Social issues

    AQA
    GCSE

    Examine the structural transformation of contemporary French society, focusing on the erosion of traditional institutions and the rise of new social dynamics. Analysis must cover the evolution of family structures, the challenges of social exclusion (les marginaux), and the complexities of a multicultural society operating under the principles of Republican universalism and laïcité. Candidates must demonstrate understanding of the tension between state interventionism and individual liberties within the Hexagon.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for accurate use of three time frames (past, present, future) when discussing lifestyle changes or volunteering experiences
    • Credit complex structures (e.g., 'avant de faire', 'si j'avais le temps', 'il faut que') in 150-word responses
    • Reward justified opinions using varied connectors beyond 'parce que' (e.g., 'puisque', 'étant donné que', 'car')
    • Assess accuracy of adjectival agreements and verb conjugations in high-frequency social issue vocabulary

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have used the past tense, but check your auxiliary verb choice (avoir vs être)"
    • "Good opinion, now justify it using a complex connector like 'étant donné que'"
    • "You mentioned the problem, now suggest a solution using the conditional tense ('on devrait...')"
    • "Ensure you include a reference to the future tense to cover the full range of time frames required"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for accurate use of three time frames (past, present, future) when discussing lifestyle changes or volunteering experiences
    • Credit complex structures (e.g., 'avant de faire', 'si j'avais le temps', 'il faut que') in 150-word responses
    • Reward justified opinions using varied connectors beyond 'parce que' (e.g., 'puisque', 'étant donné que', 'car')
    • Assess accuracy of adjectival agreements and verb conjugations in high-frequency social issue vocabulary

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Ensure coverage of all bullet points in the 90-word and 150-word tasks to avoid capping marks
    • 💡Use the 'P.A.L.M.' method (Past, Adjectives, Linking words, Modal verbs) to ensure variety in writing
    • 💡In Reading (AO3), look for synonyms in the text rather than matching exact words from the question
    • 💡Check gender of nouns like 'le problème' or 'la santé' to ensure correct agreements

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusion of 'bénévole' (volunteer) with 'bénéfique' (beneficial) or false friends
    • Incorrect auxiliary verbs in perfect tense (e.g., 'j'ai allé' instead of 'je suis allé' for volunteering trips)
    • Failure to address all bullet points in the writing tasks, leading to capped Content marks
    • Over-reliance on 'c'est' without varying adjectives (e.g., always using 'intéressant' or 'bien')

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Ecrivez
    Décrivez
    Mentionnez
    Expliquez
    Traduisez
    Répondez

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