Catalonia PAU French (Francès 2026)

It tests reading comprehension of a French text, control of grammar, vocabulary and syntax in context, and guided written expression. The emphasis is on practical language use, not literary analysis. Check the official PAU model for the current call, since the exact sections and weighting are set by the Catalan university authorities.

The official body publishes the current duration and structure for each call, and these can change. Do not rely on numbers from previous years or from other subjects. Consult the official PAU guidelines and model paper for the 2026 call before you plan your timing strategy.

Difficulty depends on your level. Candidates with solid secondary-school French usually find the comprehension and grammar sections manageable; the guided writing is where marks are most often lost. If your French is rusty, start earlier and focus on the grammar points that recur in context tasks rather than on memorising vocabulary lists.

Retake rules are set by the Catalan university authorities and can differ between calls. The official PAU website publishes the current regulations on resitting subjects and on how the resulting mark is used. Verify the rules for your cohort there rather than assuming the same conditions apply as in previous years.

Weak guided writing is the usual culprit: missing connectors, inconsistent tenses, wrong register, or answers that ignore the prompt. In comprehension, candidates lose marks by copying long chunks of the text instead of answering in their own words, or by misreading a question word such as 'pourquoi' or 'selon l'auteur'.

Start with grammar and vocabulary in context, because those skills feed both comprehension and writing. Then practise reading authentic French texts with timed comprehension questions. Finish with guided writing, working on planning, connectors and tense consistency, and have someone correct your texts so errors do not become habits.

Practise short texts on predictable topics: opinion, description, experience, argument. Build a small bank of connectors and structures you can reuse, and rehearse a clear plan of introduction, two developed ideas and conclusion. Write under time pressure, then rewrite each text correcting your own errors until the corrections stick.

The Catalan university authorities publish the official PAU model, guidelines and past papers on their website. Use those documents as your primary reference for structure, instructions and marking criteria. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the official examining body.

Some calls may include oral comprehension or oral expression, but this is not guaranteed and depends on the current regulations. The official PAU guidelines for your call will state whether an oral section applies and how it is weighted. Confirm this before devoting study time to oral practice.