Qualification
Pearson Edexcel A-level French
Specification 9FR0, Option A, covering language, culture, literature and independent research.
Pearson Edexcel A-level · Specification 9FR0
Online A-level French Course
Develop confident French speaking, listening, reading and writing skills while exploring contemporary society, culture, immigration, politics, literature and modern French history. This structured home-study course prepares students for the Pearson Edexcel A-level French examinations.
Immediate access to the online course
37 lessons across nine French modules
Assignment marking and live speaking tutorials available separately
Start your French course
£14.99 / month
Today’s payment:
£24.99
Includes:
- Course materials subscription
- Academic induction session and booking fee
Then
£14.99 per month
🔒 Minimum 6 months subscription applies.
Course overview
Develop confident French for study, conversation and examination
A-level French develops your ability to understand and communicate in increasingly sophisticated spoken and written French. You will extend your vocabulary, strengthen your grammar and learn to respond accurately and confidently across a range of social, cultural, political and historical topics.
The course explores changes in French society, education, employment, music, media, festivals, immigration, multiculturalism, the Occupation and the Resistance. You will also study two French literary works and carry out an independent research project for the speaking examination.
Listening, reading, translation, essay writing and spoken interaction are developed throughout the course. Regular speaking practice is particularly important because the speaking examination contributes 30% of the final qualification.
Course structure
9 modules · 37 lessons
Study French society, francophone culture, immigration, history, literature and examination skills.
Recommended study time
Approximately 700 hours
Students should normally allow two years to develop the language skills and cultural knowledge required.
Enrolment
Start at any time
There is no fixed term date, although your intended examination year and speaking-assessment window must be planned carefully.
Assignments
17 tutor-marked assignments
Assignments develop listening, reading, translation, writing, literature and speaking skills. Marking is purchased separately.
Assessment
3 examination components
Listening, reading and translation; written responses to works; and a separate speaking assessment.
Coursework
No NEA or coursework
The independent research project is assessed within the speaking examination rather than submitted as coursework.
Entry and grading
Grades A*–E
All three assessment components must be completed in the same examination year.
Speaking assignments require live tutorial time
Some French assignments include both written and spoken components. Purchasing assignment marking alone does not cover the spoken assessment. To complete every component and access all the marks available, students must also book a live face-to-face online tutorial with their French tutor.
Flexible home study
How the A-level French course works
Work through the course in sequence, building on GCSE or equivalent French. Each lesson combines topic knowledge with vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading, translation, written French and opportunities to develop spoken fluency.
The online lessons are supported by audio recordings, self-assessment activities, suggested answers and references to the accompanying textbook and Boost resources. Regular independent listening and speaking practice should continue alongside the formal lessons.
French is a progressive subject, so steady study is more effective than working through topics at random. Students should practise spoken French throughout both years rather than leaving speaking preparation until shortly before the examination.
-
Enrol and start online
Enrol at any time and receive immediate access to your online French course. Your included academic induction session helps you understand the course and plan your studies.
-
Work through structured lessons
Follow 37 progressive lessons covering French language, society, culture, history, literature, translation and independent research.
-
Practise all four language skills
Use course activities, audio recordings and textbook resources to develop listening, speaking, reading and writing together.
-
Prepare for the three papers
Later lessons and mock assessments prepare you for listening, reading, translation, literary essays, thematic discussion and the independent research presentation.
Flexible additional support
Combine marking with live speaking practice
Assignment marking, Email Tutor Support, one-to-one tutorials, mock-exam marking and printed materials can be purchased separately. French students should budget for live tutorial time as well as assignment marking where an assignment includes a speaking component.
Marking alone does not assess spoken French
Where an assignment contains spoken and written elements, both services are required: purchase the assignment marking for the submitted work and book a live face-to-face online tutorial for the speaking element. Without the tutorial, the tutor cannot assess the spoken component or award the marks attached to it.
Course content
What you’ll study
The A-level French course is arranged across nine modules and 37 lessons. The first year develops language through contemporary French society, francophone culture and Albert Camus’ L’Étranger. The second year explores immigration, the Occupation and Resistance, Jean-Paul Sartre’s Les Mains sales, independent research and final examination preparation.
