This exam tips covers Exam Tips & Common Errors within Present tense: the big four (être, avoir, aller, faire) for GCSE French. Revise Present tense: the big four (être, avoir, aller, faire) in The 25 Core Verbs and the Present Tense for GCSE French with 15 exam-style questions and 15 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 4 of 4 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
💡 Exam Tips & Common Errors
- In the writing exam, using aller + infinitif to talk about your plans (je vais visiter Paris) is the safest and most reliable way to earn marks for a future time frame at Foundation tier.
- The four verbs être, avoir, aller, and faire appear in the AQA vocabulary list and will always be included in reading and listening tasks — knowing them cold is non-negotiable.
- In speaking, use il fait beau / mauvais when describing where you live or talking about holidays — weather details are explicitly listed in AQA topic areas.
❌ Common error: Je suis froid. / Je suis quinze ans.
✓ Correct: J'ai froid. / J'ai quinze ans.
Why it costs marks: Physical sensations and age in French both require avoir, not être. Je suis froid actually means "I am a cold (unfriendly) person" — a completely different meaning. Je suis quinze ans is not standard French at all. These errors flag a fundamental misunderstanding of two core verbs and affect AO3 (grammar) marks in both writing and speaking.
Practice questions for Present tense: the big four (être, avoir, aller, faire)
Which form of 'être' correctly completes this sentence? 'Nous ___ français.'
What does 'j'ai quinze ans' mean in English?