How to get from a/b to a* in gcse french

The time has come....this is a plea for help to any of you A* french students.
Hi, A-grade french student speaking here and needing help because i keep getting low A's/ high B's in my listening and reading exam papers (exam board is edexcel btw) but so far ive gotten:
Speaking exam: A*
Writing ca 1: 26/30 (i think thats an A grade? Or could be A*)
Im about to take my next writing ca 2 in a few days and im aiming for a similar mark as the other one (that I don't need help on )

My main issue is the reading and listening exams. Does anyone have ANY tips or methods of inproving in this area? Im basically equal in listening and reading; last year i got an A in reading and B in listening, but in my december mocks it was the oppostie way round and i dont know how to boost my grade up >.< any ideas?

Thank you!

In reading and listening exams they don't expect you to know every word of a sentence but they expect you to understand the general meaning of one. I have a vocabulary book which I find v. useful as it has all the vocab you need to know for GCSE French. When I am doing tests there are always reading or listening questions that I can tell have some sneaky words in, but usually I know what they mean and others don't because they don't have vocab books. If you know extra words its much easier to work out sentences.

Try listening to the radio or watching French TV to get used to how people speak (very fast). I try to read any French I can to help myself learn e.g I read the French on the back of toothpaste boxes etc.

All I can say really. Hope it helps.

Thanks that is helpful actually may I ask what vocal book you have? Also could you recommend any websites that have french vocal for gcse?

Glad it helped.

This is the vocab book I use:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vocabulary-GCSE-French-3rd-Edition/dp/0748762736

and here is another useful book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/501-French-Verbs-6th-Edition/dp/0764179837

Linguascope is a good website:

http://www.linguascope.com/secure/students/intermediate/topic.php?language=french&topic=hobbies

They have loads of vocab sheets worksheets and other stuff. The only thing is you need an account to go on Linguascope which your school should have its own one of so you should ask your French teacher about that.