MATSEC SEC French key terms

Listening section of the exam: candidates hear recordings in French and answer questions on the main idea, specific details and speakers' attitudes or intentions.

Short recorded public message such as a station notice, shop announcement or school information bulletin; candidates usually listen to extract practical details like times, places or prices.

Recorded conversation between two or more speakers; candidates identify who is speaking, what each person wants and how the exchange ends.

Recorded exchange in which a journalist questions one person; candidates listen for the interviewee's profession, opinions and reasons behind them.

Voicemail-style recording giving a caller's name, reason for calling and a request to call back; candidates note the key facts and any number dictated.

The attitude conveyed by a speaker's voice, such as enthusiasm, irritation or worry; questions often ask candidates to choose the adjective matching what they hear.

A number heard in a recording, such as a price, time, date or phone number; candidates must distinguish similar-sounding numbers and note them accurately.

The instruction printed on the paper or read aloud before a task, telling candidates what to do, how many answers to give and how long the task lasts.

Speaking section of the exam, where candidates talk about themselves, describe a document or situation and exchange views with the examiner.

Role-play task in which the candidate acts out a situation with the examiner, for example buying a ticket or asking for information, using appropriate register.

Sustained spoken turn in which the candidate speaks alone for a set time on a prepared or given topic, linking ideas into a coherent whole.

The smoothness of spoken delivery, judged by pauses, hesitation and repair; candidates are marked on keeping going rather than stopping to perfect every word.

How clearly sounds and words are produced, including nasal vowels and liaisons; unclear pronunciation that impedes understanding lowers the speaking mark.

The stress and intonation pattern of spoken French; examiners tolerate a foreign accent but expect word stress on the final syllable and rising intonation for questions.

The rise and fall of the voice across an utterance, used in French to signal questions, surprise or continuation; flat intonation makes speech harder to follow.

Using vous to address one person politely or formally; expected with strangers, officials and older people, and tested in role-plays set in shops or offices.

The level of language chosen for a situation, ranging from formal to familiar; candidates must match it to the setting and the person addressed.

Reading section of the exam: candidates read authentic-style French texts such as articles, adverts and letters, then answer questions on meaning and detail.

A reading passage whose main purpose is to give facts, such as a news item, notice or brochure; candidates separate key information from supporting detail.

Reading strategy of scanning a text for specific information, such as a date, price or name, without reading every word in order.

A word in a question or text that carries the essential information; locating it helps candidates find the relevant passage quickly.

The heading of a text, often revealing its topic and type; candidates use it to predict content before detailed reading.

True-or-false question type in the reading paper; candidates decide whether a statement matches the text and often must justify the answer with a quotation.

Quoting or closely paraphrasing the exact words in a text that support an answer; required in many reading tasks and marked separately from the true-or-false choice.

A word with a similar meaning to another; reading questions often test whether candidates can match a question word to a different word used in the text.

A word expressing the opposite meaning of another; recognising opposites helps candidates handle negative statements and inference questions in reading tasks.

Writing section of the exam, where candidates produce short texts such as messages, letters or descriptions within a set time and word limit.

A letter written in formal register, opening with a salutation such as Madame, Monsieur and closing with a set formula; tested for layout, register and purpose.

Fixed closing phrase in a French letter, for example Je vous prie d'agréer mes salutations distinguées; its correct choice depends on how formal the letter is.

The structure of a written answer, usually an introduction, two or three developed points and a conclusion; a clear plan earns marks for organisation.

A linking word such as d'abord, cependant or donc that shows how ideas relate; using them correctly improves coherence in writing and speaking.

A rough draft written before the final version; candidates use it to check spelling, agreement and word count before copying the answer onto the answer sheet.

The final check of a written answer for grammar, spelling, accents and agreement; it catches errors that cost marks even when the content is good.

Agreement between words in gender and number, for example adjectives matching nouns and past participles matching subjects; a frequent source of lost writing marks.

The required length of a written task, usually given as a range; answers far outside it lose marks, so candidates count words during the final check.

A personal view expressed in speech or writing, usually supported by reasons and examples; tasks often ask candidates to state and defend one clearly.