Skip to content

Paper Together: sit a paper in a room with your friends.See how it works

How each paper is marked – GCSE French

Foundation and Higher · Grade 4

What examiners look for in listening, reading, translation, writing and speaking, in plain words, so you know exactly what earns the marks.

Objectives

Explained

Two kinds of marking

Some parts of the exam are marked with points: one mark for each correct answer. These are listening and reading comprehension questions. Other parts are marked by levels or bands: the examiner reads the whole answer and decides which description it fits best. These are the writing, the translation, and the speaking tasks. In a level mark scheme, the descriptors use words such as "clear", "developed", "accurate", "varied" and "complex".

Knowing the descriptors helps you aim for the top. In each band, there is a range of marks, and the examiner chooses a mark in the band according to how securely the descriptors are met. Do not worry about the exact number, but aim to tick every feature of the top band. Tap the words to hear them.

Listening and reading: points

Each correct answer earns the mark. You can lose a mark by giving too little detail ("morning" for "7.30 am"), by giving too much (adding a wrong detail), or by giving two different answers where one is wrong. A tick in the wrong box earns nothing. Spelling matters little in English answers if the meaning is clear. In French answers, copied words should be accurate enough to be understood.

Marks are for specific information: numbers, times, reasons, opinions, names. A question worth 2 marks needs 2 pieces of information. Read the number of marks: if it is 1, give one idea. If it is 2, give two. Write all of your answer in the space, do not leave any blank, and do not cross out without writing a new answer.

Check

A question is worth 2 marks. What should your answer contain?

  1. Two pieces of information.
  2. One long sentence.
  3. Only one word.
Show answer

Two pieces of information. The number of marks tells you the number of ideas to give.

Translation: key messages and grammar

In the translation into English, the examiner looks for each idea: subject, verb, time, number, place. Missing a negative or a time word loses the mark for that part. Using "I ate" or "I have eaten" for «j'ai mangé» is fine, but «je mangerai» as "I ate" is wrong. Natural English is accepted if the meaning is exact.

In the translation into French, there are two sets of marks. One is for conveying the key messages: could a French reader understand every idea? The other is for applying your grammar: the right tense, agreement, articles, word order and negatives. Errors that do not stop the message (a wrong gender) lose less than errors that change the meaning (a wrong tense or person).

Writing: content and quality of language

Longer writing tasks are marked in two or three ways. Content: does the answer cover every bullet point, with developed information and opinions that are explained? Quality of language (or range, and accuracy): is the vocabulary varied, are structures complex, are past, present and future used, and are the errors small? Style and register: is the language suitable, formal or informal?

Typical descriptors for the top band: a very good response covering all aspects of the task; communication is clear throughout; a lot of information is conveyed; opinions are given and justified; a variety of vocabulary; complex structures attempted; references to three time frames, largely successful; errors are mainly minor; style and register are right. If your content is zero, your language mark is zero too.

Check

Which feature helps an answer reach the top band for language?

  1. References to the past, present and future.
  2. Repeating the same sentence.
  3. Writing only in the present.
Show answer

References to the past, present and future. Three time frames, used successfully, are a clear sign of range.

What a top-band answer looks like

Compare two answers to "Parle de ton collège". Weak: «Mon collège est grand. J'aime le collège. Il y a des élèves.» (short, repetitive, one tense, no development). Strong: «Mon collège est assez grand et j'y suis depuis quatre ans. J'aime l'histoire parce que le professeur est passionnant. L'année dernière, j'ai participé à un échange. L'année prochaine, je voudrais continuer mes études.»

The strong answer: develops each idea, gives opinions with reasons, uses depuis, the perfect, the conditional, a variety of vocabulary and connectives. Aim for each paragraph to contain at least two time frames, an opinion with a reason and one wider structure such as a «si» clause. It will also be more accurate if you keep to language you know well.

Speaking: what the examiner listens for

In a role play, each task is marked for whether the message is conveyed without ambiguity: 2 marks for a clear reply, 1 for a partial reply and 0 for none. There is also an overall mark for your knowledge and use of language. Answer exactly what the card asks, use the right form (tu or vous) and ask the question clearly. If you do not understand, ask for repetition: this earns the same marks as understanding at once.

