Pearson Edexcel A Level French 9FR0
All exam tenses including the four subjunctives, advanced pronouns, the four Edexcel themes (covering society, arts, immigration, and occupation/resistance), prescribed films and literary works, the IRP and exam technique — your complete Edexcel A Level French (9FR0) reference for 2026.
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Aligned with the latest 2026 syllabus and board specifications. This sheet is prepared to match your exam board’s official specifications for the 2026 exam series.
Edexcel A Level French differs from AQA in its theme structure: society, political/artistic culture, immigration, and the powerful Theme 4 on the Occupation and Resistance. The grammar depth required is the same — full subjunctive system, passive, conditional perfect — alongside one prescribed film, one prescribed work and the Independent Research Project (IRP).
All tenses + four subjunctives, passive, conditional perfect
Edexcel Themes 1–4 with Occupation & Resistance focus
Prescribed films & literary works overview
IRP planning and Paper 3 speaking strategy
Indicative tenses must be automatic; subjunctive triggers should be instinctive.
Present, perfect, imperfect, pluperfect, future, future perfect, conditional.
Pluperfect
AVOIR/ÊTRE imperfect + past participle: j'avais parlé / j'étais allé(e) Future perfect
AVOIR/ÊTRE future + past participle: j'aurai fini Conditional perfect
AVOIR/ÊTRE conditional + past participle: j'aurais fait (unrealised past) si-clause sequence: si + imperfect → conditional · si + pluperfect → conditional perfect
Used in 'que' clauses after the triggers below.
Formation (regular)
ils-form drop -ent, add -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent Key irregulars
être → sois...soit · avoir → aie...ait · aller → aille · faire → fasse · pouvoir → puisse · savoir → sache · vouloir → veuille Triggers
Doubt: je doute que · Emotion: je suis content que · Necessity: il faut que, il est nécessaire que · Negative opinion: je ne pense pas que · Conjunctions: avant que, bien que, pour que, jusqu'à ce que, à condition que Subjunctive after a superlative: le seul / le meilleur ... que je connaisse.
Imperfect subj.
Past historic stem + -sse, -sses, -ˆt, -ssions, -ssiez, -ssent (literary) Perfect subj.
avoir/être present subj. + past participle: bien qu'il ait fini Pluperfect subj.
avoir/être imperfect subj. + past participle (literary) Formula
être (any tense) + past participle (agrees with subject) Le livre est lu · La maison a été construite · Paris fut libéré en 1944 Avoid the passive when possible: use 'on' (on parle français) or a reflexive (cela se dit).
Common in literary stimulus and Theme 4 historical texts: il fut, il eut, il alla, il fit, il vint ancien — un ancien soldat (former) vs un fusil ancien (old) cher — mon cher ami (dear) vs un livre cher (expensive) dernier — la dernière fois (final) vs la semaine dernière (last/previous) grand — un grand homme (great) vs un homme grand (tall) pauvre — le pauvre soldat (unfortunate) vs un soldat pauvre (poor) propre — ma propre voiture (my own) vs ma voiture propre (clean) seul — la seule fille (only) vs une fille seule (alone) Compound colours invariable: une robe bleu marine, des yeux vert clair Adjectives of nationality lower-case as adjectives, capitalised as nouns: un Français plus / moins / aussi + adj + que · le/la/les plus + adj + de Subjunctive after a superlative: c'est le meilleur film que j'aie vu.
Formation
Feminine adj + -ment (heureuse → heureusement); -ant/-ent → -amment/-emment Position
Short adverbs (bien, mal, déjà, souvent) between auxiliary and past participle: il a bien mangé qui
Subject of relative clause — l'homme qui parle que
Direct object — le livre que j'ai lu dont
Replaces 'de + thing/person' — la femme dont je parle où
Place / time — la ville où je suis né, le jour où il est arrivé lequel/laquelle/lesquels/lesquelles
After prepositions for things — la table sur laquelle... · auquel, à laquelle, duquel, de laquelle ce qui / ce que / ce dont
What — ce qui m'intéresse, ce que je veux, ce dont j'ai besoin celui · celle · ceux · celles + -ci / -là — celui-ci est meilleur que celui-là celui de Marie = Marie's one · ceux qui résistèrent = those who resisted le mien / la mienne / les miens / les miennes (mine) le tien / le sien / le/la nôtre / le/la vôtre / le/la leur AVOIR: agree with preceding direct object — les livres que j'ai lus ÊTRE: agree with subject — elle est partie, elles sont parties Reflexives: agree with preceding direct object — elle s'est lavé les mains vs elle se les est lavées ne…que (only/restrictive): Je n'ai que dix euros = I only have ten euros Compound negatives: rien, personne, plus, jamais, nulle part, aucun, ni…ni After avant que, à moins que, de peur que, comparatives — j'ai peur qu'il ne vienne (no negative meaning) Direct present → reported imperfect · Direct perfect → reported pluperfect · Direct future → reported conditional · Direct future perfect → reported conditional perfect Time markers shift: aujourd'hui → ce jour-là · hier → la veille · demain → le lendemain Edexcel structures themes around 4 areas — note Theme 4 on Occupation & Resistance is a key Edexcel distinction.
Changes in family structures, education, the world of work.
Sub-themes
Les changements dans les structures familiales · L'éducation · Le monde du travail Key vocab
le PACS, la cohabitation, le baccalauréat, les grandes écoles, le chômage, la précarité, le télétravail Music, media, festivals & traditions across the French-speaking world.
