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Home > French > Continuers' Course > How to Approach the Exam > Advice > Advice on the Writing Skills section (15 marks)

 

This is the last section in the Written Examination.

The aim of the Writing Skills exam is to assess your ability to express ideas through the production of original texts in French.

Q: What will I be expected to do in the exam?

You will have to complete two tasks of different styles. There will be a choice of questions within both Part A and Part B. You must do one question from each part.

Each task will have a different purpose, audience, and context and will require the production of different text types.

In Part A, your writing will involve giving information or a description.

In Part B, you will need to be reflective, persuasive or be able to evaluate an issue. You may be required to explain, or justify a point of view.

Tasks in both parts will be related to the themes and topics prescribed in the syllabus.

Each part requires a response of 100 — 150 words in French.

 

Q: How can I get as many marks as possible in this section?

The criteria used in marking this section will include:

• your understanding and use of vocabulary, idiom, colloquialisms, grammar, text type and levels of language
• your ability to use language authentically and creatively
• your ability to structure and sequence ideas effectively

Suggestions to help you to work towards a high standard:

• Be prepared to write in any tense. For example, you could be asked to report on a past event or inform someone about future events.
  
  
• Draw up a brief plan of your major points, so that you can present information in a logical order.
  
  
• Prepare a list of sequencing words which will assist the flow of your writing eg. "d'abord", "ensuite", "et puis", "après cela". Avoid repetition of words, use synonyms where possible.
  
  
• Consider the audience you are addressing, to determine the level of language you will use. For example, if writing for a young people's magazine, you may use colloquialisms, whereas if writing for an official report, you will need to use more formal language.
  
  
• Use a checklist. At the end of the exam check that you have taken the following into account:
  • Consistency with "tu" and "vous" including "ton", "ta", "tes", "toi", "s'il te plaît" etc.
  • Accuracy of verb endings, e.g. "Je prends" not "Je prendre"
  • Agreement of nouns and adjectives e.g. "des yeux bleus"
  • Pitfalls especially in using the English "ing" form, eg "Je regarde la télé" and not "Je suis regarder la télé"
  • Full answer. Have you written about all the points required?

Part A

The kind of writing involved in this task will be informative or descriptive.

• Put yourself in the shoes of your imagined reader and ask what information needs to be conveyed.
• Include details about who, what, where, when, how and why.
• Include plenty of details by using descriptive words and facts.

Part B

The kind of writing involved in this task will be reflective, persuasive or require an evaluation.

• The list below includes some of the expressions used in this kind of writing:
  • "je pense/trouve que..."
  • "à mon avis"
  • "il me semble que..."
  • "selon"
  • "d'une part,... d'autre part..."
  • "dans ce cas"
  • "il est évident que..."
  • "en ce qui concerne"
  • "je vous assure que"
  • "en somme"
  • "indubitablement"
  • "on en conclut que..."
  
  
• Give examples to back up your ideas, opinions, evaluation ("Par exemple", "La raison pour laquelle je pense cela, c'est...").
  
  
• Plan a clear introduction and conclusion.

 

Q: How do I best prepare for this section?

As you study the different topics of the French syllabus, write out your ideas and opinions on various issues in French.

Complete all the practice questions prepared by your teacher and those in the sample tasks found on this site.

Keep abreast of current world issues which may relate to the topics specified in the syllabus, so that you already have some awareness and opinions on the subjects.

Train yourself to justify ideas and opinions by writing about them in French.

Familiarise yourself with the persuasive language used in articles or letters to the editor in magazines such as Phosphore (see the youth forum Then try to incorporate those expressions into your own writing.

You will need to be thoroughly acquainted with forms of the comparative, superlative etc. to write an effective evaluation.

Keep in mind that you only have to write 100 — 150 words for each of Parts A and B. This means that your argument or discussion needs to be concise. Don't spend too much time developing any one idea. Planning and practice should help you to balance this.

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