In the picture or photo task and the conversation, the criteria are communication (clear, developed answers, opinions with reasons, narrating events), range and accuracy (varied vocabulary and structures, past, present and future), pronunciation and intonation, and spontaneity and fluency (reacting naturally, few hesitations). In the conversation you are also expected to ask the examiner a question.

Check

In the speaking test, what should you do if you do not understand the question?

  1. Ask the examiner to repeat or explain in French.
  2. Stay silent.
  3. Answer a different question.
Show answer

Ask the examiner to repeat or explain in French. Asking for repetition shows good communication strategy and earns the same marks.

Where marks are lost, and how to fix it

Common ways to lose marks: not answering all the bullet points; answering in only one tense; giving opinions without reasons; very short answers; basic vocabulary repeated; ignoring accents and agreement; not asking a question in the conversation; reading the question wrongly in listening and reading; leaving blanks in translation.

Fixes: plan your answer with a bullet point checklist; add one past and one future sentence in every writing and speaking task; give a reason with «parce que» every time you give an opinion; learn ten useful connectives; check accents, agreement and negatives; in speaking, develop with "why", "when", "with whom", "what was it like". Practice with a mark scheme and mark your own work.

Exam tips: be your own examiner

After you write an answer, mark it. Tick: every bullet answered? an opinion with a reason? past, present, future? a complex structure? Check accuracy: verbs, agreement, accents. Underline repeated words and replace them. For speaking, record yourself and listen back: did you answer every question with a developed answer? Did you ask a question?

A good habit: when practising, keep a list of your recurring mistakes and review it before the exam. Target the criteria that add marks quickly: a third time frame, a justified opinion, an unusual connective, and a question to the examiner. Do not try to use language you cannot control; accuracy is always worth more than ambition.

Check

What should you do after finishing a practice answer?

  1. Mark it against the criteria and list what to improve.
  2. Throw it away.
  3. Never look at it again.
Show answer

Mark it against the criteria and list what to improve. Self-marking shows what to improve and builds the right habits.

Key points

Worked examples

Example 1

A question is worth 3 marks: "What does Léa do at the weekend?" The text says "Le samedi, elle fait du sport et le dimanche, elle aide sa mère." How many ideas do you need?

  1. 3 marks means 3 ideas.
  2. Idea 1: she does sport on Saturdays.
  3. Ideas 2 and 3: she helps her mother on Sundays.

Answer: Three: she does sport on Saturday; she helps her mother; on Sunday.

Common slips
  • Slip: 1 Marks tell you the number of ideas.
  • Slip: she does sport Add the day for full marks.
  • Slip: she helps Say who and when.

Example 2

Which of these writing sentences would help most to reach the top band? (a) J'aime le sport. (b) J'aime le sport parce que ça me détend, et l'année dernière, j'ai participé à un tournoi.

  1. (a) has an opinion but no reason.
  2. (b) has an opinion with a reason (parce que).
  3. (b) also has a past tense (j'ai participé).

Answer: (b)

Common slips
  • Slip: a is best Opinions need reasons.
  • Slip: b has no reason Parce que gives the reason.
  • Slip: b is only present It adds a second time frame.

Example 3

Mark this answer to "Parle de tes vacances" out of 4 on content and language: "J'aime les vacances. Je vais en Espagne. C'est bien."

  1. Content: it covers the topic but has no details or reasons.
  2. Language: very short, repetitive, one tense.
  3. Next steps: add a reason, a past event, a future plan.

Answer: About 1 of 4: too short, no reasons, no time frames. Add a reason, a past event and a future plan.

Common slips
  • Slip: full marks No development.
  • Slip: good variety No past or future.
  • Slip: add more words only Quality, not just quantity.

Questions and answers

Try each one, then open the answer.

Question 1 Easy

How many marks is a listening question worth if it asks for two details? (just the number)

Show answer

Answer: 2

  1. Two details = two marks.
  2. Check the marks shown.

Question 2 Easy

What does "à mon avis" introduce?

