French Language and Literature: Precision and Structure
What is assessed
The French paper tests controlled written expression and close reading. Expect grammar and spelling exercises (agreement of the past participle, subjunctive after expressions of necessity or doubt, pronoun order, tense consistency in narration), vocabulary precision, and a written production task such as a summary, a formal letter, or a short argumentative paragraph. Literary questions ask you to identify genre, register, figures of speech, and the effect of a passage, not merely to paraphrase it.
Traps that cost marks
- Past participle agreement: with avoir, the participle agrees only with a preceding direct object. With être (including pronominal verbs), it usually agrees with the subject.
- Subjunctive triggers: il faut que, bien que, avant que, and expressions of doubt or emotion require the subjunctive; après que and parce que do not.
- Register: a formal letter needs vous, a suitable formula such as Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées, and no contractions of casual speech.
- Commentary versus paraphrase: naming a figure (métaphore, anaphore, hyperbole) without explaining its effect earns little.
Worked example
Consider Les fleurs qu'il a cueillies étaient fanées. The direct object que (referring to les fleurs) precedes a, so the participle agrees: cueillies. In Elle s'est lavé les mains, the pronoun se is indirect (she washed the hands to herself), so no agreement on lavé.
Rule of thumb
For any participle, ask: is there a direct object, and does it come before the verb? If yes, agree; if no, leave the default form.