A Level French 2025-26

Are you interested in mastering a major world language? If so, A Level French could be the perfect learning opportunity for you.

It's important to note that French is not only a significant European language but also a global language with over 200 million speakers worldwide. Its popularity and reputation for precision in expression have established French as the international language of diplomacy.

Fluency in French can open up various opportunities for work, study, and travel, making it a valuable skill beyond the realm of diplomacy.

Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation.

You will be assessed on your understanding of spoken and written French from a variety of types of authentic texts and listening material, as well as your ability to translate accurately from French into English.

Texts and recordings vary in length to include some extended passages. All spoken and written materials are culturally relevant to France and French-speaking countries and are drawn from the four themes.

Students should be able to:
• Understand main points, gist and detail from spoken and written material.
• Infer meaning from complex spoken and written material.
• Assimilate and use information from spoken and written sources, including material from online media.
• Summarise information from spoken sources, reporting key points and subject matter.
• Translate from French into English.

Paper 2: Written response to works and translation.

Students should be able to:
• Develop a detailed understanding and appreciation of the works studied, by writing critical and analytical responses in the language of study to the works, taken from the prescribed list provided.
• Produce responses that show critical appreciation of features such as:
- Key concepts and issues.
- Characterisation.
- Form and technique of presentation, e.g. effect of narrative voice in prose text, effect of camera work in film.
- Social and cultural setting.
• Present viewpoints, develop arguments, draw conclusions, analyse and evaluate in writing.
• Manipulate language accurately through translating an unseen passage from English into French.

Paper 3: Speaking
Students should be able to demonstrate:
• Knowledge and understanding of the cultural context by giving ideas, examples and information on one of the themes and on a chosen subject of interest they have researched linked to the social and cultural context of the language studied.
• The ability to analyse aspects of the cultural context by presenting and justifying valid arguments, viewpoints and conclusions.
• The ability to interact and hold a natural and fluent discourse.
• Skill in manipulating language accurately.
• The ability to respond to written language in speech.

The ability to speak another language can be very beneficial when it comes to career opportunities. While there are many jobs where you can use your language skills indirectly, if you want to actively employ it in your work, here are some careers you could consider:

French Teacher or Tutor
If you’re looking to work with young people, and want to pass on your linguistic knowledge, then teaching may be a rewarding career for you. In order to become a qualified French teacher, you’ll need to have a French degree and postgraduate teaching qualification, whereas these aren’t prerequisites for becoming a French tutor.

French Translator
If you manage to reach a level of French where you can be considered bilingual, then becoming a French translator could be a very interesting career choice for you. As a translator you’ll typically be self-employed or working on a contracted basis for different companies. You can also choose to specialise in different areas of translation, such as medical or legal translation.

Travel and Tourism
Travelling as part of your career can be an exciting prospect, and A-Level French can open up many opportunities in the travel and tourism sector. For example, you could work as a travel agent, part of airline crew or holiday representative, as all of these jobs look highly upon prospective employees who can speak more than one language.

Marketing
Due to the rapid growth of the Internet, businesses are now able to sell their products and services to customers all over the world. As a result, there are many marketing and PR jobs that require applicants to be able to speak a second language, and therefore French can be a huge asset. Any career in the communications sector will see a language A-Level as a huge plus, thus French could open up career doors for jobs both at home and internationally.

Here in the UK the ability to speak fluent French is a sought-after skill, with half of employers saying it was a desirable characteristic in an applicant.

In terms of higher education, this course will give you the linguistic skills to further develop your French or switch to another language.

A Level French also means you can enjoy a greatly enhanced experience the next time you visit a French-speaking country.

For A Level French you will need a grade 6 in GCSE French.

For a three A Level programme you will need to have a minimum of five 9-4 grade passes at GCSE which includes English and Mathematics.

For a four A Level programme you will need to have a minimum of six 9-4 grade passes at GCSE which includes English and Mathematics; it is expected that the majority of passes will be at 7-9 grade.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

A Level French (Pearson Edexcel) consists of two externally-examined papers assessing listening, reading and writing plus a speaking assessment. The speaking assessment is externally set and conducted by a teacher-examiner. All assessments are marked externally. These exams will be sat at the end of Year 13.

Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation.
Paper 2: Written response to works and translation.
Paper 3: Speaking.

September 2025

Two years, full time.