Published: Wednesday, 15th April, 2009 12:00pm

Examination Guide - French

Junior Certificate -

Layout of Paper Total - 320 marks

Section I: Listening

Comprehension (140 marks)

Section II: Reading

Comprehension (100 marks)

Section III: Written

Expression (80 marks)

The initial part of the exam, the Listening Comprehension lasts 40 minutes and accounts for the highest marks (44%) overall of the entire paper. We would recommend that you answer this section in pencil to allow for mistakes and avoid the messy presentation of scribbled pen. Leave no question unattempted.

As part of your preparation it is essential that you build up your vocabulary for both Listening and Reading comprehensions. Every word you learn is a step towards a higher grade. Do remember that the questions are in English so you should answer in English.

The Reading Comprehension section is worth 31% with nine Comprehensions to answer, increasing in difficulty as you progress. Do take your time and allow at least an hour for this section. Again, leave no blanks . In your preparation you should continually revise your vocabulary areas and then - Practice, Practice, Practice! Use your exam papers and textbook for this. Once again as the questions are in English you should answer them in English.

The final section of the paper the written expression is worth 25%. Students are asked to perform two written tasks: A postcard or a note (30 marks), followed by an informal/formal letter (50 marks). You should allow a good 40 minutes for this section e.g. 15 minutes for the postcard and 25 minutes for the letter.

As you are been examined on your knowledge of grammar knowledge, it is important that you revise the major tenses: Past, Present and Future. It is important that you ensure that you know the two important irregular verbs in these tenses - Aller (to go) & Faire (to do). It is a good idea to build a list of key phrases using these two vital verbs.

Finally and most importantly in your preparation for Junior Certificate French you should focus on revising your vocabulary. Areas of note to revise include Days, months, seasons, numbers, colours, family, occupations, food and drink, time, clothes, shops/buildings, directions, weather, pastimes, the house and chores etc.

Leaving Certificate

Preparation for French at Higher and Ordinary Leaving Certificate level is very similar. In preparing for the Reading Comprehension section you should focus on practising your vocabulary. We would recommend that you maintain a vocabulary notebook and revise on a regular basis the words you record.

French newspapers are easily accessible through the Internet and can assist in building up your French vocabulary. In terms of preparation for the Written Assignments it is advisable to learn off set expressions relevant to specific themes and maintain an expressions notebook on a category basis which you continuously revise.

Try to learn at least two new sentences specific to each section every night. It is advisable not to learn particular essays off by heart. Not only is this time-consuming, but it is unlikely that the very essay you have learned by heart will appear on the day of the exam.

With regard to Grammar you should try to target at least five key tenses. Study the Present tense very closely as students tend to be very complacent about this. Remember, nearly every other tense is formed in some way or another from the Present tense.

Ordinary Level

The Reading Comprehension (Compréhension écrite) worth 40%, contains four comprehensions. Questions on the first two comprehensions are asked in English and you answer in English, questions on the last three comprehensions are asked in French and you answer in French (apart from final question). .

In the Written Assignments (Production écrite) you must produce your own ideas in French. This section which is worth 15% of the whole exam, is divided into three sections A, B and C. You must do any 2. In each section there are two questions of which you only need to do one.

• Section A part (i) consists of a passage with 10 words missing and you have to put the correct word in the correct gap. Part (ii) is a form to fill in.

• Section B part (i) is a message to write while part (ii) is a postcard

• Section C part (i) consists of a diary entry, while part (ii) is a formal letter

Leaving Certificate Higher

Start with the comprehensions. However, before you do, make a note of what is being asked on the written paper. By doing this, your brain will begin to think, if only on a subconscious level, about how to answer that question. You may also encounter phrases or vocabulary that will be useful to you later.

The written paper is worth 220 marks and the listening comprehension is worth 80 marks. You have 2 ½ hours to answer the written paper and 40 minutes to answer the listening comprehension.

• The following timing scheme for the written paper will give you about 15 minutes at the end of the exam to check your answers:

• Reading Comprehension 1 - compulsory (60 marks): 35 minutes.

• Reading Comprehension 2 - compulsory (60 marks): 35 minutes.

• Written Question 1 - compulsory (40 marks): 25 minutes.

• Written Questions 2, 3 & 4 - you must answer two out of three (30 marks each): 20 minutes each.

The written paper commences with the Reading Comprehension (Compréhension écrite) section which is worth 30%. There are two texts in French, 12 Questions in French, to be answered in French. The first text is a journalistic passage and normally deals with a contemporary issue. The second is usually a literary piece, taken from a novel. The French language and vocabulary used here is extremely advanced practice your vocabulary.

In the Written Assignments (Production écrite) you must produce your own ideas in French. Your preparation for the essay questions and diary entry must centre on past exam questions along with learning of key vocabulary. This section is worth 25% of the whole exam and you must answer three out of four questions. You must answer three questions - Question 1 (compulsory) and two of questions 2, 3 and 4. For Question 1, you are expected to write about 90 words. The other two questions require about 75 words.

• Q1 relates to the reading comprehension section where you must give your own opinion on the theme, but relating to your own experience. You will have an option of two questions within Question 1, one based on each comprehension piece - you choose one from either piece.

• Q2 offers a choice of three possibilities (two of these will appear on the paper, you must answer one)

Diary Entry - Fax/E-mail/Note - Letter (formal/informal)

• Q3 asks you to give your reaction to a

Newspaper headline - Short extract - Picture

Again, 2 of these items will appear, you must deal with one.

• Q4 requires you to react to:

A short prose article - A chart/table - Graphics - A cartoon or picture

Aural (Listening) Section

Make sure you devote at least a quarter of your French study time to this area. It is possible to study this section on your own. All it takes is practice. The Listening Comprehension (Aural) section of the paper is a separate 40 minute test after the written exam. The best way to prepare, similar to the oral, is to listen to spoken French as much as possible. Use the CD that accompanies your textbook. Tune into popular French radio station websites e.g. NRJ - Europe 2. It is worth 25% at ordinary level and 20% at Higher Level

Finally Bonne chance!

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