How much easier is GCSE foundation French than higher?

namelessnoname · 2022-12-06T17:16:00+00:00

Year 11 Dd is really struggling with French. She’s just done her mock and did pretty badly and wondering if it would be better to switch to foundation.

GatesToTown · 06/12/2022 18:42

@clary pinging you for your expertise on this one.

@namelessnoname does your DD's school have an app they use like Memrise with all the GCSE content? Both my children had this specific category through school and both got 8s.

I think it was this www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-french-vocabulary-memrise-6436640

Hope that still works.

clary · 07/12/2022 11:10

Thanks @GatesToTown sorry @namelessnoname phone playing up last night.

Will post more info in a bit but Yy F is a lot easier than H, and tho you need a higher % for a 5, it’s lots easier to get that %.

What did she get in the mock? What is she stronger and weaker at? What does her teacher say?

clary · 07/12/2022 12:53

Ok so - more detail (btw I am assuming AQA here as that is by far the most popular):
In 2019, a 5 in H paper needed just over 50%, while in F it needed 70%. But as I say, that's an easier 70%. Also a paper where you cannot answer half of the questions is daunting and I have seen candidates freeze and write nothing in that situation.

Some examples of how it is easier:
Writing paper (paper 4) - four sentences about a picture - it is fine to literally write 'il y a 5 personnes' and that would get you 2 marks, You could then say 'il y a une femme' - 2 more marks. Yes the same verb is fine. So you can learn some sentences that will be useful - il fait beau or il fait mauvais (depending) - either is worth 2 marks as long as it is appropriate. Essays are 40 words and 90 words rather than 90 words and 150 words, much more structured as well. Obv 90 words is crossover one. Then translation is five simple sentences.

Reading and listening papers are the easier questions o the H paper plus some that are easier than that. yy some still in TL but at an easier level.

Speaking - the role play and picture task are the same scenarios with much easier more scaffolded questions - example - H Décris la personne sportive que tu admires le plus. F Quel est l'avantage de faire du sport? This is the second qu from the same photo card. Or the role play F question will be how many people you want a table for, while the H question will be to talk about the last time you went to a restaurant. The marking for the general convo is different as well - skills that would score a mark of 3-4 out of 10 in Higher are up there scoring 7-8 out of 10 in Foundation.

wow essay! Hope it makes sense tho.

TokyoSushi · 07/12/2022 12:56

Wow @clary MN at it's best!

clary · 07/12/2022 15:26

@TokyoSushi why thank you 😊

EarthlyNightshade · 07/12/2022 20:58

clary · 07/12/2022 12:53

Ok so - more detail (btw I am assuming AQA here as that is by far the most popular):
In 2019, a 5 in H paper needed just over 50%, while in F it needed 70%. But as I say, that's an easier 70%. Also a paper where you cannot answer half of the questions is daunting and I have seen candidates freeze and write nothing in that situation.

Some examples of how it is easier:
Writing paper (paper 4) - four sentences about a picture - it is fine to literally write 'il y a 5 personnes' and that would get you 2 marks, You could then say 'il y a une femme' - 2 more marks. Yes the same verb is fine. So you can learn some sentences that will be useful - il fait beau or il fait mauvais (depending) - either is worth 2 marks as long as it is appropriate. Essays are 40 words and 90 words rather than 90 words and 150 words, much more structured as well. Obv 90 words is crossover one. Then translation is five simple sentences.

Reading and listening papers are the easier questions o the H paper plus some that are easier than that. yy some still in TL but at an easier level.

Speaking - the role play and picture task are the same scenarios with much easier more scaffolded questions - example - H Décris la personne sportive que tu admires le plus. F Quel est l'avantage de faire du sport? This is the second qu from the same photo card. Or the role play F question will be how many people you want a table for, while the H question will be to talk about the last time you went to a restaurant. The marking for the general convo is different as well - skills that would score a mark of 3-4 out of 10 in Higher are up there scoring 7-8 out of 10 in Foundation.

wow essay! Hope it makes sense tho.

Thanks for this.
It's exactly what I need - translated into Spanish.
I shall return to this post once we are through Christmas and use it to springboard DC to a 4/5.

clary · 07/12/2022 21:47

excellent @EarthlyNightshade I have many more tips available for sure. My Spanish is not the tip-top best tbh but the exams are of an identical format. 😀

Biscuitsneeded · 10/12/2022 21:03

Without a doubt if there is a danger of DD failing, she should do Foundation. it is easier to get the pass. If I am not sure a child is a safe 5 at least, I always recommend Foundation. If they aren't going to get a 6 it's much better to bank the pass - nobody will ever ask which paper she took. I had 2 students last year to whom I recommended Foundation. The one who was definitely weaker took my advice and got a 5. The one who had more promising moments and was in theory more able, but was erratic, insisted on doing higher tier. Sadly the gamble backfired and that student got a 4. So I would recommend Foundation if your daughter isn't likely to get a 6.