How Much French Should a Child Know at Each Age? (UK Benchmarks 4–17)

Most pupils move from Pre-A1 → A1 → A2 through primary/early secondary, reach A2+/early B1 by GCSE, and push into B1–B2 by A-level—if they get short, frequent practice and live feedback. Treat the ranges below as typical, not mandatory caps.

How to read these benchmarks

• CEFR (Pre-A1 → A1 → A2 → B1 → B2) is the common European scale for languages.

• UK Key Stages: EYFS (4–5), KS1 (6–7), KS2 (8–11), KS3 (11–14), KS4/GCSE (14–16), KS5/A-level (16–18).

• Time on task matters most. Ten focused minutes daily with clear feedback beats an hour once a week.

• Our rule of thumb at Gaëlle & French Tutors (London & online): build a light, repeatable routine—speaking from week one, marked mini-writing, and tiny pronunciation drills for British-learner trouble spots (nasal vowels, é/è/eu, liaison).

Read more: How to Prepare for Your First French Lesson in London

UK Benchmarks by Age (at a glance)

Age	UK Stage	Typical CEFR Range*	“Good for age” looks like…	Weekly study that works
4–5	EYFS	Pre-A1	Songs, greetings, colours, 1–10; can say name/age with support.	2×15-min playful sessions
6–7	KS1	Pre-A1 → A1-	Classroom phrases; simple likes/dislikes; copies short words; sound awareness.	3×15–20 min
8–9	KS2 lower	A1	Short sentences on family/school; reads simple words; knows alphabet & accents.	3×20 min
10–11	KS2 upper	A1 → A2-	Short “weekend” story (4–6 lines) with present + near future; basic questions; friendly letter.	3×25 min
12–13	KS3 (Y8–9)	A2	1–2 minute talk with connectors (et, mais, parce que, puis); present/near future/past in short texts.	3×30 min
14–16	GCSE	A2 → A2+ / early B1	Handles GCSE tasks: opinions + reasons, past vs future; short emails; coping strategies in speaking.	3×35–40 min + timed practice
16–17	AS/A-level	B1 → B2-	Discusses themes; summaries & viewpoints; 180–250 words with structure; better pronunciation & register.	4×35–40 min + weekly writing

*Indicative ranges. Actual level varies with exposure, motivation, and support.

Read more: How Learning French Can Boost Your London Trip Notes

Age-by-Age Examples (with 60-second “at-home checks”)

Ages 4–5 (EYFS · Pre-A1)

Classroom reality: action songs, greetings, colours, classroom items; mimics sounds. At-home check (60s): point to five colours and say them; answer “Comment tu t’appelles ?” / “Tu as quel âge ?” with a prompt.

Ages 6–7 (KS1 · Pre-A1→A1-)

Classroom reality: simple likes/dislikes; short word copying; strong alphabet work. Check: spell name with the French alphabet; say two likes/dislikes using j’aime / je n’aime pas.

Ages 8–9 (KS2 lower · A1)

Classroom reality: family/school sentences; basic reading; accents; days/months. Check: read a mini-menu and choose a drink; say two likes with parce que + reason.

Ages 10–11 (KS2 upper · A1→A2-)

Classroom reality: present + near future (aller + infinitif); basic questions; short narrative. Check: tell a six-line “weekend” story using je vais… for one line about next weekend.

Ages 12–13 (KS3 · A2)

Classroom reality: mix of present/past/near future; 90-second talk with connectors; short email. Check: speak 90 seconds about school timetable; spot five past-tense verbs in a short paragraph.

Ages 14–16 (GCSE · A2→A2+/early B1)

Classroom reality: opinions + reasons; time frames; role-plays; photo cards; 90-word and 150-word tasks. Check: write 90–110 words about last weekend and next weekend; include past + future + 3 connectors.