Show answer

Answer: an opinion

  1. À mon avis is in my opinion.
  2. It introduces an opinion.

Question 3 Easy

What does "parce que" introduce?

Show answer

Answer: a reason

  1. Parce que is because.
  2. It introduces a reason.

Question 4 Easy

Which tense gives you a past time frame? (the perfect or the future)

Show answer

Answer: the perfect

  1. The perfect describes the past.
  2. The future is for later.

Question 5 Medium

Give a French sentence with an opinion and a reason about school.

Show answer

Answer: J'aime l'école parce que mes amis sont là

  1. Opinion + parce que + reason.
  2. Any correct sentence works.

Question 6 Medium

Add a past time frame: "Je joue au foot." Write it in the perfect with hier.

Show answer

Answer: Hier, j'ai joué au foot

  1. Perfect: j'ai joué.
  2. Hier.

Question 7 Medium

Add a future time frame: "Je joue au foot." Write it with demain and the near future.

Show answer

Answer: Demain, je vais jouer au foot

  1. Aller + infinitive.
  2. Demain.

Question 8 Medium

Translate into French the question you ask the examiner: "And you, what do you do at the weekend?" (vous)

Show answer

Answer: Et vous, qu'est-ce que vous faites le week-end

  1. Et vous.
  2. Qu'est-ce que vous faites.

Question 9 Hard

Write a French sentence with three time frames: past, present and future, about sport.

Show answer

Answer: L'année dernière, j'ai joué au tennis, maintenant je joue au foot et l'année prochaine, je jouerai au basket

  1. Past: j'ai joué.
  2. Future: je jouerai.

Question 10 Hard

Write a sentence with a si clause about the future (si + present).

Show answer

Answer: Si j'ai de bonnes notes, j'irai à l'université

  1. Si + present.
  2. Future in the main clause.

Question 11 Hard

Write a sentence with en + a present participle.

Show answer

Answer: Je fais mes devoirs en écoutant de la musique

  1. En + participle.
  2. Same subject.

Question 12 Hard

Which criterion do you improve by adding "parce que"?

Show answer

Answer: content

  1. Reasons develop the content.
  2. Opinions are explained.

Exam-style questions

Longer tasks with the marking points. These are Yumio practice questions.

Exam-style question 15 marks

Write in French five sentences about your weekend. Give two opinions with reasons and one sentence in the past. [5 marks]

Show answer

Answer: Le samedi, je joue au foot parce que j'adore le sport. Hier, j'ai regardé un film. Je n'aime pas les devoirs parce que c'est ennuyeux. Le dimanche, je vois mes amis. Demain, je vais faire du vélo.

  1. Opinion + parce que.
  2. Perfect tense.
  3. Near future.
  • Mark (2): Two opinions with reasons
  • Mark (1): One correct past tense sentence
  • Mark (2): Accurate, varied language

Exam-style question 26 marks

Write about 50 words in French about your school, aiming for the top band: opinions with reasons, past, present and future, and one complex structure. [6 marks]

Show answer

Answer: J'aime mon collège parce que les professeurs sont gentils. L'année dernière, j'ai participé à un échange en France. Cette année, je prépare mes examens et si j'ai de bonnes notes, j'irai au lycée. Je voudrais étudier les langues, car elles sont utiles.

  1. Opinions with reasons.
  2. Three time frames.
  3. Si clause.
  • Mark (2): Opinions with reasons
  • Mark (2): Past, present and future
  • Mark (2): A complex structure used accurately

Common mistakes

  1. Writing only in the present

    Add a past and a future sentence.

  2. Opinions with no reason

    Add parce que and a reason.

  3. Giving one idea for 2 marks

    Match your ideas to the marks.

  4. Never asking a question in the conversation

    Ask the examiner one question.

  5. Ignoring accuracy

    Check accents, agreement and negatives.

Back to all exam skills pages or the GCSE French hub.

Practise free

Start free

Yumio is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to AQA, Pearson Edexcel or any other exam board.

Next topicPractise free