AQA GCSE French 8652 - Complete
Revision Guide
First exams: June 2026 onwards | Specification Version 1.0, June 2023
Website: aqa.org.uk/8652 | Updates: aqa.org.uk/keepinformedmfl | Contact: 01423 534 381
1. General Exam Rules
Linear Qualification - Key Rules
All 4 papers (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) must be taken at SAME tier and
SAME series
Two tiers: Foundation (grades 1-5) and Higher (grades 4-9)
Each paper = 50 marks = 25% of GCSE
Total scaled marks Foundation = 200. Scaling factor Paper 1 Foundation = x1.25
Dictionaries NOT permitted at any time in any paper or supervised prep
Gender identity: Students not disadvantaged - preferred pronouns credited
Culture of wider French-speaking world included in curriculum
Aim: Clear, accessible assessments that discriminate between performance
2. Speaking Test - Overview
Structure & Administration
3 parts: Role-play (10 marks), Reading Aloud (15 marks), Photo Card Discussion (25
marks)
Total 50 marks for both tiers
Conducted and audio-recorded by teacher, marked by AQA examiner
Timing starts when teacher begins Role-play intro from Teacher's Booklet
Teacher's Booklet contains: Sequence chart, compulsory questions, allocated cards per
student
Confidentiality must be strictly maintained before and during tests
Students must NOT know questions/themes in advance
Supervised Preparation - 15 mins both tiers
Students can make notes on Additional Answer Sheet and take into exam room
Notes allowed at any time during test
Must hand notes to teacher-examiner at end - stored securely until results day then
disposed
5 mins reading time + 2 mins checking time included in total time
, Foundation total: 7-9 mins (max 9 mins - marking stops), Higher: 10-12 mins (max 12
mins)
3. Role-Play
Duration: 1 to 1.5 minutes both tiers
5 tasks x 2 marks each for AO2 = 10 marks total
Simulates social conversation with unambiguous instructions
Must use prescribed vocabulary
Marking: 0 = no message, 1 = partially/ambiguity, 2 = clearly without ambiguity
If student goes beyond minimum requirement, further incorrect info is ignored
4. Reading Aloud Task
Two sections: Reading aloud text + 4 compulsory questions + short unprepared
conversation
Word count: Foundation min 35 words, Higher min 50 words
Recommended length Higher: 3 to 3.5 mins
Marked on pronunciation errors: Major = adversely affects communication, Minor =
does not
Mark 0 = does not meet Level 1, Mark 4 = regular minor + some major errors, Mark 5 =
always/nearly always accurate
Compulsory questions marked as whole - 10 marks
3-4 marks = at least 2 questions answered understandably, one developed minimally
9-10 marks = all clearly answered, at least 2 extended responses + 1 well developed
5. Photo Card
Two photos from one of three themes must be prepared
Two sections: Response to content of photos + Unprepared conversation
Unprepared conversation can be based on any/all of three topics from theme on
Candidate's card
Foundation: Talk about both photos ~1 min, Discussion 4-5 mins total, Unprepared 3-4
mins
Higher: Talk about both photos ~1.5 mins, Discussion 6-7 mins total, Unprepared 4.5-
5.5 mins
Minimum requirement: Say at least ONE thing about EACH photo
If only one photo discussed: -1 mark deduction unless mark would have been 1
Photo response marks: 0 = not Level 1, 1 = very little info, 2 = quite a lot, 3 = some info
but clarity breaks, 5 = a lot clearly
Unprepared conversation: Level 1 (1-3) very little info, Level 2 (4-6) little info, Level 4
(10-12) some info + good development, Level 5 (13-15) quite a lot + regular good
development
AO2 photo requirement: one comment per photo minimum, coverage need not be equal
Revision Guide
First exams: June 2026 onwards | Specification Version 1.0, June 2023
Website: aqa.org.uk/8652 | Updates: aqa.org.uk/keepinformedmfl | Contact: 01423 534 381
1. General Exam Rules
Linear Qualification - Key Rules
All 4 papers (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) must be taken at SAME tier and
SAME series
Two tiers: Foundation (grades 1-5) and Higher (grades 4-9)
Each paper = 50 marks = 25% of GCSE
Total scaled marks Foundation = 200. Scaling factor Paper 1 Foundation = x1.25
Dictionaries NOT permitted at any time in any paper or supervised prep
Gender identity: Students not disadvantaged - preferred pronouns credited
Culture of wider French-speaking world included in curriculum
Aim: Clear, accessible assessments that discriminate between performance
2. Speaking Test - Overview
Structure & Administration
3 parts: Role-play (10 marks), Reading Aloud (15 marks), Photo Card Discussion (25
marks)
Total 50 marks for both tiers
Conducted and audio-recorded by teacher, marked by AQA examiner
Timing starts when teacher begins Role-play intro from Teacher's Booklet
Teacher's Booklet contains: Sequence chart, compulsory questions, allocated cards per
student
Confidentiality must be strictly maintained before and during tests
Students must NOT know questions/themes in advance
Supervised Preparation - 15 mins both tiers
Students can make notes on Additional Answer Sheet and take into exam room
Notes allowed at any time during test
Must hand notes to teacher-examiner at end - stored securely until results day then
disposed
5 mins reading time + 2 mins checking time included in total time
, Foundation total: 7-9 mins (max 9 mins - marking stops), Higher: 10-12 mins (max 12
mins)
3. Role-Play
Duration: 1 to 1.5 minutes both tiers
5 tasks x 2 marks each for AO2 = 10 marks total
Simulates social conversation with unambiguous instructions
Must use prescribed vocabulary
Marking: 0 = no message, 1 = partially/ambiguity, 2 = clearly without ambiguity
If student goes beyond minimum requirement, further incorrect info is ignored
4. Reading Aloud Task
Two sections: Reading aloud text + 4 compulsory questions + short unprepared
conversation
Word count: Foundation min 35 words, Higher min 50 words
Recommended length Higher: 3 to 3.5 mins
Marked on pronunciation errors: Major = adversely affects communication, Minor =
does not
Mark 0 = does not meet Level 1, Mark 4 = regular minor + some major errors, Mark 5 =
always/nearly always accurate
Compulsory questions marked as whole - 10 marks
3-4 marks = at least 2 questions answered understandably, one developed minimally
9-10 marks = all clearly answered, at least 2 extended responses + 1 well developed
5. Photo Card
Two photos from one of three themes must be prepared
Two sections: Response to content of photos + Unprepared conversation
Unprepared conversation can be based on any/all of three topics from theme on
Candidate's card
Foundation: Talk about both photos ~1 min, Discussion 4-5 mins total, Unprepared 3-4
mins
Higher: Talk about both photos ~1.5 mins, Discussion 6-7 mins total, Unprepared 4.5-
5.5 mins
Minimum requirement: Say at least ONE thing about EACH photo
If only one photo discussed: -1 mark deduction unless mark would have been 1
Photo response marks: 0 = not Level 1, 1 = very little info, 2 = quite a lot, 3 = some info
but clarity breaks, 5 = a lot clearly
Unprepared conversation: Level 1 (1-3) very little info, Level 2 (4-6) little info, Level 4
(10-12) some info + good development, Level 5 (13-15) quite a lot + regular good
development
AO2 photo requirement: one comment per photo minimum, coverage need not be equal