Ages 16–17 (AS/A-level · B1→B2-)

Classroom reality: themes and culture, structured argument, summaries, register and nuance. Check: speak for 2 minutes giving a viewpoint and one counter-point; write 180–200 words with intro–point–evidence–link.

Read more: The Importance of Native French Tutors for Accurate Pronunciation

Common Gaps We See (and How We Fix Them)

• Pronunciation (British-learner set): nasal vowels (an/en/in/on), é/è/eu, liaison (vous_avez, j’en ai). Our fix: two-minute drills + slow–shadow–speak cycle; feedback on mouth shape and rhythm.

• Connector drift: pupils list words but don’t use them. Our fix: sentence frames that force cependant, en revanche, d’abord, ensuite, finalement into real tasks.

• Tense control: knowing rules ≠ using them under time pressure. Our fix: short, timed outputs (60–120s speaking; 80–150 words writing) with a rewrite brief.

• Writing structure: paragraphs lack signposting. Our fix: PEEL frames (Point-Evidence-Explanation-Link) adapted to GCSE/A-level rubrics.

Read more: How a Personalised French Tutor in London Can Boost Your Confidence

What a High-Impact Week Looks Like

• 3× short practices (15–30 minutes each):

  • Input (listen/read for gist → detail)

  • Practice (micro-grammar in context)

  • Output (speaking/writing with immediate corrections)

• 1× mini-mock every 4–6 weeks to reveal exactly where to focus next. This is the IPO loop we use in our private French lessons at Gaëlle & French Tutors—light, repeatable, and human.

Read more: How Long Does It Take to Learn French Language

How We Support UK Pupils (London & Online)

We teach children and teens across London and online, with native tutors and clear plans:

• Primary (4–11): playful routines, sound awareness, accent confidence.

• KS3 (11–14): connectors, time frames, short writing with rewrite briefs.

• GCSE: timed role-plays, photo cards, 90/150-word tasks, grade-raising feedback.

• A-level: argumentation, registers, summaries, oral confidence.

Useful pages to link from this article:

• French for children & teens in London and online (programme overview)

• GCSE French tutor (timed practice, writing marking)

• A-level French coaching (structure & register)

• Pricing & Packages (transparent options)

• Book a free consultation (10-minute level check + 4-week plan)

(If you want, we’ll add UTM parameters so you can track which section converts.)

Read more: Where to Take French Lessons Near Me? Discover Gaëlle & French Tutors in London

FAQs

Is online as effective as in-person for children?

• Yes, online suits consistent progress and writing feedback. If a child needs pronunciation polish or has a high-stakes speaking goal, blend online with in-person sessions in London.

How many minutes per week produce visible progress?

• For most ages, 3× short sessions (15–30 minutes) plus a weekly lesson work best. The younger the child, the shorter and more playful the bursts.

Which tenses matter most for GCSE?

• Present, passé composé, and futur proche first; then imparfait for descriptions and conditional for “if I could…” style answers. The skill is switching cleanly between time frames.

My child is shy about speaking—what helps?

• Start with structured micro-tasks (e.g., 45–60 seconds with frames), add audio shadowing, and celebrate small wins. Confidence usually rises once there’s a predictable routine and clear cues.

Do you set homework?

• Yes—tiny tasks that fit real life: one short recording, one 80–120-word writing, and a two-minute pronunciation drill. Parents get a one-page plan so it’s easy to support.

Sample 4-Week Starter Plan (you can copy this)

• Week 1: sounds & core phrases; present tense of être/avoir/aller/faire; 2 × 60-sec recordings.

• Week 2: school & family; near future; written postcard (80–100 words).

• Week 3: past vs present; connectors; 90-sec talk about last weekend.

• Week 4: mini-mock (speaking + short writing); feedback + 4-week roadmap.

Ready to check your child’s level?

Book a free 10-minute level check and we’ll map a 4-week plan you can actually follow—then decide between online or London in-person (or blend both). Gaëlle & French Tutors — London & Online · Private French lessons for children and teens, GCSE and A-level support.