French GCSE
New Specification (AQA)
Course overview
Our newly updated French GCSE course can be started at any stage of the year (you could start today!) and has been created by Lili Iravani-Miché. Lili, who is originally from Brittany, brings a wealth of experience from her 15 years teaching in secondary schools in the southwest of the UK.
Students following our course benefit from hearing French spoken by a native speaker. The pre recorded video lessons include plenty of practice in listening, reading, writing and speaking. These skills are developed throughout the engaging course material and allow the student to build the necessary skills to succeed in the GCSE exams.
Our French GCSE online course follows the AQA French GCSE syllabus (Higher Tier).
The assessments are based on three themes:
Theme 1: People and lifestyle
This theme covers the following three topics:
- Identity and relationships with others
- Healthy living and lifestyle
- Education and work
Theme 2: Popular Culture
This theme covers the following three topics:
- Free-time activities
- Customs, festivals and celebrations
- Celebrity culture
Theme 3: Communication and the world around us
This theme covers the following three topics:
- Travel and tourism, including places of interest
- Media and technology
- The environment and where people live
How will I be assessed?
Our French GCSE course comprehensive material for students wishing to take the Higher Tier exams.
For information about the Foundation Tier, please see FAQs below.
The assessments for the Higher Tier are as follows:
Listening: Written exam, 45 mins, 50 marks – 25% of GCSE
Speaking: Non exam assessment (NEA), 10-12 mins + 15 mins supervised preparation time, 50 marks – 25% of GCSE
Reading: Written exams, 60 mins, 50 marks – 25% of GCSE
Writing: Written exam, 1 hr 15 mins, 50 marks – 25% of GCSE
How will the course prepare me for the exams?
This French GCSE course is presented by Lili Iravani-Miché, a highly experienced French teacher with 15 years experience teaching in the south west of the UK. Lili is a native speaker from Brittany who has drawn on her extensive background in teaching GCSE French, to provide a clear, engaging and effective course.
The course is delivered via video presentations and includes plenty of practice in reading and listening comprehension, translation (English to French and French to English) and the production of accurate written and spoken French.
Students have the benefit of hearing authentic spoken French. Students are also given the opportunity to practice their speaking skills during the recorded video lessons.
During the lessons, students are encouraged to complete the practice exercises and to then compare them with the answers that are provided.
Where exercises require the student to write in French, modal answers are provided. These are valuable learning resources, enabling students to appreciate what is required to achieve the higher grades.
All the lessons are carefully created to provide a highly interactive experience.
Reasons to study French
Learning French can help enhance your creativity, communication skills and self-confidence.
Access the international job market and stand out in the workplace.
Makes it easier to learn another language.
Discover French culture, for example, enjoy reading French literature, watching French films and listening to French music.
Faciliates a rewarding appreciation of French cuisine, fashion, theatre, visual arts, dance and architecture.
Travelling and holidaying in France are more rewarding when you can communicate effectively in French.
Studies have shown that learning a second language can enhance cognitive abilities – a benefit for people of all ages.
FAQs
Yes. If you purchased the course today, for example, you would be automatically sent an email with your login details.
Lessons are accessed via an easy to navigate side menu. It is possible to return to lessons as often as required.
Our courses are designed to be followed independently and allow our students to start at any time of the year that suits them.
Yes, it is possible to start this course as a beginner in French. If you are studying French for the first time, or have not studied the language for some time, we recommend that you review the grammar sections at the front and back of the required textbook listed below.
The course costs £169 when paying in full.
If paying via instalments, it is £33.80 x 5 months (£169 in total).
Yes. You can choose to pay in full or via 5 monthly instalments.
12 months access is £33.80 x 5 months (final total = £169)
Yes, you will need to purchase the following textbook: AQA GCSE French Higher, Oxford Press, ISBN: 978-1-382-04578-0
The course takes approximately 150 hours to complete.
As it is delivered via pre-recorded video lessons (with numerous exercises for practicing your language skills), you are able to plan your studies to suit your lifestyle.
If you are an independent learner (ie not enrolled in a school or college) you will need to book the exams at an exam centre. The exam centre will ask if you wish to take the Foundation or Higher Tier exams. The Higher Tier is an extension of the Foundation Tier. In following this course, students will cover all the material required for both Tiers.
If you are unsure whether to book the Foundation or Higher Tier, we recommend you write a mock paper (we provide links to past papers and the Mark Schemes) to gauge the level at which you are working).
Most students following this course will take the Higher Tier. Help and advise is also offered during the course regarding the exams and the Tiers by Lili, the teacher.
You can find further information about booking the exams here.
The cost of the course does not include individual tutor support. The course is competitvely priced and provides access to authentic French and the skills of a teacher with extensive experience in delivering the AQA GCSE in French.
Lili has a thorough undertstanding of the requirements of the GCSE exams and shows students how they can gain the higher grades. During the course you will have plenty of opportunities to practice the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Pleaae note: If you decide you would also like some tutor support, or would like feedback and marking of a mock paper, email us at info@sulislearning.co.uk and we will put you in touch with a tutor.
If you follow this course, then you would be aiming to take the exams in Summer 2027.
This course follows the new specification the exam board, AQA, introduced last year.
As detailed above, our updated course is being gradually uploaded over the summer and autumn. As the final unit will not be available until December/January, we would suggest students plan to take the exams in 2027.
If you are not enrolled in a school or college, you will need to contact your local private exam centre. We have useful information on our exams page.
This link will help to locate your nearest centres. The exam centre will be able to advise on their dates, deadlines and how to book the exams.
Yes. We have students following our courses as they wish to expand their knowledge and/or skills but are not planning to sit the exams.
Do get in touch if you have any further questions. Our email is info@sulislearning.co.uk. Or you can click on Contact Us. You may also find answers to your questions under FAQs.
