Analysis of GCSE French 2024 Specifications June 2023

AQA and Pearson Edexcel GCSE French 2024 specifications have been accredited.  Eduqas has not yet been accredited.  It seems that there has been a very thorough accreditation process, and although there are some curious anomalies (for example a discrepancy between which AO the Role Play belongs to ) on the whole, the result of those accredited promises a transparent exam.  In particular it is helpful to have more clarification of terms used and more exemplification of mark schemes.  

I am starting to up-date the GCSE specification comparison which I prepared for the 3 drafts.  It will take time!  (Always longer than I think it will!).  Meanwhile, here is an 'at-a-glance' comparison of the accredited AQA , the accredited Edexcel, and the draft Eduqas.  There may be errors.  I will update them here.

It can be downloaded here.

DRAFT – TO BE CHECKED  - GCSE specifications comparison ‘at a glance’

 Grammar: all have the same requirements, but may choose different illustrations for some features, and different layout.

Vocabulary: all have  same constraint (85% of most frequent top 2,000 words, 30 multi word phrases + 20 cultural items)

Assessment Objectives : all the same, but have distributed weightings differently.

 

Element	AQA  - Final Link	Edexcel- Final Link	Eduqas - Draft LInk
Themes	Theme 1: People and lifestyle Topic 1: Identity and relationships with others Topic 2: Healthy living and lifestyle Topic 3: Education and work   Theme 2: Popular culture • Topic 1: Free-time activities Topic 2: Customs, festivals and celebrations • Topic 3: Celebrity culture   Theme 3: Communication and the world around us Topic 1: Travel and tourism, including places of interest • Topic 2: Media and technology • Topic 3: The environment and where people live	1.        My personal world 2.        Lifestyle and wellbeing 3.        My neighbourhood 4.        Media and technology 5.        Studying and my future 6.        Travel and tourism   Possible subjects within any of the contexts: •family •friends •relationships •equality •physical well-being •mental well-being •food and drink •sports •places in town •shopping •transport  •the natural world  •environmental issues •social media and gaming  •future opportunities (e.g. work, travel)  •school •music TV and film •accommodation  •tourist attractions	1.         Identity: for example, personal attributes, cultural background, languages spoken and learning, national, racial, gender stereotypes, family, friends, relationships 2.         Everydaylife:for example, education, school life, routines, activities, sport, being healthy/unhealthy, entertainment, social media 3.         My future :for example, future plans (work, education, aspirations),role models 4.         Exploring : for example, places and people, travel, including geography, customs and traditions, festivals, famous lives, historical stories 5.         Global matters :for example, the natural world, environment/climate change, attitudes, inequalities, poverty, prejudice, war/peace, citizenship

 

Listening (incl dictation)	‘Paper 1’ F: 35 mins 40 marks (32+8) NB – scaled up to 50 H: 45 mins 50 marks (40 + 10) 25% 5 mins reading time at start, 2 mins checking time at end	‘Paper 2’ F:45 mins H: 60 minutes 50 marks 25% 5 minutes reading time	‘Component 2’ F: 35 mins H: 45 mins 50 marks 25%
Speaking	‘Paper 2’ NEA - F: 7-9 mins - H: 10-12 mins - 50 marks - 25%	‘Paper 1’ NEA - F: 7-9 mins - H: 10-12 mins - 50 marks - 25%	‘Component 1’ NEA - F: 7-9 mins - H: 10-12 mins - 50 marks - 25%
Speaking Role play	F+H 10 marks, 1.5 mins	F+H: 10 marks recommend 1-1.5 minutes	F+H: 10 marks 1-1.5 minutes
Speaking Read aloud + unseen questions	F+H 5 + 10  = 15 marks F: min 35 words, 2.5mins H: min 50 words, 3.5 mins 4 unseen questions	F+H 8+4 = 12 marks 2 unseen questions =4 F: 1.5-2 minutes H: 2- 2.5 minutes	F+H 15 marks Read aloud Up to 1 minute Unprepared conversation 1-1.5 minutes 3 unseen questions
Speaking – visual stimuli	F+H 1x photo card with 2 photos 5+15+5 = 25 marks [ F: 4-5 mins H: 6-7 mins No compulsory questions	F+H 28 [12 + 16] 28 marks 1 photo card (choice from 2 photos) 2 compulsory questions + 1 compulsory subject opening F: 1.5-2 + 3-3.5 = 4.5-5.5 mins H: 2-2.5 + 5-5.5 = 7-8 minutes	F+H 25 marks Sequence of 4 photos 4-5 minutes 4 Compulsory questions (scripted paraphrase if needed – but penalised if used too much)
Reading incl dictation	‘Paper 3’ F: 45 mins H: 1 hour   50 marks [40 + 10], 25%	‘Paper 3’ F: 45 mins H: 60 mins 50 marks (40 + 10) 25%	‘Component 3, Section A’ (Part of 2-hour paper) Section A = 50 marks (44+6), 25%
Writing (incl translation)	F: 1 hour 10 mins H: 1 hour 15.  50 marks (40 + 10)25%	F:  1 hr 15 mins 50 marks H: 1 hr 20 min 50 marks 25%	‘Component 3, Section B’ (Part of 2-hour paper) Section B= 50 marks (40+10), 25%
	‘Paper 4’ F: 4 tasks + translation Photo prompt – 5 statements (10) 5 bullet point prompt – 50 words (5+ 5 = 10) Grammar m/c - 5 Translation (5+5 = 10) 3 bullet point prompt – 90 words (choice of 2) (10 + 5 = 15) H: 3 tasks + translation Translation (10) 3 bullet point prompt – 90 words (choice of 2) (10 + 5 = 15) 2 bullet point question – 150 words (choice of 2) (15 + 10 = 25)	‘Paper 4’ F: 3 tasks + translation Photo prompt – 4 statements (8) 3 BP prompt – formal context - 40-50 words (choose 1 of 2) (9 + 5 = 14) 4 BP prompt –informal context - 80-90 words (choice of 2) (AO1 13 + AO3 5 = 18] Translation 5 sentences [6+4 = 10] H: 2 tasks + translation 4 bullet point prompt – informal context  80-90 words (choice of 2) (13 + 5 = 18] 4 bullet point question – formal context - 130-150 words (choice of 2) (17 + 5 = 22] Translation (6+4=10)	‘Component 3, Section B’ F: 3 tasks + translation En word prompt – 5 sentences (8) 3 BP  - 60-80 words (12) Open ended with written French prompt (20) Translation (10) H: 2 tasks + translation Open ended with written French prompt (20) 3BP – 150-170 words (15+5 = 20) Translation (10)