Module 1 L’évolution de la société française Explore family life, marriage, employment, industrial action, gender equality and education in modern France. 6 lessons
- Le changement dans la structure familiale
- Les attitudes envers le mariage, les relations et la famille
- La vie active et le droit à la grève
- Les jeunes et les attitudes envers le travail
- L’égalité des sexes
- Le système éducatif et les questions estudiantines
Module 2 La culture politique et artistique dans les pays francophones Study music, television, print and online media, new technology, festivals, customs and cultural traditions. 6 lessons
- La musique
- Les médias : la télévision
- Les médias : la presse écrite et en ligne
- L’influence des médias et des nouvelles technologies
- Festivals, fêtes, coutumes et traditions
- D’autres aspects de la culture
Module 3 Albert Camus: L’Étranger Study narrative development, Camus’ philosophical ideas, style and literary technique. 4 lessons
- Narrative Development 1
- Narrative Development 2
- Camus’ Philosophy
- Camus’ Style and Technique
Module 4 First-year skills practice Consolidate listening, reading, translation and speaking skills before progressing to the second year. 2 lessons
- Preparing for Listening, Reading and Translation Tests
- Practice Speaking Test
Module 5 L’immigration et la société multiculturelle française Examine immigration, integration, cultural contribution, social challenges and the development of the French far right. 4 lessons
- L’histoire et les statistiques de l’immigration
- L’impact positif de l’immigration sur la société française
- Répondre aux défis de l’immigration et de l’intégration en France
- L’extrême droite et la montée du Front National
Module 6 L’Occupation et la Résistance Explore occupied France, antisemitism, Vichy, resistance movements, Jean Moulin, women and Charles de Gaulle. 6 lessons
- La France sous l’Occupation
- La vie sous l’Occupation : l’antisémitisme et les représailles
- Pétain et Vichy
- La Révolution nationale
- La Résistance : l’importance de Jean Moulin et des femmes
- Les Français libres et le général de Gaulle
Module 7 Jean-Paul Sartre: Les Mains sales Study twentieth-century French drama, existentialism, characterisation and dramatic style. 3 lessons
- French Drama in the Twentieth Century: Sartre
- Existentialism
- Characterisation and Style
Module 8 Independent Research Project Learn how to select, research, analyse and present a cultural or social topic for the speaking examination. 4 lessons
- How to Choose an Independent Research Topic
- Seventeenth-Century Theatre: Molière
- Marine Le Pen and the Front National in France
- A Famous Landmark: L’Arc de Triomphe
Module 9 Preparing for the A-level examinations Bring together listening, reading, translation, literary writing and speaking skills through final examination practice. 2 lessons
- Paper 1: Listening, Reading and Translation
- Paper 2: Written Response to Works and Translation
Practice Examination — Paper 1
Practice Examination — Paper 2
Practice Speaking Assessment — Paper 3
A progressive two-year language course
The modules are intended to be studied in order because vocabulary, grammar and examination skills build progressively. Speaking practice should begin early, while possible independent research topics should be considered from the beginning of the second year.
Exams and assessment
How the course is assessed
Pearson Edexcel A-level French is assessed through two written examination papers and a separate speaking assessment. Together they assess listening, reading, translation, written French, literary analysis, cultural knowledge, spoken interaction and independent research.
There is no coursework or non-exam assessment. The speaking examination normally takes place in April or May, with the written papers following in May or June of the same year. All three components must be completed in one examination series.
Listening, reading and translation
Paper 1 · 9FR0/01
2 hours
Exam duration
80 marks
Available marks
40%
Of the qualification
Assessing listening comprehension, reading comprehension and translation of an unseen passage from French into English.
Written response to works and translation
Paper 2 · 9FR0/02
2 hours 40 minutes
Exam duration
120 marks
Available marks
30%
Of the qualification
Translate an unseen passage into French and write two analytical responses in French on the prescribed literary works.
Speaking assessment
Paper 3 · 9FR0/03
21–23 minutes
Including preparation
72 marks
Available marks
30%
Of the qualification
Discuss a specification theme, present findings from an independent research project and take part in a wider discussion conducted in French.
Coursework
No NEA component
The independent research project is assessed orally within Paper 3 and is not submitted as written coursework.
Dictionary use
No dictionaries permitted
Dictionaries and documentation relating to the literary works cannot be used during the written examinations.
Assessment pattern
Linear qualification
All assessment components must be completed in the same year. Marks from individual papers cannot be carried forward.
Speaking examination
Separate April–May window
The speaking assessment is conducted by a teacher or examiner during Pearson’s prescribed assessment period.
Arranging your assessment
Make sure your centre can provide all three components
Home-educated students enter as private candidates at an approved examination centre. Before booking, confirm that the centre can arrange Papers 1 and 2 and the separate speaking assessment for specification 9FR0, Option A.
