Modern Foreign Languages > French
Assessment of Students' Work – National Curriculum Levels

In Languages we use sub-levels (a,b and c) to give students a more accurate understanding of the progress they are making.

Here are some summarised descriptions of what each level actually means.

Attaintment Target 1 (Listening)

Level 1 – Understand simple commands/ words with help.
Level 2 – Understand familiar phrases but may need repetition to help.
Level 3 – Understand opinions and short passages at a more normal peed of speech.
Level 4 – Understand longer passages and make notes on the main points.
Level 5 – Understand passages referring to the past or future and make notes on information and opinions heard.
Level 6 – Understand more unfamiliar passages and cope with some interference.
Level 7 – Understand a larger range of materials such as radio or TV.
Level 8 – Understand a large range of materials such as press, films and documentaries. Can also recognise attitudes and emotions.

Level 1 – Say words to be understood.
Level 2 – Answer or ask simple questions.
Level 3 – Give opinions or be part of a short conversation.
Level 4 – Take part in a longer conversation with more accurate pronunciation.
Level 5 – Speak about the past or future and be easily understood.
Level 6 – Improvise or paraphrase in a fairly accurate manner.
Level 7 – Speaking is now mostly accurate, opinions can be justified, students can talk about topical matters and respond to unpredicatabilty.
Level 8 – Speak confidently, can argue points of view and discuss ideas.

Level 1 – Understand simple words.
Level 2 – Understand familiar phrases with the use of books to help.
Level 3 – Understand opinions, short texts and use a glossary or dictionary.
Level 4 – Understand short stories or short pieces of text and use context to aid their understanding.
Level 5 – Understand stories and texts in the past or future and authentic materials.
Level 6 – Show ability to scan texts, read for pleasure and display confidence in getting the gist of harder texts.
Level 7 – Understand a larger range of complex materials.
Level 8 – Use a range of reference sources.

Level 1 – Copy words correctly.
Level 2 – Copy phrases correctly and write words from memory.
Level 3 – Give opinions and write phrases from memory.
Level 4 – Write three or four sentences and use a dictionary.
Level 5 – Write in the past or future and understand some grammar.
Level 6 – Write full paragraphs that are fairly accurate.
Level 7 – Produce a longer piece of mostly accurate writing and demonstrate the ability to edit and correct own work.
Level 8 – Justify opinions and argue points of view while demonstrating accurate grammar and spelling and the use of varied reference materials.