GCSE French Reading Revision - Heckmondwike Grammar School

GCSE French Reading
Revision & Practice
Revising for the test
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Knowing a lot of words for each topic is
important – do 5-10 minutes a day
vocabulary revision
Make sure you know numbers and times
Make sure you know hobbies and leisure
words
Make sure you know holiday vocabulary
Don’t neglect the time phrases
Learn the different question words
Foundation and Higher
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There is an overlap of questions so everyone
needs to know how to approach the longer
type-questions.
For the foundation test it is especially
important to know basic vocabulary. The
earlier questions are often like a vocabulary
test.
For the longer texts it is important to know
how to approach the questions and to have
strategies for ‘guessing’ (inferring) meaning.
In the exam
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Tips
For each section read the questions first BEFORE you
look at the text on which they are based.
Make sure you understand exactly what you are
looking for. Be familiar with the rubrics – and the
types of question - before you go into the exam.
Now read the whole of the text carefully. Try to use
the questions to help you understand the text.
If the question is in French answer in French; if the
question is in English, answer in English.
Answering the questions
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Use your knowledge about a topic to make
educated guesses – ask yourself whether an
answer is likely or not.
Use the title of a passage to help you
understand some of the meaning
Don’t worry if you don’t understand it all.
You are not expected to understand
everything.
Look at the marks awarded for each question.
If there are 2 marks, then make 2 separate
clear points etc.
More tips
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When answering remember to express
yourself clearly. You do not have to answer
in full sentences but you must give enough
information to gain the marks.
If you don’t say what you mean you won’t
get the mark. The examiner will not guess
your intentions.
More tips……..
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Your French is important. Make sure
you write as accurately as you can.
Take time to do this. Be careful with
spellings of words which sound the
same e.g. Musique/ music.
When answering in English be
especially careful that you express what
you really mean
Key Question Words
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qu’est-ce que? What ?(is it that…)
n qui? Who?
n où? Where?
n comment? How?
n À quelle heure? At what time?
n quand? When?
More Question Words
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pourquoi?
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Why?
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d’où?
Where from?
quel/quelle? (m/f singular)
quels/quelles? (m/f plural)
Which?
n c’est combien?
n How much?
n combien de….?
n How many?
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Examples of questions used in
the Reading Test
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Le train arrive à quelle heure?
What time does the train arrive?
Le voyage dure combien de temps?
How long does the journey last?
C’est combien un billet pour aller à Lille?
What does a ticket to Lille cost?
Avec qui a-t-il habité après le divorce?
Who did he live with after the divorce?
A quel âge a-t-il commencé à jouer du piano?
At what age did he start playing the piano?
Qui s’intéresse à……
who is interested in …..
Understanding the rubric
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Answer the questions.
Répondez qux questions
Give 2 details
Donnez deux détails
Fill in the gaps
Remplissez les blancs
Indicate if the sentences are true or false
Indiquez si les phrases sont vraies ou fausses
write a letter in each box
Ecrivez une lettre dans chaque case
answer the questions in French
Répondez aux questions en français
Write the name of the person
Ecrivez le nom de la personne
Watch the tense
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Watch out for the correct tense:
Tu iras en France cet été?
Oui, j’irai à Paris (future tense)
Où habitait-il quand il était petit? (past tense)
Il habitait à Bordeaux.
Qu’est-ce que tu voudrais faire ce soir?
J’aimerais bien aller au cinéma. (conditional
tense - I would like to…..)
On-line practice
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www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize
There is a good section on French/exam
skills
www.bbc.co.uk/languages/French/talk
There are practice sections on all the
topics at all levels.
www.languagesonline.org.uk - French
from Primary to A level standard
MFL Website
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Look at the MFL website and follow the links for
reading practice. Copy down some of the sites for
access at home
Click on the French Folder
<Francoscope>
Register and choose your own password
Exercises are marked for you and scores
recorded
Also: (in French Folder)
<Lecture> reading exercises at Foundation and
Higher levels