Learning a language can be a fantastic skill to have under your belt. But if you’re currently choosing your A Level options, you might be worried about the difficulty level.
So, is French A Level hard?
Well, yes. Studying French at A Level is certainly challenging. But for the right student, it’s a challenge that’s worth taking. Here’s the lowdown.
Psst! Finding a French A Level tutor is a great way to help you handle the jump up from GCSE to A Level and reach your full potential in the exams.
What is French at A Level?
French at A Level will require you to build on the language skills you already have from your GCSE studies.
But as well as continuing to study the French language, you’ll also need to develop an understanding of French culture, literature and society.
Your French A Level studies could see you engaging with contemporary social issues, exploring historical events that have shaped the Francophone world and examining the political landscape.
In fact, a significant part of the French A Level course will involve studying French literary texts and/or films, analysing them critically in the same way as you might in English literature – only in French!
In this way, studying French at A Level can be a fantastic way to not just enhance your language skills, but also to learn about and immerse yourself in a different culture.
Is A Level French hard?
Yes, A Level French is a big jump up from GCSE.
You’ll need to build on the foundational skills you already have to develop a high level of linguistic proficiency.
This not only means extending your vocabulary and using advanced grammatical structures. It also means being able to think critically about French culture and society – presenting your own opinions and arguments coherently in French.
So, there’s a lot to think about!
How hard is French A Level?
It’s impossible to say for sure exactly how hard you’d find French A Level.
After all, every student is different. So, it’ll depend on lots of different factors, like your strengths, weaknesses, learning style and work ethic.
That said, pass rates for A Level French aren’t any lower than for other A Level subjects.
In fact, in recent years, grades for A Level French have been significantly higher than the average across all subjects.
Don’t believe us?
In 2024, a whopping 39.3% of French A Level students got a grade A or above (according to FFT Education Datalab) – compared to just 27.8% across all subjects.
This suggests that, with hard work, determination and the right support, there’s every opportunity to do well.
Here’s how grades were distributed in 2024, compared to the average across all subjects.
Grade E or above | Grade C or above | Grade A or above | Grade A* | |
French | 98.7% | 86.8% | 39.3% | 12.1% |
All subjects | 97.2% | 76.4% | 27.8% | 9.3% |
Head over to our dedicated guide to learn more about what a pass is at A Level.
Why is French so hard?
Wondering why French has a reputation for being hard?
Here are a few of the aspects of the course that students tend to find particularly difficulty.
Language skills
It goes without saying that your language skills will need to be strong in order to succeed in French A Level.
You’ll need to broaden your vocabulary and get comfortable using advanced grammatical structures. Plus, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate your skills across listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Quantity of French A Level topics
As well as sharpening your linguistic skills, you’ll also need to immerse yourself in French culture.
You’ll cover a diverse range of topics – from French literature and films to contemporary social issues and even historical events that have shaped Franacphone culture. This can be a lot to handle alongside the linguistic elements of the course.
Analytical skills
As a French A Level student, you’ll need to develop strong analytical skills.
You’ll be asked to think critically about French culture, literature and films – and to develop your own arguments and responses. Doing all of this in a different language is no easy feat!
Essay writing skills
Strong writing skills are essential when it comes to acing the French A Level exams.
And we don’t just mean the ability to write well in French (which is a given!). We also mean the ability to present and defend your arguments clearly in essay form – such as structuring your argument and demonstrating an understanding of different points of view.
Independent study
French A Level success requires a significant amount of independent study – both in terms of taking the time to cement your language skills and in terms of independently researching aspects of French culture that interest you.
This requires motivation and time commitment – which brings us onto…
Time management
French A Level can feel like you’re juggling a lot of plates – so, you’ll need excellent time management skills, especially when it comes to revision.
You’ll need to divide your time appropriately between practising your language skills and recapping what you’ve learned about French culture, society and literature.
Plus, you’ll have to make sure you’re fully prepared for all the different elements you’ll be assessed on – listening and reading, speaking, and writing.
About the French A Level course
So, now you know what skills you’ll need to succeed in this subject. But what exactly does the French A Level course look like? Here’s what you can expect at a glance.
French A Level syllabus
The French A Level syllabus will look slightly different depending on your school or college and its chosen exam board.
However, to give you an idea, here are the French A Level topics covered by the exam board AQA.