Sub-themes
La musique francophone contemporaine · Les médias · Les festivals et les traditions Key vocab
la chanson engagée, le rap français, les médias, la presse, le journal télévisé, le patrimoine, les fêtes nationales Immigration history, multicultural society, racism / integration.
Sub-themes
L'impact positif de l'immigration · Les défis de l'intégration · L'extrême droite Key vocab
les sans-papiers, l'asile, le foulard, la laïcité, le racisme, le Front National, la diversité, l'intégration France 1940–1944: collaboration, resistance, deportation, liberation.
Sub-themes
La France occupée · Le régime de Vichy · La Résistance · La déportation et la libération Key vocab
l'occupation, Vichy, Pétain, de Gaulle, la Résistance, les maquis, la Shoah, les rafles, la libération, les collaborateurs, les justes Be ready to discuss specific events: la rafle du Vél' d'Hiv (juillet 1942), l'Appel du 18 juin 1940, le débarquement de Normandie.
You study ONE film and ONE literary work (or two works). Build a quote bank linked to themes.
La Haine — Mathieu Kassovitz (1995) Les 400 coups — François Truffaut (1959) Au revoir les enfants — Louis Malle (1987) Un long dimanche de fiançailles — Jean-Pierre Jeunet (2004) Entre les murs — Laurent Cantet (2008) La Vie en Rose — Olivier Dahan (2007) L'Étranger — Albert Camus Bonjour tristesse — Françoise Sagan Un sac de billes — Joseph Joffo No et moi — Delphine de Vigan Le Dernier Jour d'un condamné — Victor Hugo Un secret — Philippe Grimbert Two essays in French, 240–300 words each.
Intro: rephrase question + thesis · 3 body paragraphs (point + textual evidence + analysis) · Conclusion answers question explicitly Range markers: subjunctive (e.g. bien que, pour que), passive, complex relative pronouns (lequel, dont), nuanced connectives (alors que, étant donné que).
Specific and defensible — e.g. 'Le rôle des femmes dans la Résistance française' Linked to French-speaking culture/society. Avoid retreading Themes 1–4 unless taking a fresh angle.
Research question (one sentence) · 3–4 sub-questions / findings · Bibliography of French-language sources Be ready: ~2-min presentation → 9–10 min defence with facts, statistics, dates, names Selon une étude de... · Il s'avère que... · Les statistiques montrent que... · D'après mes recherches... Bien que ce soit controversé, je dirais que... · Il convient de souligner que... Listening, reading comprehension, plus a French→English translation.
Translation FR→EN
Translate sense, not words. Watch idioms, ne…que, agreement clues. Re-read English aloud — must sound natural. Listening recordings playable with student control of pause/replay — use this for tricky moments without losing time.
Translation EN→FR + two essays on prescribed film/work.
EN→FR translation
Decide tense + agreement BEFORE writing. Watch position-changing adjectives, subjunctive triggers, pronoun order. Essay
Plan 5 mins · 240–300 words · Specific evidence (scenes, names, quotes) Range: subjunctive, passive, complex relative pronouns, varied connectives Discussion of theme card + IRP presentation & defence.
Theme card
Read 2 stimulus questions → respond using opinion + evidence + counterargument IRP
Present ~2 mins (intro → 3 findings → conclusion) → defend in extended discussion Reward markers: range of tenses, idiomatic phrases, ability to disagree politely (je vois ce que vous voulez dire, mais...), fluency under pressure.
Boost your Cambridge exam confidence with these proven study strategies from our tutoring experts.
Once for plot, twice for themes, twice with subtitles off. Build a quote bank with themes — examiners want specific textual references.
The Occupation/Resistance theme rewards specific dates, names and events. Build a timeline 1940–1945 with Pétain, de Gaulle, Vichy, Vél' d'Hiv, D-Day.
Every time you spot a subjunctive in reading or listening, write it with its trigger. By the exam, the reflex should be automatic.
Record yourself answering predictable IRP questions: Why this topic? What did you find? What surprised you? Refine until fluent.
Quick answers about this free PDF and how to use it for exam revision and active recall.
Yes. This Tutopiya formula sheet is free to use and you can download it as a PDF from this page for offline revision. There is no payment or account required for the PDF download.
This page groups key French formulas in one place for revision. Master Pearson Edexcel A Level French (9FR0) with this 2026 reference sheet. Covers all tenses including the subjunctive, advanced pronouns, the four Edexcel themes (society, politics & arts, immigration, occupation &… Always cross-check with your official syllabus and past papers for your exam session.
No. In the exam you must follow only what your exam board allows in the hall—usually the official formula booklet or data sheet where provided. This page is a revision and teaching aid, not a replacement for board-issued materials.
It is written for students preparing for assessments at Post-16 in French, including classroom revision, homework support, and independent study. Teachers and tutors can also share it as a quick reference.
Work through past paper questions, quote the correct formula before substituting values, and check units and notation every time. Pair this sheet with timed practice and mark schemes so you see how examiners expect working to be set out.
Explore Tutopiya’s study tools, past paper finder, and revision checklists linked from our tools hub, or book a trial lesson with a subject specialist for personalised support alongside this formula reference.
Practice essay technique, IRP defence and Paper 1 translation with a native or near-native French tutor. We focus on subjunctive accuracy, Edexcel Theme 4 mastery and exam pacing.
Pair this reference sheet with past papers, revision checklists, and planners — all free on our study tools hub.
This reference sheet aligns with Pearson Edexcel A Level French (9FR0) syllabus content for 2026 examinations.
For Theme 4, build a timeline of the Occupation 1940–1945 with named events — examiners reward historical specificity.