French - French AQA Sample Paper 4 Writing (Foundation) - Foundation

GCSE French

AQA

2023

Foundation Tier

How to Use This Paper Effectively

Get the most out of your practice session with these tips from experienced teachers

Learn key opinion phrases and connectives: je pense que, parce que, cependant, en revanche.

Use three tenses (past, present, future) in extended writing to access higher marks.

Proofread for common errors: adjective agreement, verb endings, and accent marks.

For listening papers, play the audio once without pausing, then attempt the questions. Replay only to check.

Reading and writing papers benefit from vocabulary revision — spend 10 minutes a day on new words.

What’s on This Paper

Paper 4 is the Writing exam, testing your ability to produce written French. Tasks range from short structured responses to extended writing. You must demonstrate grammatical accuracy, range of vocabulary, and the ability to express and justify opinions.

Question types you’ll encounter:

Short structured writing tasks

Photo description and response

Translation from English to French

Extended writing (90+ words at Foundation, 150+ at Higher)

Paper Details

Basic Information

Paper Number:: Paper 4
Tier:: Foundation
Time Allowed:: 1 hour

Links

More French papers More AQA papers More papers from 2023

Topic Focus

Writing

Preparing for French? Read our revision guide

Get exam tips from experienced teachers, a full topic checklist, grade boundary guidance, and common mistakes to avoid — all tailored for the 2026 French GCSE.

View French Revision Guide