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Writing: Open-Ended Task (150 Words)

HigherHigher tier onlyAQA

Practise the 150-word open-ended writing task for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Higher tier exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). Higher Paper 4 Question 3 has two compulsory bullet points, is worth 25 marks and is the only writing task not shared with Foundation tier.

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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

This is a Higher tier only topic, so there's no Foundation paper — only the Higher worksheet and mark scheme below.

Higher

WorksheetHigher · PDFMark SchemeHigher · PDF

Topic overview

The open-ended writing task asks for around 150 words on a broad topic, and it is the longest piece of writing at Higher tier. This is a Higher-only topic.

The breadth is the difficulty. With no bullets to follow, the structure must be imposed by you. A reliable plan is an introduction stating your position, two developed paragraphs each with a reason and an example, and a short conclusion.

Range matters more here than anywhere else. Aim for at least three tenses, several connectives, a comparison, a negative and a modal verb. But the word count is a guide, not a target to exceed — 150 accurate words score better than 200 containing errors that a shorter piece would have avoided.

Revision notes

Imposing structure

With no bullets, you must supply the structure yourself.

A reliable plan: an introduction stating your position, two developed paragraphs each with a reason and an example, and a short conclusion. This works for almost any prompt.

Demonstrating range

Aim for at least three tenses, several connectives, a comparison, a negative and a modal verb.

These can all be planned in advance. Deciding before you write which structures you will include makes range deliberate rather than hoped for.

The word count

150 words is a guide, not a target to exceed.

150 accurate words score better than 200 with errors. Writing beyond the count adds risk without adding credit, and leaves less time for checking.

Key points

  • The task asks for around 150 words.
  • There are no bullets to follow.
  • You must impose the structure yourself.
  • Use an introduction, two paragraphs and a conclusion.
  • Aim for at least three tenses.
  • Accuracy matters more than exceeding the count.

Worked examples

Example 1

State a reliable structure for a 150-word task. [3 marks]

Working

An introduction stating your positiongive the first part
Two developed paragraphs, each with a reason and an examplegive the middle
A short conclusiongive the final part

Example 2

Name three structures that demonstrate range. [3 marks]

Working

A range of at least three tensesgive the first
A comparison using plus or moinsgive the second
A negative structure, or a modal verb with an infinitivegive the third

Example 3

Explain why writing 200 words may score less than 150. [2 marks]

Working

The extra length adds more opportunities for errorstate the risk
and leaves less time for checking, so accuracy suffers without gaining creditexplain the consequence

Common mistakes

  • Writing without a structure.

    With no bullets, you must impose one.

  • Exceeding the word count substantially.

    It adds risk without adding credit.

  • Using one tense throughout.

    Three demonstrate range.

  • Leaving no checking time.

    The final check is where errors are caught.

Exam tips

  • Plan the structure before writing.
  • Decide which structures you will include in advance.
  • Stay near the word count.
  • Remember this is a Higher-only topic.

Key terms

Open-ended task
A writing task with no bullet points.
Structure
The organisation you impose on your answer.
Range
Variety of tenses and structures.
Word count
A guide of around 150 words.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.