How to pass
Higher French
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Paper 1

Paper 1 is called Reading and Directed Writing.

It lasts 1 hour 40 minutes and is worth a total
of 45 marks.
Part A - Reading
(60 minutes, 30 marks)
A reading comprehension, involving written
answers to questions in English (20 marks)
followed by a translation into English (10
marks).
One passage of approximately 550 - 650 words
will be set, related to the prescribed themes. A
glossary may be provided and use of a
dictionary is permitted.
Part A - Reading

The reading passage at Higher is the type you
would expect to find in a magazine or
newspaper article that tackles a topical issue in
a fairly serious way, in as much as it is an indepth text, formally written, which can cover
both general and personal perspectives.
Part A - Reading

These passages require a sound working
knowledge of the key topic vocabulary and an
awareness of the register and tone of the
language, moving from informal and
conversational to factual and highly formal.
Part A - Reading

A dictionary can help with basic vocabulary
translation, but you need to concentrate hard
to follow the narrative point of view.

One important fact that these articles
require is an ability to understand the most
challenging aspect of Higher French grammar TENSES.
General points about the comprehension
questions.
The
number of marks available for each
question is given in brackets; this strongly suggests
how many specific points you have to make to
gain full marks per question.
The
questions are in chronological order of the
passage itself.
General points about the comprehension
questions.

There are some questions which test your
understanding in a simple, vocabulary- based
way (often beginning with what …?).

There are other questions demanding that you
show an understanding of how and why
something has happened.

Some questions explicitly ask you to explain
how a certain situation has developed.
Part A - Reading

Spend 45 minutes completing the
comprehension questions and 5 minutes
checking over your answers to ensure they
make sense in English.
Translation (10 minutes)

The text for translation will be divided into 5
sense units.

Each sense unit is worth 2 marks, which will be
awarded according to the quality and accuracy
of the translation into English.
Hints for the translation

Make sure you know which tenses are being used.

Try to divide up the translation into what you
imagine would be the “sense units” that the
markers will refer to.

In each sense unit, and in each sentence, check
that every detail and word in the French has been
covered in your translation.

Finally check that your English makes sense.
Part B - Directed Writing
(45 minutes, 15 marks)
The
Directed Writing task is based on a scenario
in English.
Candidates
will be required to provide specific
information in a piece of writing 150 -180 words
in French.
Use
A
of a dictionary is permitted.
list of bullet points is provided.
Directed Writing

Hint: remember to answer all bullet points. Pay
particular attention to a bullet point which
contains 2 pieces of information
(… and …..).

Tick each section on the actual question paper
when you have written about it.
Paper 2

Paper 2 is called Listening and Writing.

It lasts 1 hour and is worth a total of 30 marks.
Paper 2 Listening (20 minutes)

The listening comprehension is worth 20 marks.
You write answers to questions in English.

It is always in the form of a dialogue of 2-3
minutes’ duration.

You hear the dialogue 2 times with a 2 minute
gap between the two recordings.

You can take notes in French or English if you
prefer.
Paper 2

Any key words you do not fully understand you
can check in a dictionary after or between the
recordings.

If an answer asks for 2 things just give 2 things.

Read the introduction and questions in English
as these form a summary of the passage.
Paper 2

Remember to divide your answer section in
two - one part for notes, the other for your
actual answers. Score out your notes with a
single line at the end.

Read through your answers in order to check
your English.

Useful exercise: Look over past papers and
examine the different types of questions with a
copy of the transcript in front of you.
Paper 2 Writing

The second part of paper 2 is writing. This short
essay, also known as Discursive Writing, is worth
10 marks.

You are issued with a statement about the
listening passage you have just heard and then
given a title in the form of a question, with the
instruction, in French, to write your answer in
120-150 words.

This piece of writing takes approximately 40
minutes
Paper 2 Writing

Prepare different ways of giving your opinion.

Work at having different ways of saying what
you think.

Try to use a variety of tenses - present, past,
future, etc.

Have a variety of adjectives and adverbs to
enhance your opinions.
Paper 2 Writing

Have a couple of really impressive bits from
each topic area.

Re-draft essays to improve on the quality of the
language.

This part of the exam asks you to back up
thoughts and opinions on an issue by referring
to your own experiences and those of others.
Paper 2 Writing

Useful exercise: Write out a number of
paragraphs or even essays in quality French and
commit them to memory, so that you can
access this learned material in the exam.
Questions?