French - French - Paper 1 Listening and Understanding in French (Foundation) - Foundation

GCSE French
Edexcel
2021
Foundation Tier

How to Use This Paper Effectively

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

1

Listen to French podcasts, radio, or TV to train your ear before attempting past papers.

2

Read all the questions before the audio plays — this primes your brain for what to listen for.

3

Don't panic if you miss a word — focus on understanding the overall meaning of each section.

4

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

5

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

What’s on This Paper

Paper 1 is the Listening exam, testing your ability to understand spoken French across a variety of contexts including everyday life, school, travel, and work. You will hear recordings of native French speakers and answer questions in English and French. The exam includes both Foundation and Higher tier content.

Question types you’ll encounter:

Multiple-choice listening comprehension
Gap-fill exercises from audio
True/false/not mentioned questions
Short-answer questions in English
Short-answer questions in French (Higher)

Paper Details

Basic Information

Paper Number:
Paper 1
Tier:
Foundation
Time Allowed:
35 minutes

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