AQA GCSE French Photo Card Practice

The AQA GCSE French Photo card discussion is worth 25 marks. You prepare one compulsory opening question about two photos, say at least something about each, then take part in an unprepared conversation.

French AQA

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Exam at a glance

Board and paper: AQA · 8652 · Paper 2 Speaking
Task and tiers: Photo Card · Foundation and Higher
Marks: 25 marks including the unprepared conversation
Approximate task duration / format: Foundation 4–5 minutes; Higher 6–7 minutes in total
Preparation: 15 minutes supervised preparation for the whole speaking test, not per task
Whole speaking test: Foundation 7–9 minutes; Higher 10–12 minutes · 50 marks · 25% of the GCSE

Task order: Role-play → Reading aloud and short unprepared conversation → Photo card discussion.

What happens in this part of the exam?

This is Task 3. Look at both photos during supervised preparation and prepare your response to the first compulsory question.
Say at least something about each photo. The photo description is approximately 1 minute at Foundation and 1.5 minutes at Higher.
Continue into an unprepared conversation: 3–4 minutes at Foundation or 4.5–5.5 minutes at Higher. The total recommended task durations are 4–5 and 6–7 minutes respectively.
The same photos are used at both tiers, but the time and language demands differ. AQA requires coverage of both; this is not Pearson’s one-picture choice.

What examiners are looking for

The prepared description rewards communicating relevant information about the photos.
The conversation also tests understanding and your ability to communicate using suitable language.
Develop relevant answers with details, opinions and reasons where appropriate. Do not replace visible description with an invented story.

Try one now

Original ScoreMySpeech practice task. This is a static website exercise: speak aloud on your own or with a partner; this page does not record you. It is not official exam-board material.

Original ScoreMySpeech practice task

Two ways to spend a break

Imagine the two scenes described in the labelled placeholders. This text-based exercise practises covering both photos; it does not test observation of real photographs.

Photo A · School courtyard

Designed practice placeholder — not a photograph. Imagined scene: Three pupils sit on a bench in a school courtyard. One holds a book; the other two are talking. There are trees behind the bench.

Photo B · Sports hall

Designed practice placeholder — not a photograph. Imagined scene: Four pupils play basketball in a sports hall. One holds the ball near a basket. Two other pupils watch from the side.

Opening practice question

Décris les deux photos.

Original follow-up practice questions

Qu’est-ce que tu préfères faire pendant les pauses ?
Qu’est-ce que tu as fait hier après les cours ?
Pourquoi est-il important de faire du sport ?
Comment voudrais-tu passer ton prochain week-end ?

One language detail: Use sur la photo and il y a to locate a detail. Jouer au basket uses au, whereas jouer de la guitare uses de.

Foundation / Higher support

These are concise ScoreMySpeech example responses, not official model answers or guaranteed marks. Follow the demands of your actual stimulus.

Foundation approach

Make the message clear

Sur la première photo, trois élèves sont assis sur un banc. Sur la deuxième photo, des élèves jouent au basket.

Start with one complete observation for each scene. Do not spend all your preparation on Photo A.

Higher upgrade

Add what the task needs

Sur la première photo, trois élèves sont assis sur un banc, tandis que sur la deuxième, des élèves jouent au basket dans un gymnase. Les activités sont différentes.

Connect two accurate observations with tandis que. Save your personal sporting opinions for a relevant follow-up question.

Common mistakes

Ignoring the second photo.
Spending all the available time on isolated nouns.
Inventing people’s identities or feelings as if they were visible facts.
Reciting a general topic answer rather than answering the follow-up.

A quick practice strategy

One focused rehearsal

Find a person, an action and a location in each scene.
Speak about Photo A, then explicitly move to Photo B.
Ask a partner to give you a follow-up you have not planned.
Listen back for coverage of both scenes, then improve one verb or detail.

This is a revision routine, not official exam preparation timing.

Official specification

Exam information checked against the current AQA GCSE French 8652 specification (first teaching September 2024; first examinations 2026 and beyond). Last reviewed: October 2026. Exam boards may update guidance; follow your school’s instructions too.

Official AQA GCSE French 8652 specification

Practise it aloud with ScoreMySpeech.

Reading an example is a start. The speaking exam is about what you can actually say. Record your response in the app, receive practice feedback, then repeat and improve for your selected exam board. Feedback is not an official mark or grade prediction.