AS/A Level French

Speaking examinations 2026

The assessment window for conducting the GCSE and GCE Speaking Examinations runs from Wednesday April 1st until Wednesday May 20th 2026.

For AS examinations conducted by the visiting examiner, and for A Level Component 1 examinations, the visiting examiner will contact centres directly to arrange a visit to conduct the assessment. The visiting examiner will take dates of school holidays during this period into account when arranging a visit. However, centres should bear in mind that the visiting examiner will have many centres to examine and, in order to help the examiner and to be fair to all, centres must be flexible with dates.  

For the centre conducted AS option, centres are only permitted to assess for 5 weeks within this period. This assessment period is not required to be continuous and allows for a break to accommodate the Easter break in each centre. Please note that for AS Component 1 (centre conducted), the teacher examiner may open the package from three working days before the centre’s first assessment date. Materials must be stored securely at the end of each day.

The Eduqas AS & A level in French courses provide an engaging and exciting opportunity for students to build on their previous study of French. Through social, intellectual, historical and political cultural themes students will be able to develop their linguistic knowledge and cultural understanding of the countries/communities where the language is spoken. An opportunity to study literature and film will allow students to undertake a deeper analysis of language structures and increase their cultural awareness as part of an integrated approach to language learning. A strong focus is placed on building students' confidence and fluency in spoken French using relevant and topical themes. The requirement to research an area of personal interest related to the country/communities where French is spoken will enhance students' cultural appreciation and enable them to gain a greater awareness of intercultural differences.

The AS & A level in French will enable learners to:

• enhance their linguistic skills and promote and develop their capacity for critical thinking on the basis of their knowledge and understanding of the language, culture and society of the countries/communities where the language is spoken
• develop control of the language system to convey meaning, using spoken and written skills, including an extended range of vocabulary, for both practical and intellectual purposes as increasingly confident, accurate and independent users of the language
• develop their ability to interact effectively with users of the language in speech and in writing, including through online media
• develop language learning skills and strategies, including communication strategies to sustain communication and build fluency and confidence
• engage critically with intellectually stimulating texts, films and other materials in the original language, developing an appreciation of sophisticated and creative uses of the language and understanding them within their cultural and social context
• develop knowledge about matters central to the society and culture, past and present, of the countries/communities where the language is spoken
• mediate between cultures and between speakers of the language and speakers of English · foster their ability to learn other languages
• equip themselves with transferable skills such as autonomy, resourcefulness, creativity, critical thinking, and linguistic, cultural and cognitive flexibility that will enable them to proceed to further study or to employment
• develop their capacity for critical and analytical thinking through the language of study
• develop as independent researchers through the language of study.

This French course builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills established at GCSE French.

The Listening Paper Recording Audio files can be found under ‘Resources / Key documents / Listening Paper Recordings’.

Why choose Eduqas?

• Direct access to our subject specialists
  
  
• Access to our digital resources website which hosts a wealth of free material
  
  
• The opportunity to receive centre visits from our Regional Support Team