WJECAS/A Level52 resources

WJEC AS/A Level French Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Free WJEC A Level French past papers, mark schemes, audio tapescripts & speaking resource packs. All 5 units with listening and reading resources. 60 papers.

📅Summer series📄52 resources availableFree to download

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Type
Year

52 of 52 resources — page 1 of 3

Summer 2023

8 files
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AS/A Level French – Unit 2: Written: Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response [Tapescript] – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level French – Unit 4: Written: Listening, Reading and Translation [Resource] – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level French – Unit 5: Written: Critical and Analytical Response in Writing – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level French – Unit 2: Written: Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response – Past Paper – Summer 2023

Past Paper

AS/A Level French – Unit 4: Written: Listening, Reading and Translation – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level French – Unit 5: Written: Critical and Analytical Response in Writing – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level French – Unit 1: NEA: Speaking – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level French – Unit 2: Written: Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

Summer 2022

7 files

AS/A Level French – Unit 1: NEA: Speaking – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level French – Unit 2: Written: Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

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AS/A Level French – Unit 4: Written: Listening, Reading and Translation [Resource] – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper
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AS/A Level French – Unit 2: Written: Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper
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AS/A Level French – Unit 5: Written: Critical and Analytical Response in Writing – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper
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AS/A Level French – Unit 2: Written: Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response [Tapescript] – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper
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AS/A Level French – Unit 4: Written: Listening, Reading and Translation [Tapescript] – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

Summer 2019

10 files

AS/A Level French – Unit 3: NEA: Speaking – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level French – Unit 4: Written: Listening, Reading and Translation – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level French – Unit 5: Written: Critical and Analytical Response in Writing – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level French – Unit 1: NEA: Speaking – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level French – Unit 2: Written: Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme
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AS/A Level French – Unit 2: Written: Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper
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AS/A Level French – Unit 4: Written: Listening, Reading and Translation [Resource] – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper
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AS/A Level French – Unit 5: Written: Critical and Analytical Response in Writing – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper
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AS/A Level French – Unit 4: Written: Listening, Reading and Translation [Tapescript] – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper
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AS/A Level French – Unit 4: Written: Listening, Reading and Translation [Tapescript] – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper

Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Critical Writing: WJEC’s Five-Unit French Qualification

WJEC AS/A Level French develops advanced linguistic competence across all four skill areas, integrating language proficiency with study of Francophone culture, society, and literature. The five-unit structure separates AS and A2 assessment while maintaining a coherent progression. Unit 1 — Speaking (AS, non-examined assessment, 12%) — assesses conversational fluency through a stimulus-based discussion. Candidates respond to resource material covering themes such as family, youth culture, education, and contemporary French society. Unit 2 — Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response (AS, 2 hours 30 minutes, 28%) — combines a listening paper with reading comprehension, translation into English, and a critical essay on a set film or literary text studied in class. Unit 3 — Speaking (A2, NEA, 18%) — raises the bar with an independent research presentation followed by discussion. Unit 4 — Listening, Reading and Translation (A2, 2 hours, 22%) — tests advanced comprehension and translation into French, drawing on topics such as politics, immigration, and environmental issues. Unit 5 (A2, 1 hour 30 minutes, 20%) is the capstone assessment: two analytical essays written entirely in French on set literary works or films, evaluating narrative technique, thematic development, and cultural significance. The archive of 60 resources includes question papers, mark schemes, audio tapescripts, and the resource packs used in speaking assessments.

Exam Paper Structure

Unit 1No calculator

Speaking (AS)

NEA🎯 48 marks📊 12% of grade
Stimulus-based discussionThemes: family, youth, education, society
Unit 2No calculator

Listening, Reading, Translation and Critical Response

2 hours 30 minutes🎯 112 marks📊 28% of grade
Listening comprehensionReading comprehensionTranslation into EnglishCritical response to film or literary text
Unit 3No calculator

Speaking (A2)

NEA🎯 72 marks📊 18% of grade
Independent research presentationDiscussion on chosen topic
Unit 4No calculator

Listening, Reading and Translation

2 hours🎯 88 marks📊 22% of grade
Advanced listening comprehensionAdvanced reading comprehensionTranslation into French
Unit 5No calculator

Critical and Analytical Response in Writing

1 hour 30 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 20% of grade
Extended essay on literary text or filmAnalysis of themes and techniques

Key Information

Exam BoardWJEC
Specification Code601/8441/2 (AS) / 601/8442/4 (A Level)
QualificationAS/A Level
Grading ScaleA*–E (A Level), A–E (AS)
Assessment Type3 written exams + 2 speaking NEAs
TiersNo tiers
Number Of Papers5 units
Exam DurationUnit 2: 2 hrs 30 min; Unit 4: 2 hrs; Unit 5: 1 hr 30 min
Total Marks400
Calculator StatusNot applicable
Available SessionsSummer series
Total Resources60

Key Topics in French

Topics you need to know

French society and contemporary issuesYouth culture, education, and family lifeImmigration, diversity, and politicsFrancophone film and literary analysisListening and reading comprehension skillsTranslation techniques (English–French and French–English)Speaking fluency and extended discussionCritical essay writing in French

Exam Command Words

Command wordWhat the examiner expects
RésumezSummarise the key points from the passage
TraduisezTranslate the passage accurately
AnalysezExamine a theme or technique in the set text or film
ÉvaluezAssess the effectiveness of a literary or cinematic technique
DiscutezPresent and weigh different viewpoints on the topic

Typical Grade Boundaries

GradeApproximate mark needed
A*80–90%
A70–79%
B60–69%
C50–59%
D40–49%
E30–39%

⚠️ Typical A Level boundaries across all five units (400 total marks). Boundaries vary by session.

Building Exam-Ready Fluency and Critical Writing Skills in French

Listening comprehension improves most effectively through daily immersion. Listen to French radio (France Inter, France Culture) and podcasts at native speed, initially with transcripts, then without. For exam preparation, work through past listening papers under timed conditions, pausing only where the exam format allows pauses. Pay attention to nuance: negatives, quantities, and time references are frequently tested. Translation into French (Unit 4) demands precise grammatical accuracy. Common pitfalls include agreement of adjectives and past participles, correct use of subjunctive after expressions of doubt or emotion, and appropriate tense selection in reported speech. Build a revision notebook of grammatical patterns with example sentences, and test yourself regularly on constructions you find challenging. For the critical essays in Units 2 and 5, know your set texts or films thoroughly. Prepare thematic analyses rather than plot summaries — examiners reward candidates who explore techniques (narrative voice, cinematic framing, symbolism) and link them to broader themes. Practise writing timed essays of 300–400 words entirely in French, focusing on coherent argument structure and varied vocabulary.

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