GCSE guide · checked October 2026
GCSE French, explained simply
Four papers, each worth the same: listening, speaking, reading and writing. This is the new GCSE course, first taught in 2024 and examined for the first time in 2026. This page shows how AQA and Edexcel set the papers, the marks needed for each grade in June 2026, and how to prepare. Pick your exam board and tier and the page changes to match.
- 4 papers, 25% each
- Speaking test is recorded
- No coursework
- Grades 9 to 1
Exam board
Tier
Not sure which board? Ask your child's school, or check the front of a mockA practice exam, usually set by school a few months before the real thing. paper. How to find your exam board
The exams at a glance
AQA GCSE French (8652), Higher tier. 4 papers, 3 hours 12 minutes of exams and 200 marks in total. Each paper is worth 25% of the grade.
Specification: AQA GCSE French (8652)
What's in the exams
Listening, speaking, reading and writing are each worth 25% of the grade on both boards, so none can be left until last.
Foundation or Higher?
Foundation
Grades 1 to 5. Shorter papers with simpler language. A 5 is the top grade, so it suits students aiming for a standard pass (4) or a strong pass (5). Students must take all four papers at the same tier.
Higher
Grades 4 to 9, with a 3 allowed if you just miss a 4. Longer papers with more demanding language. The risk: fall below the grade 3 mark and you get no grade at all.
The marks you really need for each grade
You do not need 90% for a top grade. Grade boundaries are set after the exams are marked, so a grade stays the same standard even when the papers are harder. These are the real AQA Higher boundaries from June 2026:
Source: AQA, GCSE grade boundaries June 2026. Boundaries change slightly every year. See grade boundaries for every subject
Your target score in practice papers
Sit a full set of past papers under timed conditions every few weeks. Work out the percentage for each set, ignore your single worst result (everyone has an off day) and average the rest. Aim for:
95%
to secure a grade 9
87%
to secure a grade 8
80%
to secure a grade 7
We add 5 percentage points to last year's boundary, because boundaries move a little each year and exam nerves cost marks.
Past paper mock builder
Pick an exam series and we'll set out the full AQA Higher mock: which papers to sit, how long to allow and where to download them. Then type in your marks to see the grade they would have earned.
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Paper 1: Listening, June 2026 · Recorded questions plus a short dictation · 45 minutes
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Paper 2: Speaking, June 2026 · Role-play, reading aloud with a short conversation, and a photo card. 10 to 12 minutes plus 15 minutes' preparation. Recorded by the teacher, marked by AQA · 12 minutes
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Paper 3: Reading, June 2026 · Comprehension, plus a translation from French into English · 1 hour
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Paper 4: Writing, June 2026 · Writing tasks · 1 hour 15 minutes
Each paper opens straight from the AQA website. Every year, board and level in one place: our past paper finder. Exam boards keep the newest series for schools for a while, so start with the latest one that opens. Practising one topic at a time? Save My Exams sorts questions by topic.
Enter your marks for each paper to see the grade they would have earned.
What French is really about
Where the word comes from
"French" comes from the Old English Frencisc, meaning "of the Franks", the Germanic people who gave their name to France. The French name for the language is français.
Where it comes from
French grew out of the Latin spoken in Roman Gaul, and it also took words from the Germanic language of the Franks. Over the centuries it spread well beyond France, and today it is used in many countries across Europe, Africa and North America. GCSE French prepares students to understand and use the language in everyday situations.
Why it's still taught
French is spoken in many countries around the world, and a GCSE in a language is valued by sixth forms and universities. It builds listening, memory and clear writing skills, and it opens the door to A-Level French and to jobs in travel, business, law, teaching and international organisations.
How to do well in GCSE French
Learn vocabulary little and often
Ten minutes a day on flashcards beats one long session each week.
Listen every day
Short French podcasts, songs and videos train the ear for the listening paper.
Rehearse the speaking test out loud
Practise the role-play, the photo card and the conversation by speaking, not just reading answers.
Practise dictation and translation
AQA includes a short dictation in the listening paper and a translation in the reading paper. Practise with short sentences in the tenses you know.
Write with the tenses
Extended writing rewards past, present and future tenses, opinions and reasons. Build a bank of useful phrases.
Mark it, then redo it
After each past paper, mark it with the mark scheme and redo the questions you dropped a week later.
Swipe for more tips →
The three best places to revise
Our teachers' picks. We have no connection with these sites.
BBC Bitesize
Free French revision guides, vocabulary and listening practice.
Save My Exams: AQA GCSE French
Past papers for AQA. Some content is paid.
Languagenut
Games and quizzes for vocabulary practice, often provided through schools.
Online GCSE French tutors
A tutor who knows your exam boardThe organisation that sets and marks the exam, such as AQA, Edexcel or OCR. Each has its own syllabus., live one-to-one on Zoom, Meet or Teams. It starts with a free 45-minute assessment.
From about £30 an hour for one-to-one online lessons. Your exact price depends on the tutor and how many hours a week: use our price calculator.
Questions parents ask
Is the GCSE French course new?
Yes. The new specifications were first taught in 2024, so summer 2026 was the first time they were examined. Older past papers are from the previous course, so use the new sample papers and the 2026 papers first.
Which exam boards does this page cover?
AQA (8652) and Pearson Edexcel (1FR1). Check with your child's school which one they sit.
Is the speaking test part of the grade?
Yes. Speaking is 25% of the qualification. With AQA the test is recorded by the teacher and marked by an AQA examiner.
Do you need 90% to get a grade 9?
No. The marks needed are set after the exams are marked. In June 2026 a grade 9 on the Higher tier needed 179 out of 200 with AQA (89.5%) and 175 out of 200 with Edexcel (87.5%).
Can my child change from Foundation to Higher?
Usually yes, up to the school's entry deadline. Students must take all four papers at the same tier, and schools decide based on mock results.
When should GCSE French tutoring start?
Year 10 is ideal, because vocabulary and speaking confidence take time to build. Many families start in Year 11, and regular conversation practice with a tutor still makes a real difference.
Not sure where your child stands?
Our free 45-minute assessment often uses a real past paperA real exam from a previous year, used for practice., so you'll know their likely grade and exactly what to work on. Lessons online across the UK, or at our seven London hubs.
