Introduction

With the introduction of the new GCSE Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum in 2024, students and teachers alike have been considering how grammar influences the final grade, since many students in their classes cannot cope with the high volume of grammar required for the Higher Tier papers. Grammar has traditionally played a crucial role in language learning, as it underpins sentence structure, verb conjugation, and communication accuracy. However, the revised GCSE assessment model balances the evaluation of grammar, vocabulary, fluency, and receptive skills (Listening and Reading).

One of the questions I get asked the most in workshops about the new GCSE is: “Can one still achieve a Grade 7 in the new GCSE MFL exam if I prioritise vocabulary and fluent communication and my students are not great a grammar ?” This article explores the extent to which grammar impacts total marks, strategies for students who struggle with grammar, and why vocabulary, fluency, and receptive skills are just as—if not more—important for success.

The Role of Grammar in Each GCSE MFL Skill

Grammar plays a different role in each skill area of the exam. While it is explicitly assessed in the Speaking and Writing papers, its impact in Listening and Reading is more indirect. Below is a detailed breakdown of how grammar contributes to the total marks in each skill area.

Table 1: Grammar’s Impact on GCSE MFL Marks in Each Skill

Skill Area	Total Marks Available	Direct or Indirect Grammar Impact?	Estimated Grammar Contribution to Final Marks
Listening	50 marks (25% of GCSE)	Indirect – Students must recognize tenses and structures in spoken passages.	~5-10% (minimal)
Reading	50 marks (25% of GCSE)	Indirect – Grammar knowledge helps in understanding text nuances.	~5-10% (minimal)
Speaking	50 marks (25% of GCSE)	Direct – Grammatical accuracy is assessed in responses and pronunciation.	~20% (moderate)
Writing	60 marks (25% of GCSE)	Direct – Grammar is explicitly assessed in written tasks.	~20-25% (high)

How Can a Student with Weak Grammar Still Achieve a Grade 7?

Achieving a Grade 7 in the new 2024 GCSE MFL exam requires a balanced performance across all four skill areas (Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing). While grammar plays a role in Speaking and Writing, its influence is lower in Listening and Reading, which together account for 50% of the total marks. This means that a student who struggles with grammar can still achieve a Grade 7 by excelling in comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary use.

In Listening and Reading, understanding meaning is more important than grammatical accuracy. These skills primarily assess a student’s ability to identify key words, interpret meaning from context, and recognise common linguistic patterns. Since grammar is not directly tested, a student can compensate for weaknesses in grammatical accuracy by focusing on developing a strong vocabulary base and inference skills. Recognising chunks of language—ready-made phrases and expressions commonly used by native speakers—can significantly enhance comprehension, allowing students to predict meaning even when they do not understand every word.

In Speaking, fluency and the ability to communicate ideas naturally are crucial. One effective way to improve fluency, even with weaker grammar, is by memorising and using chunks of language. These include common sentence starters, opinion phrases, linking expressions, and question forms. By internalising and regularly using set phrases such as “Je pense que…” (I think that…), “Ce que j’aime, c’est…” (What I like is…), or “D’un autre côté…” (On the other hand…), students can avoid hesitation, speak more confidently, and reduce the likelihood of grammatical errors. Furthermore, demonstrating good pronunciation, using intonation appropriately, and self-correcting errors when necessary all contribute positively to the final score.

In Writing, while grammar is assessed explicitly, clarity and coherence remain key factors in achieving a high mark. Even if a student’s grammatical knowledge is not perfect, using well-structured and logically connected ideas, applying a range of vocabulary, and ensuring accurate spelling can still lead to a strong performance. Employing pre-learned chunks of language helps students write more fluently and accurately, reducing the risk of mistakes. For example, memorising set phrases for expressing opinions, structuring arguments, or making comparisons allows students to produce well-formed sentences with minimal effort. A clear, well-organised response is often more effective than a grammatically complex but error-filled one.

When doing the Foundation Tier paper, there is an additional opportunity to gain marks in a multiple-choice grammar section in the Writing paper. Even if grammar is a weak area, this section allows students to use logical reasoning and elimination techniques to secure some marks.

Conclusion: The Importance of Vocabulary, Fluency, and Receptive Skills

Ultimately, grammar alone does not determine a student’s final grade. A Grade 7 can still be achieved if the student performs well in Listening, Reading, fluency in Speaking, and clarity in Writing, even with some grammatical inaccuracies.

A strong vocabulary, confidence in communication, and good comprehension skills are just as important as grammatical accuracy in achieving success in the GCSE MFL exam. Remember: fluent vocabulary knowledge is what teacher need to prioritise the most, as it is the strongest determinant of success across all four skills.

Using chunks of language effectively as we teach students to do in EPI enhances fluency, increases accuracy, and provides students with the tools to communicate naturally, making it an essential strategy for those who struggle with grammar.

Key Takeaways:

• Grammar is most important in Writing and Speaking, where it accounts for around 20-25% of marks.
• Listening and Reading skills require good comprehension but do not have direct grammar assessments, meaning weaker grammar does not automatically lower one’s score.
• Overall, grammar accounts for about 20% of total marks, meaning 80% of the final grade depends on other factors like vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.