- Social issues and trends
- Aspects of French-speaking society: current trends
- Aspects of French-speaking society: current issues
- Political and artistic culture
- Artistic culture in the French-speaking world
- Aspects of political life in the French-speaking world
- Grammar
- Nouns
- Articles
- Adjectives
- Numerals
- Adverbs
- Quantifiers/intensifiers
- Pronouns
- Verbs
- Prepositions
- Conjunctions
- Negation
- Questions
- Commands
- Word order
- Other constructions
- Discourse markers
- Fillers
- Works
- Literary texts and films
- Individual research project
French A Level marking scheme
Every exam board has to assess students on the following assessment objectives, which are set by Ofqual.
These are:
- AO1: Understand and respond:
- in speech to spoken language including face-to-face interaction
- in writing to spoken language drawn from a variety of sources.
- AO2: Understand and respond:
- in speech to written language drawn from a variety of sources
- in writing to written language drawn from a variety of sources.
- AO3: Manipulate the language accurately, in spoken and written forms, using a range of lexis and structure.
- AO4: Show knowledge and understanding of, and respond critically and analytically to, different aspects of the culture and society of countries/communities where the language is spoken.
However, exactly how you’re marked on these assessment objectives can vary from exam board to exam board.
To give you an example, AQA will assess you using three exams. Here’s how marks are distributed.
- Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing – 50% of A Level
- Paper 2: Writing – 20% of A Level
- Paper 3: Speaking – 30% of A Level
Is French a good A Level?
Yes! French can be a very good A Level to have.
Not only can it be useful to have another language under your belt for international travel, but studying French will also help you to develop lots of different skills – including critical thinking and communication skills.
Plus, French A Level is highly regarded by universities and employers, at a time when, in the UK, studying another language has become rare.
Your language skills and cultural understanding could open doors to all sorts of different careers – including tourism, education, diplomacy and international business.
Ultimately, for the right student, French can be an engaging and enriching A Level that will stand you in good stead throughout your life.
French A Level revision tips
French can be a challenging subject. But with the right approach to revision, there’s no reason why you can’t ace it.
Here’s a concise A Level French revision guide with our top tips and tricks on how to revise French A level.
1. Know what to expect
First things first, it’s important to know exactly what to expect in your French A Level exams.
This way, you can make sure to cover every element in your preparation.
Plus, you can lower your exam stress knowing that there won’t be any unexpected surprises on the big day.
Each exam board will work a bit differently. However, regardless of which exam board you’re with, you’ll be assessed on a range of different aspects, including reading, writing, listening and speaking.
2. Start early
It’s never too early to start your French A Level revision. In fact, the earlier you start the better!
Don’t forget, you’ll have a lot of different elements to learn and practise – including various topics and texts, as well as speaking, reading, writing and listening.
We always recommend you start your French A Level revision at the start of your second year of study.
That way, you can pace yourself and spread your learning out over the course of the year – rather than panicking when your exams are around the corner.
3. Commit to learning French A Level vocab
On the subject of starting early, broadening your range of vocabulary is key to succeeding in French A Level.
Sometimes, misunderstanding a key piece of vocabulary can be a real obstacle to success in whole sections of papers.
So, the more vocabulary you have under your belt, the better.
There’s no official list where you can learn everything on it and feel confident that nothing else will come up. Rather, your best bet is to learn all the vocabulary that comes up in class and past papers. Keep your own list and add to it every time you come across a new word or phrase.
You can find words and phrases to add to your list by searching for online French vocab lists or investing in a French vocabulary book – like Mot à Mot by Paul Humberstone.
Of course, you’ll never learn every word in the French language – that would take years! But by starting early, you can broaden your vocabulary as much as possible and make sure you have all bases covered in relation to the topics that could come up in your French A Level papers.
4. Hone your French A Level grammar revision
Wrapping your head around French grammar and knowing how to use it is key to French A Level success.
Not only is your ability to manipulate the language accurately an assessment objective in itself, but it’s also crucial to your understanding and responses in every paper.
Go over all your grammar notes to make sure you fully understand everything you’ve covered in class.
And make sure you regularly put what you’ve learned into practise, to keep it fresh in your mind.
There are lots of French A Level resources you can go to to get further explanations and practise with French grammar revision – including:
5. Ask for French A Level help
Although your college or sixth form will prepare you for the French A Level exams, nothing beats one-to-one attention.
A French A Level tutor is an experienced professional who’ll know how to help you fulfil your potential. In fact, many are native speakers – and you can find tutors who are trained teachers and examiners too!
Your tutor will create tailored lesson plans that take into account your strengths, weaknesses and learning style – and give you valuable speaking and listening pratice.
In this way, they’ll help to prepare you fully for the exams and will be able to guide you to the best marks possible.
In fact, 90% of Tutorful students improve by at least one grade!
