How can I revise for a French speaking exam?

For many language students, speaking exams are a very daunting part of the course! It's important to remember that these exams aren't trying to catch you out; they're looking for you to be enthusiastic and demonstrate the French you know- those who show a willingness to express different ideas and engage in conversation usually do well.

Although the exam may focus around a spontaneous conversation, preparation is still crucial- you should go through the conversation topics that could come up, and make a habit of gathering ideas relating to the topic, thinking of questions or other issues your points could raise. At AS and A2 French, the topics can often be quite demanding in terms of their content, and to most they are difficult to talk about in English, let alone another language- don't be put off by this; you can use English revision notes to help set out your ideas and arguments, before moving on to working in French.

Conversation and engagement with questions are the most important part of the speaking exam, so working with someone else is an invaluable revision tool- work with a tutor, teacher or friend to get used to responding to questions spontaneously. This is the best way to gain confidence for your speaking exam, which will be very different from answering questions in the classroom setting you're used to.