Course tutorials provide practice and allow spoken assignment work to be assessed, but they do not replace the official Pearson speaking examination.
Support & add-ons
Add extra French support when you need it
Your course subscription provides the structured online materials, audio activities and suggested answers needed for independent study. Assignment marking, live speaking tutorials, examination support and printed materials can be purchased separately.
Written feedback
Assignment marking
Submit written and listening-based assignment work for marking and receive detailed feedback on accuracy, vocabulary, grammar, translation, comprehension and analytical writing.
Assignment marking bundle£134.86
Spoken French
Face-to-face online tutorials
Book a live one-to-one session to complete spoken assignment components, develop fluency, improve pronunciation and practise responding naturally in French.
Tutorial time Purchased separately
Exam preparation
Mock exam marking
Complete examination-style listening, reading, translation and written-response papers and receive feedback on accuracy, timing and examination technique.
Mock examination marking bundle£57.00
Ongoing guidance
Email Tutor Support
Ask questions by email when vocabulary, grammar, translation, cultural content or a literary topic needs further explanation.
Email Tutor Support£10.00 / month
Printed materials
French course pack
Add a printed, spiral-bound copy of the course materials if you prefer to study, annotate and revise away from the screen.
Printed course materials£50.00
MFL assignment requirement
Use marking and tutorials together
Where an assignment includes a spoken component, purchasing assignment marking alone is not sufficient. You must also book a live tutorial so that the tutor can assess your spoken French and award the marks attached to that part of the assignment.
Explore your options
See all available French support
Prospective students can compare the different support services. Existing students can purchase French marking, tutorials and other course-specific add-ons through their account.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the A-level French course
Find answers about starting the course, previous French study, speaking practice, assignments, examinations, literary works and the additional support available.
Can I start the French course at any time?
Yes. There are no fixed term dates, so you can enrol and begin studying when it suits you. You should plan around the April–May speaking assessment window and the written examinations held later in the same examination series.
Do I need to have studied French before?
Yes. The course builds on GCSE or equivalent Level 2 French. Students should already have a working knowledge of common vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, writing and basic spoken communication.
How long does the course take to complete?
We recommend allowing approximately 700 hours of study and normally completing the course over two years. Regular language practice is more effective than attempting to compress the course into a short period.
Which examination specification does the course cover?
The course prepares students for Pearson Edexcel A-level French specification 9FR0, Option A.
Does A-level French include coursework?
No. The qualification is assessed entirely by examination. The independent research project is presented and discussed during the speaking examination rather than submitted as written coursework.
How is A-level French assessed?
Paper 1 assesses listening, reading and translation and is worth 40%. Paper 2 assesses translation and written responses to literary works and is worth 30%. Paper 3 is the speaking assessment and is worth 30%.
Which literary works does the course study?
The course studies Albert Camus’ L’Étranger and Jean-Paul Sartre’s Les Mains sales. Students must obtain their own copies of both works.
Is assignment marking included in the subscription?
No. The course contains activities and suggested answers for independent study, but personal tutor marking must be purchased separately for individual assignments or as a marking bundle.
Why do some assignments also require a tutorial?
Some assignments contain a spoken component that cannot be assessed from a written submission. To complete every component and access all the available marks, you must purchase the assignment marking and book a live face-to-face online tutorial for the tutor to assess your spoken French.
Does a tutorial replace the official speaking examination?
No. Tutorials provide practice and allow spoken assignment work to be assessed. The official Paper 3 speaking examination must still be arranged through an appropriate examination centre or examiner.
How much speaking practice will I need?
You should practise spoken French regularly throughout the course. Tutor tutorials are valuable, but students should also use the course recordings, Boost materials, conversation opportunities and other authentic French-language resources.
Can I use a dictionary in the examinations?
No. Dictionaries are not permitted in Papers 1 or 2, and students cannot take documentation about the prescribed literary works into Paper 2.
What is the independent research project?
You independently research a question connected with the culture or society of a French-speaking country or community. During Paper 3, you summarise at least two written sources, present your findings and discuss the topic with the examiner.
Should I study the modules in order?
Yes. The course is progressive, with later vocabulary, grammar and examination tasks building on skills developed in earlier lessons. You should nevertheless practise speaking and listening continuously throughout both years.
Ready to begin?
Start your online A-level French course
Enrol at any time and begin working towards the Pearson Edexcel A-level French qualification through a structured, flexible home-study course.
- Start studying at any time
- Immediate access to the online course
- Develop listening, speaking, reading and writing progressively
Start your French course
Return to the enrolment panel to review today’s payment and add the course to your basket.