Identity and culture: Me, my family and friends

    OCR
    GCSE

    This study area demands a comprehensive analysis of the evolving structure of the family unit and social relationships within the Francophone world. Candidates must navigate the linguistic and cultural nuances of family dynamics, friendship networks, and the changing legal landscape of partnerships, including marriage and civil unions. Mastery requires the ability to articulate complex opinions on intergenerational conflict, the role of digital communication in maintaining relationships, and the sociological shift from the traditional nuclear family to diverse modern configurations.

    5
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Reflexive verbs for relationships: s'entendre bien/mal avec, se disputer, se confier à
    • Marital status terminology: marié, divorcé, célibataire, pacsé, veuf
    • Adjectives of personality: bavard, têtu, égoïste, paresseux, gentil
    • Family structures: la famille nucléaire, la famille monoparentale, la famille recomposée
    • Idiomatic expressions: être le portrait de (to be the image of), avoir un cœur d'or

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have used the perfect tense, but check the auxiliary verb choice (être vs avoir) for reflexive verbs"
    • "Expand your opinion using 'parce que' or 'car' to gain marks for justification and development"
    • "Include a reference to a future plan regarding marriage or family to ensure all time frames are covered"
    • "Ensure adjectives agree in gender and number with the family member described to improve Accuracy marks"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for the accurate use of three distinct time frames (past, present, future) within the 150-word task
    • Credit the use of complex structures such as 'si' clauses, relative pronouns (qui/que), and subjunctive moods
    • Candidates must justify opinions with varied connectives (car, puisque, étant donné que) rather than relying solely on 'parce que'
    • Reward the correct agreement of adjectives and possessive determiners when describing family members

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In the 150-word task, ensure you explicitly address both bullet points to avoid a cap on the Content mark
    • 💡Use 'wow' phrases or idioms (e.g., 'avoir le cœur sur la main') to demonstrate the vocabulary range required for the top band
    • 💡Check verb endings carefully for irregular verbs commonly used in this topic, such as 'faire', 'aller', and 'venir'
    • 💡Plan your response to include at least two justified opinions to satisfy the requirement for development of ideas

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusion between 'avoir' and 'être' when describing age (e.g., 'je suis 15 ans' instead of 'j'ai 15 ans')
    • Incorrect possessive adjectives, specifically failing to agree with the gender of the noun possessed (e.g., 'sa père' instead of 'son père')
    • Failure to conjugate reflexive verbs correctly in the perfect tense (e.g., omitting the reflexive pronoun or auxiliary 'être')

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Write
    Describe
    Explain
    Justify
    Mention
    Include

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