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
6. Make use of French A Level past papers
Past papers are an invaluable tool to help you prepare for your French A Level exams.
Not only will they familiarise you with the types of questions you might come across in the real thing.
But when you answer them under timed conditions, they’re also an opportunity to practise managing your time and dealing with exam pressure – which can boost your confidence and reduce exam fear when the big day rolls around.
Just bear in mind that marking your own French A level essays can be a challenge.
That’s why we’d always recommend getting a teacher or tutor to mark your practice papers for you. This will give you a real understanding of the areas you need to work on most before the real thing.
7. Immerse yourself in the culture
Remember that French is a living language – that means you don’t just have to study it out of a textbook! Instead, you can immerse yourself in the language and culture in all sorts of different ways.
For instance, you could…
- Read a French newspaper
- Listen to the French news
- Listen to French music
- Watch French TV or films
While this shouldn’t replace your formal revision, it can be a great way to supplement it.
You’ll gain a broader understanding of French culture and current affairs – as well as picking up new vocab and solidifying your understanding of French grammar in the process!
8. Know your French A Level literature and films like the back of your hand
A significant part of the course will involve studying French A Level texts and/or films – a popular one being La Haine.
Whatever texts and films your school or college decides to focus on, you’ll need to be able to answer in-depth questions on them in your writing exam. So, it’s important to know them inside out.
This includes being confident answering questions on the concepts and issues covered – as well as features like the form and technique of presentation (such as the effect of narrative voice in a prose text or camera work in a film).
Remember, you’ll need to answer these questions in French.
So, as well as working on your familiarity with the literature and films, be sure to learn any related vocab and work on your French writing skills to make sure you can present and defend your arguments clearly in the language.
9. Manage your time
Effective time management is key when it comes to succeeding in this course – both during your revision and in the exam room.
Firstly, make sure to take the time to create an effective revision timetable that gives a fair weighting to all the different papers, topics and skills you’ll need to work on.
And secondly, remember to keep your eye on the clock in the exam room when it comes to those papers that deal with listening, reading and writing.
In particular, it’s important to divide your time appropriately so that you’re not rushing at the end.
As a general rule, you’ll want to spend the most time on the questions that are worth the most, and vice versa. This will give you the best chance of unlocking all available marks and getting the highest grade possible.
10. Don’t panic!
Last but not least, don’t panic.
Work through the French A Level papers calmly and methodically, and read each question twice to be absolutely certain you’ve understood it properly. The last thing you need is to make any silly mistakes.
Similarly, when it comes to your speaking exam, use the preparation time wisely and stay calm if there’s anything you don’t understand. Lean on what you do know to paraphrase when necessary and remember, the examiner is there to see what you can do, not what you can’t!
With hard work and the right support, we believe you can achieve anything!
Find a French A Level tutor to bring the language to life
French A Level requires hard work, dedication and perseverance if you’re going tto access the top grades.
But it’s nothing you can’t handle with the right support behind you!
To make sure you can keep up with the demands of this course, why not find an A Level tutor who’ll have your back every step of the way?
Our French A Level tutors are experts in bringing the language to life. Many are native speakers and some are even qualified teachers and examiners!
From week-by-week plans to practice exams, they’ll give you the one-on-one attention you won’t get at college and tailor their teaching to suit your strengths, weaknesses and learning style – helping you to reach your full potential every time.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
Is the French A Level hard?
Yes, French A Level is hard as you’ll need to develop your language skills as well as being able to analyse topics relating to French culture and literature.
What is the hardest A Level to study?
It’s impossible to say for sure which is the hardest A Level to study, as every student is different. However, A Level Further Maths is generally seen to be the hardest as it’s deliberately designed to be even harder than A Level Maths.
To get a better idea of how hard different A Level options are, you can read more of our difficulty guides:
- English Literature A Level
- English Language A Level
- Law A Level
- Politics A Level
- Economics A Level
- Business A Level
- Sociology A Level
- Philosophy A Level
- History A Level
- Geography A Level
- Psychology A Level
- Maths A Level
- Further Maths A Level
- Chemistry A Level
- Physics A Level
- Biology A Level
Do universities like French A Level?
Yes, French A Level is widely respected by universities as it demonstrates your skills in lots of different areas – from linguistics to analytical skills and communication.
How hard is it to get an A* in A Level French?
Getting an A* in A Level French requires hard work, perseverance and determination. However, more students than average tend to get an A* in this subject, showing that it is achievable.
In 2024, 12.1% of students got an A* in A Level French, compared to 9.3% across all subjects (according to FFT Education Datalab).
A French A Level tutor can help you to reach your full potential.