Here is a summary of what you can expect on your higher-level French paper:
Guide
Everything you need to study Leaving Cert French
- 4 minute read
French is a popular Leaving Certificate language that tests your aural, oral, written and comprehension skills. There is a lot of vocabulary to learn and grammar structures to be understood in French but don't let that put you off because Studyclix has loads of resources to help you get a H1 in the exam.
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What's involved?
Aural
The listening comprehension (aural) questions take up the first 30 minutes of the exam. Here are the types of aural questions that can come up:
- Conversation
- Interview
- News pieces
Comprehension
You will be asked to read and answer questions on a variety of texts. Here are some types of texts you might come across:
- Literary
- Novel
- Newspaper
- Magazine
Opinion
On the French exam you might be asked to express an opinion on the following topics:
- Animals, nature and the environment
- Education
- Health
- Ireland, travel, tourism and culture
- Politics, social issues and equality
- Sport
- Technology and media
- Youth, teenagers and families
Writing
During the exam, you will have to produce a written text. Here are examples of the kinds of texts you could be asked to write:
- Diary
- Letter
- Note
The listening comprehension (aural) questions take up the first 30 minutes of the exam. Here are the types of aural questions that can come up:
- Conversation
- Interview
- News pieces
Exam structure
Here is a breakdown of how you will be examined for Leaving Cert French at higher level:
Oral exam (25%)
Listening comprehension (20%)
Reading comprehension (30%)
Written production (25%)
Top tips for French
Like all languages, it is really important that you work on building your vocabulary as this will help you in the reading comprehensions as well as the listening and written parts of the paper. Writing out a list of the most common verbs with their English meaning will also come in very handy for all sections of the paper.
Don't forget to prepare for your aural exam by practicing the listening comprehension questions as you listen to the streamed audio clips on Studyclix.
How Studyclix can help you study French
H1 Guide
Languages may not be your thing (and that's okay) or you may absolutely love them. Regardless of how you feel about languages, this H1 French Guide has everything you need to know about excelling in this subject.
Aural Revision Tool
Studyclix makes revising listening comprehension questions much easier! You will find an audio player above every listening question.
Podcast episode
If you would prefer to listen to some tips then you're in the right place. In this episode of the Studyclix Podcast, Eimear and Nessa share their tips for excelling in Leaving Cert French.
Eimear is the Communications Manager for Studyclix.ie and got a H1 in her Leaving Cert French exam. From the oral preparation to vocab books, revision tips to podcast recommendations, they cover everything students need to equip themselves with to be 100% prepared for the exam. You can listen here:
Oral exam guide
The idea of a conversation in a language that isn't English is daunting for any student. This is why we have created loads of resources to make the oral exams easier for you.
In this Studyclix advice video, Gabrielle (who did 3 oral exams and now lives in France) goes through her top tips for the orals. Check it out here:
If you prefer listening to podcast episodes, we have you covered. Eimear and Nessa spend two episodes of the Studyclix Podcast discussing how to approach the orals:
Still worried about the orals? Read this blog going through 5 Extra Tips to Help You Prepare for the French Oral Exam.
French Insta Live
Here at Studyclix we often team up with experienced teachers to bring you expert advice and the best tips for your exams. In this case, we teamed up with Audrey MacSuibhne from the French learning Instagram page @excel_in_french to bring you an Insta Live session going through the French exam. You can find it on our Instagram page or by clicking here.
Examiner-annotated essays
Expert teacher and examiner, Deborah Ewing, has reviewed a number of sample essays to show you how to structure an answer and where to pick up marks. Along with written notes in the paragraphs, every essay includes a number of feedback boxes from the examiner which have been colour-coded to represent what you should and shouldn't do in your answers, for example:
You can find these essays on the 'videos and notes' page on a topic or at the bottom of an exam question. Click here to read more about how you can study using these essays.
There are loads of benefits to reading sample answers so don't hesitate to check them out. You can find them under relevant questions from our Questions by Topic page.
Top tip
Stuck on a question? Not sure about a topic? Looking for some more notes? Try asking our community page for some tips and advice. There are plenty of students and teachers there who are more than willing to help you out.
Have some ideas for more resources?
We are always looking for new ways to improve our site so we would love to hear your feedback. Get in touch by emailing info@studyclix.ie 😊