minutes reading time) |
40 marks (25% of GCSE) | 50 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Section A, 32 marks: Questions and answers in English or non-verbal Section B, 8 marks: Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal | Section A Questions and answers in English or non-verbal Foundation: 40 marks Section B Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal Foundation: 10 marks |
Higher
AQA – GCSE French | Edexcel – GCSE French |
|---|---|
Higher Paper 1 - Listening | Higher Paper 1 - Listening |
Written exam | Written exam |
45 minutes (including 5 minutes reading time) | 45 minutes (including 5 minutes reading time) |
50 marks (25% of GCSE) | 50 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Section A, 40 marks: Questions and answers in English or non-verbal Section B, 10 marks: Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal | Section A Questions and answers in English or non-verbal Higher: 40 marks Section B Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal Higher: 10 marks |
Speaking paper
Foundation
AQA – GCSE French | Edexcel – GCSE French |
|---|---|
Foundation Paper 2 - Speaking | Foundation Paper 2 - Speaking |
7-9 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time) | 7-9 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time) |
60 marks (25% of GCSE) | 70 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Role play: 2 minutes (15 marks) Photo card: 2 minutes (15 marks) Conversation: 3-5 minutes (30 marks) | Role-play (2 minutes) - 10 marks Photo card (2 minutes) - 24 marks Conversation (3½ – 4½ minutes) - 36 marks |
Higher
AQA – GCSE French | Edexcel – GCSE French |
|---|---|
Higher Paper 2 - Speaking | Higher Paper 2 - Speaking |
10-12 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time) | 10-12 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time) |
60 marks (25% of GCSE) | 70 marks (25% of GCSE) |
| Higher tier Role-play (2 minutes) – 10 marks Photo card (3-3½ minutes) – 24 marks Conversation (5 – 6 minutes) – 36 marks |
Reading paper
Foundation
AQA – GCSE French | Edexcel – GCSE French |
|---|---|
Foundation Paper 3 - Reading | Foundation Paper 3 - Reading |
45 minutes | 45 minutes |
60 marks (25% of GCSE) | 50 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Section A, 33 marks: Questions and answers in English or non-verbal Section B, 18 marks: Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal Section C, 9 marks: Translation into English | Section A Questions and answers in English or non-verbal Foundation: 28 marks Section B Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal Foundation: 15 marks Section C – translation into English 7 marks at each tier |
Higher
AQA – GCSE French | Edexcel – GCSE French |
|---|---|
Higher Paper 3 - Reading | Higher Paper 3 - Reading |
1 hour | 1 hour |
60 marks (25% of GCSE) | 50 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Section A, 33 marks: Questions and answers in English or non-verbal Section B, 18 marks: Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal Section C, 9 marks: Translation into English | Section A Questions and answers in English or non-verbal Higher: 28 marks Section B Questions and answers in the target language or non-verbal Higher: 15 marks Section C – translation into English 7 marks at each tier |
Writing paper
Foundation
AQA – GCSE French | Edexcel – GCSE French |
|---|---|
Foundation Paper 4 - Writing | Foundation Paper 4 - Writing |
1 hour | 1 hour 10 minutes |
50 marks (25% of GCSE) | 60 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Tasks: Question 1: Write four sentences to describe a photo (8 marks) Question 2: Write 40 words approx in response to four short compulsory bullet points (16 marks) Question 3: Translation of sentences of 35 words approx into the target language (10 marks) Question 4: Write 90 words approx in response to four compulsory bullet points with a choice of two questions (16 marks) | Question 1: write 20-30 words to describe a photo (12 marks) Question 2: write 40-50 words in response to 3 compulsory bullet points (16 marks) Question 3: write 80-90 words in response to 4 compulsory bullet points with choice of two questions (20 marks) Question 4: translation of sentences of approx 35 words into the target language (12 marks) |
Higher
AQA – GCSE French | Edexcel – GCSE French |
|---|---|
Higher Paper 4 - Writing | Higher Paper 4 - Writing |
1 hour 15 minutes | 1 hour 20 minutes |
60 marks (25% of GCSE) | 60 marks (25% of GCSE) |
Tasks: Question 1: Write 90 words approx in response to four compulsory bullet points with a choice of two questions (16 marks) Question 2: Write 150 words approx in response to two compulsory bullet points with a choice of two questions (32 marks) Question 3: Translation of a short passage of 50 words approx into the target language (12 marks) | Tasks: Question 1: write 80-90 words in response to 4 compulsory bullet points with choice of two questions (20 marks) Question 2: write 130-150 words in response to four compulsory bullet points, with a choice of two questions (28 marks) Question 3: translation of short passage of 50 words approx into the target language (12 marks) |
Subject content
Core themes
AQA – GCSE French | Edexcel – GCSE French |
|---|---|
Identity and culture
| Identity and culture
|
Local, national, international and global areas of interest
| Local area, holiday and travel
|
Current and future study and employment
| School
Future aspirations, study and work
|
| International and global dimension
|