90% Exam, 10% Assessment Task.

2 Classroom-Based Assessments.

The Specification is organized around three integrated strands: 

• Communicative Competence: Communicative competence is concerned with developing students’ ability to communicate meaningfully in the target language. This strand incorporates five elements, representing the five language skills of listening, reading, spoken production, spoken interaction and writing.  
• Language Awareness: Language awareness enhances the students’ general awareness about languages, and incorporates the three elements of reflecting on how the target language works, comparing the target language with other languages students know, and reflecting on their own language-learning strategies 
• Socio-Cultural Knowledge and Intercultural Awareness: Socio-cultural knowledge and intercultural awareness, gives students access to new cultural dimensions and encourages them to reflect on their own culture. The three elements of this strand develop students’ knowledge of the countries and cultures related to the target languages, and enable them to make comparisons with their own country and culture. 

Final Exam – One 2-hour paper, taken at common level, worth 90% of overall grade .

Assessment Task – Students complete a specified written reflection task which is sent to the SEC for marking, Worth 10% of overall grade. 

Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs) – Two CBAs to be taken over 2nd & 3rd year. CBA 1- Oral Communication, CBA 2- Student Language Portfolio. 

Leaving Certificate French follows a common syllabus framework for the teaching and examining of modern languages in the Leaving Certificate. The syllabus aims to develop learners’ communicative skills in the French, to develop their strategies for effective language learning and raise their awareness of cultural, social and political diversity. 

Assessment is by means of a written examination, and an aural and oral examination at two levels, Ordinary level and Higher level.