This key facts covers Key method steps at a glance within Dictation method: three plays, hold, write for GCSE French. Revise Dictation method: three plays, hold, write in Dictation Technique for GCSE French with 11 exam-style questions and 10 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 4 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📌 Key method steps at a glance
- Step 1 — First listening: capture all you can; use // for gaps; don't stop to correct
- Step 2 — Second listening: fill gaps; check word boundaries; use liaison as a clue for plurals
- Step 3 — Agreement: adjective–noun; past participle with être; reflexive verbs
- Step 4 — Accents: é (past participles), è (père/mère/très), ê, à, â, ç, ô — check each word
- Step 5 — Silent endings: -s (plurals), -ent (ils/elles verbs), -e (fem adj), -d (grand), -t (fait/est)
- Chunk strategy: write in natural phrase bursts; don't wait for the whole sentence
- 40 words is the typical dictation length; every word is marked
Practice questions for Dictation method: three plays, hold, write
How many times is the dictation passage played in the AQA 8652 exam?
What should you do during the FIRST play of the dictation?
Quick recall flashcards
Do accents matter in dictation?
Yes — missing or wrong accents lose marks on Grid B. Key pairs: a/à, ou/où, sur/sûr, du/dû, la/là. The accent changes meaning entirely. Always check accents on your third listening.
How is the dictation broken up?
The passage is read in short phrases with pauses between them. Use the pauses to write. Don't try to hold the whole sentence — focus on one phrase at a time.