Pearson Edexcel · International A Level · XFR01
French — Keywords & Key Terms — Definitions Glossary (2026)
Pearson Edexcel International A Level French
Topic-by-topic keywords, key terms and definitions for precise exam language—separate from our revision checklists (topic coverage) and formula sheets (equations).
Keywords & Key Terms — definitions
Examiner-style keywords and definitions organised by syllabus topic. Terms are tagged Essential (start here), Core (typical exam standard), and Advanced for harder distinctions — tick each row when you can recall it. Your progress is saved in this browser for this list.
Pearson Edexcel International A Level French (XFR01)
Pearson Edexcel International A Level French (XFR01)
Pearson Edexcel International A Level French
Pearson International A Level French (XFR01) develops advanced reading, listening, writing, translation and speaking through three contemporary themes plus study of literary or filmic works — assessed across Papers 1–3 in line with the 2026 specification.
Mark schemes: Pearson IAL mark schemes credit complex sentence structures (subjunctive after expressions of doubt/emotion, conditional perfect, relative clauses with dont/lequel) when used accurately, plus precise translation in both directions. AO3 (manipulation of language) rewards range; AO4 (knowledge of society) requires named examples — laws, films, statistics. Examiner reports flag tense slippage in narrative recall and over-literal translation as recurring pitfalls.
Active recall: 0 / 21 terms ticked
| Recalled | Topic | Level | Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verb conjugations & moods | Core | Subjonctif présent | Mood used after expressions of doubt, emotion, necessity and certain conjunctions (bien que, avant que, pour que). | |
| Verb conjugations & moods | Core | Subjonctif passé | Compound subjunctive (avoir/être au subjonctif + participe passé) for completed actions in subjunctive contexts. | |
| Verb conjugations & moods | Core | Subjonctif imparfait & plus-que-parfait | Literary tenses for past subjunctive in formal writing and historical/fictional texts. | |
| Verb conjugations & moods | Core | Voix passive | Formed with être + past participle, agreeing in gender and number with the subject; agent introduced by par. | |
| Verb conjugations & moods | Advanced | Conditionnel passé | ‘Aurait/serait + participe passé’ for unrealised past actions, used in si-clauses with plus-que-parfait. | |
| Verb conjugations & moods | Advanced | Concordance des temps | Sequence-of-tenses rule in indirect speech — present becomes imperfect, future becomes conditional, perfect becomes pluperfect. | |
| Advanced grammar | Core | Pronoms relatifs qui / que | Subject vs direct-object relative pronouns linking clauses — que triggers past-participle agreement. | |
| Advanced grammar | Core | Pronom relatif dont | Replaces de + noun, used for ‘whose’, ‘of which’ and after verbs taking de (parler de, avoir besoin de). | |
| Advanced grammar | Core | Lequel / laquelle / lesquels | Relative or interrogative pronoun used after prepositions, agreeing with antecedent in gender and number. | |
| Advanced grammar | Core | Pronoms démonstratifs | Celui / celle / ceux / celles followed by de or qui/que to mean ‘the one(s) of/who/which’. | |
| Advanced grammar | Advanced | Ne explétif | Stylistic ‘ne’ with no negative meaning, used after avant que, à moins que and verbs of fearing. | |
| Themes & cultural content | Core | La société française contemporaine | Theme covering family structures, the role of education, and the world of work in modern France. | |
| Themes & cultural content | Core | La culture politique et artistique | Theme covering French politics, the Fifth Republic, cinema, music and heritage. | |
| Themes & cultural content | Core | L'immigration et la société multiculturelle | Theme covering migration to France, integration debates, laïcité and multicultural identity. | |
| Themes & cultural content | Core | Œuvre littéraire ou film | Required study of one prescribed literary work or film for the Paper 2 written response. | |
| Themes & cultural content | Advanced | Référence socioculturelle | Named example (law, statistic, film, author, event) used to support arguments in essays and the IRP. | |
| Exam technique (Papers 1–3) | Core | Paper 1 — Listening, Reading & Translation | Tests comprehension of authentic audio and written texts plus translation from French into English. | |
| Exam technique (Papers 1–3) | Core | Paper 2 — Written response & Translation | Essay on a prescribed literary work or film plus a translation from English into French. | |
| Exam technique (Papers 1–3) | Core | Paper 3 — Speaking | Oral exam with discussion of a stimulus card and the Independent Research Project (IRP). | |
| Exam technique (Papers 1–3) | Core | IRP (Independent Research Project) | Candidate-chosen sociocultural topic researched in French and defended orally with sources. | |
| Exam technique (Papers 1–3) | Advanced | Stratégie de traduction | Avoid calque — translate sense not word-for-word; manage register, idiom and tense to score full marks. |
Pair this with our revision checklists, formula sheets hub and past paper finder.
French (XFR01) — Keywords & Key Terms FAQ
- What is on this Pearson Edexcel A Level French keywords and key terms list?
- It is a topic-organised glossary of important french terms with short, exam-style definitions aligned to Pearson Edexcel International A Level French (XFR01). It is designed for “define”, “state”, “outline” and “explain” questions where precise vocabulary earns marks.
- How should I use this French glossary alongside past papers?
- Tick terms when you can recall them without reading the answer, then check your wording against mark schemes. Pair vocabulary practice with past papers for A Level French (XFR01) so you apply terms in context.
- Is this the same as a revision checklist or a formula sheet?
- No. Revision checklists help you track which syllabus topics you have covered and your confidence—separate pages on Tutopiya. Formula sheets summarise equations and quantitative relationships. This page is only a definitions and key-terms glossary for French.
- Can I download this French keywords and key terms list for free?
- Yes. After a quick free sign-up you can download a UTF-8 CSV (opens in Excel or Google Sheets) or open a print-friendly page and save as PDF. Browsing the list on the page is free.
- Is this French list aligned to the XFR01 specification?
- Topic groupings and wording follow Pearson Edexcel International A Level French for Pearson Edexcel A Level. Always confirm final learning objectives and any regional options in your official specification and recent examiner reports for your exam session.
- Why focus on definitions instead of full notes?
- Mark schemes reward correct technical terms and clear links between ideas. A compact glossary lets you drill the exact language examiners expect for French at A Level, separate from longer notes or topic trackers.