Pancyprian French key terms

Section of the exam where candidates listen to recordings such as dialogues, announcements or interviews and answer questions showing they understood the main idea, details and speaker intention.

The purpose behind what a speaker says, for example to inform, persuade, complain, invite or warn. Questions often ask you to identify it rather than just the literal words.

An important word in a question or recording that signals the topic or the information you must catch. Identifying it before listening helps you focus attention while the audio plays.

Writing short abbreviated notes while listening so you can answer questions afterwards. Effective notes use symbols, initials and key words rather than full sentences, since the recording is usually played only twice.

A short public message, for example at a station, airport or school, giving practical information such as a delay, a change of platform or opening hours. Recognising its structure helps you locate the essential detail.

A recorded voice message left for someone, typically containing a caller's name, reason for calling and a request to call back. Questions often test the caller's identity and the action expected.

The level of formality in speech or writing, ranging from familier through courant to soutenu. Recognising it helps you judge the relationship between speakers and the situation.

Section testing reading of notices, articles, letters, advertisements and literary extracts. Candidates must locate information, infer meaning and understand the writer's purpose within a time limit.

The central point a text communicates, distinct from supporting examples or details. Many reading questions ask you to choose the statement that best summarises it.

Understanding something the text implies without stating it directly, for example a character's feelings or the reason for an event. It requires combining clues in the passage with background knowledge.

A text that defends an opinion using reasons, examples and sometimes counter-arguments. Recognising its structure helps you separate the author's thesis from opposing views quoted in it.

The position a writer or speaker defends throughout an argumentative text. It is usually stated near the introduction and supported by arguments in the following paragraphs.

A word or phrase such as donc, cependant, en effet or par conséquent that shows how ideas relate: cause, consequence, contrast or addition. They are essential clues for following an argument.

A text that tells a story, with characters, events and a narrator whose perspective may be first or third person. Noticing tense choices and narrative voice supports comprehension questions.

The voice telling a narrative text, which may be a character in the story or an outside observer. Distinguishing the narrator from the author prevents misreading opinions as facts.

Section assessing grammar, vocabulary and spelling through gap-fill, transformation and multiple-choice tasks. It rewards precise knowledge of verb forms, agreement, prepositions and word formation.

The rule that a past participle agrees in gender and number with a preceding direct object when used with avoir, and with the subject when used with être or pronominal verbs.

A verb mood expressing subjectivity, doubt, necessity, wish or emotion, used after expressions like il faut que or bien que. Candidates must know present and past forms and typical triggers.

The rules matching tenses between a main clause and a subordinate clause, for example using the imparfait or plus-que-parfait after a past-tense main verb in reported speech.

Reporting someone's words either directly with quotation marks or indirectly, which requires shifting pronouns, tenses and time expressions. Indirect style questions are common in grammar sections.

The verb avoir or être used with a past participle to form compound tenses such as the passé composé, and with être in the passive voice. Choosing the correct one affects agreement.

A construction where the object of an action becomes the grammatical subject, formed with être plus a past participle, as in la lettre a été écrite. Transformation tasks often test it.

A small word such as à, de, en, dans, sur or chez that links words and expresses relations of place, time or manner. French usage is idiomatic, so prepositions must be learned in context.

A fixed group of words functioning as a single unit, such as locutions verbales (avoir besoin de), adverbiales (tout à coup) or prépositives (à cause de). They cannot be understood word by word.

A word with a meaning close to another, though rarely identical in register or nuance. Vocabulary tasks often ask you to replace a word without changing the sentence's meaning.

A word expressing the opposite meaning of another, such as rapide and lent. Recognising opposites helps in multiple-choice vocabulary items that test precision of meaning.

A set of words related to one theme, for example terms of transport or of the environment. Grouping vocabulary by field is an efficient way to prepare for reading and writing tasks.

Section requiring candidates to write texts such as a message, an informal letter or a short opinion piece on a given topic, assessed for task achievement, organisation, vocabulary and grammatical accuracy.

A brief outline prepared before writing, listing introduction, main ideas and conclusion. It keeps a written text coherent and helps manage time during a timed exam.

A conventional opening or closing expression in letters and emails, such as Cordialement or Je vous prie d'agréer mes salutations distinguées. The choice depends on the recipient and register.

The instructions of a writing or speaking task, specifying the topic, the number of words, the audience and the format required. Ignoring any element of it costs marks.

The speaking component, typically a short monologue on a prepared topic followed by interaction with the examiner. It assesses fluency, pronunciation, range of vocabulary and ability to respond.

The part of the speaking test where the candidate exchanges with the examiner or another candidate, asking and answering questions, reacting and keeping a conversation going.

The act of starting to speak, for example introducing a topic or giving an opinion. Managing it smoothly, with linking phrases, makes speech sound organised and confident.

How sounds, stress and rhythm are produced in speech. In French, silent final consonants, nasal vowels and liaison are key features examiners notice during the oral test.

The linking of a normally silent final consonant to the vowel beginning the next word, as in les amis. Correct liaison improves fluency, while a wrong one can create misunderstanding.

A pause or filler sound such as euh while a speaker searches for a word. Occasional hesitation is natural, but excessive use reduces fluency scores in the oral assessment.

The tenses typically used to narrate past events, mainly the passé composé in speech and the imparfait for description or background. Recognising their roles helps in reading narratives.