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2025 Pearson Edexcel GCSE French Paper 3 and Mark Scheme Combined (1FR0/3F: Reading and understanding in French Foundation Tier)
Paper code: 1FR0/3F.
Paper title: Reading and understanding in French (Foundation Tier). Duration: 45 minutes.
Total marks: 50 marks; this paper contributes 25% of the total GCSE French qualification.
Purpose: To assess students’ comprehension of written French across a variety of written text types (formal and informal, familiar and unfamiliar), and test their ability to extract meaning, understand detail, and translate from French to English.
Paper 3F is divided into three sections. Section A — Reading and Understanding (40 marks):
Students read one or more French texts (could include adverts, notices, emails, short articles, dialogues, etc.).
They answer a range of questions: multiple-choice, multiple‑response, and short-answer open‑response questions.
Questions for this section are set in English, and students respond in English.
Section B — Reading in French (questions set in French):
Some questions are given in French (for example comprehension questions prompting direct responses in English or other answer forms), testing comprehension of French language in context. Section C — Translation into English (10 marks):
Students translate a short passage from French into English. Instructions are in English.
The translation question usually comes at the end; guidance suggests spending roughly 10 minutes on it.
All questions across Sections A, B, and C must be answered. Dictionaries are not permitted.
Students should be comfortable reading various types of written French texts (not just structured passages — could be ads, emails, notices, dialogues, etc.).
Practice reading for gist, detail, and inference: being able to pick out specific information, understand implied meaning, follow arguments or instructions, understand tone/register, etc.
Prepare for different question formats: multiple‑choice, short‑answer, comparison, comprehension, translation.
Work on translation skills: ability to render French into clear, correct English — understanding meaning, grammar, vocabulary, and context.
Time management: with only 45 minutes total, divide time roughly among reading, answering comprehension, and translation — allow ~10 minutes for translation as recommended.
Work on translation skills: ability to render French into clear, correct English — understanding meaning, grammar, vocabulary, and context.
Time management: with only 45 minutes total, divide time roughly among reading, answering comprehension, and translation — allow ~10 minutes for translation as recommended.
| Author | zeus999 team |
| Published | 09 Dec 2025 |
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