2026 AQA GCSE French Topic-Based Reading Exam Paper 2.3 – Higher Tier

Theme 2.3: Popular culture Topic: Celebrity culture

Prepare your students for the new 2026 AQA GCSE French specification with these full-length, topic-based Reading exam papers. Designed for Higher Tier students, these papers are ideal for Year 10 and Year 11, providing exam-style practice with increasing challenge.

Try before you buy with a FREE Reading Exam Paper - 1.3 Education and Work
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13372578

Teach Foundation as well ?- FREE Foundation writing paper
Theme 1.1: People and Lifestyle Topic: Identity and Relationships with Others
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13356155

Key Features:

Two exam papers of the same topic:

Year 10 Higher: straightforward AQA-style reading practice, perfect for building confidence

Year 11 Higher: same structure with more distractors, harder language, and challenging vocabulary for exam preparation

Full AQA-style 60-minute Higher Reading papers based on individual GCSE topics

No brand logos for easy printing – ready to use as .DOC and PDF

No teacher preparation needed – includes full Mark Scheme and step-by-step explanations

Grade 1–9 assessment grid for self or teacher evaluation

Free resource for teachers and students

How to use:

Simulate an exam: Complete the papers in 60 minutes for realistic practice

Topic-focused revision: Work on individual sections to consolidate comprehension skills

Check answers: Use the Mark Scheme for quick verification or detailed explanations

Track progress: Record marks to identify strengths and areas for improvement

Sections included:

Section A – Reading Comprehension

Section B – Translation

Mark Scheme (Quick Reference)

Mark Scheme with Explanations

Grade Boundaries

Disclaimer:
This resource has been created by the author to support teachers and students with exam preparation only. It is based on the AQA GCSE French specification but is not affiliated with or endorsed by AQA