How to succeed in the French GCSE writing exam

The French GCSE writing paper can seem challenging, but with the right strategy and preparation, you can tackle it with confidence. Here are some practical tips to help you succeed and boost your grade

1. Memorise useful phrases

Prepare a bank of reusable phrases for different topics and functions. For example:

• Opinions: À mon avis, je pense que, je trouve que…

• Time markers:

  Past : Hier, la semaine dernière, l'année dernière, il y a 2 ans, il y a 2 semaines

  Present : Aujourd'hui, maintenant, le lundi (and other days of the week), le weekend, tous les jours, toutes les semaines, tous les weekends, tous les mardis

  Futur: le week-end prochain, demain, l'année prochaine, plus tard, à l'avenir …

• Connectives: Et, parce que, cependant, donc, en revanche, car, avec, aussi…

Make sure you can adapt them across topics like school, holidays, family, or technology.

2. Vary your tenses

One of the most common examiner tips? 🚨 Use more than one tense!!! 🚨Aim to include:

• Present (Je joue…)

• Past (J’ai joué… / Je suis allé…)

• Future (Je vais jouer… / Je jouerai…)

• Even conditional: Je voudrais aller en France… can give your writing a higher-level feel.

3. Use a variety of structures

To impress the examiner, go beyond basic sentences. Include:

• Opinions with 🚨(ALWAYS!!!)🚨 reasons: J’aime le sport parce que c’est amusant - (know your list of adjectives to give different reasons)

• Subordinate clauses: Quand j’ai le temps, je lis un livre.

• Comparatives: C’est plus intéressant que…

4. Practice with timed tasks

Regularly writing 90-word and 150-word tasks under timed conditions is the best way to get exam-ready. Use past paper questions and simulate exam timing.

5. Translate with strategy

For the translation task, start with the easiest parts. Use what you know and don’t panic if you forget a word—rephrase the sentence using vocabulary you do know.

6. Keep it simple PLEASE 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

It’s better to write simple, accurate French than to try and force complicated sentences you’re not confident with. Many students lose marks by overthinking and making avoidable mistakes. Focus on answering the question clearly with the vocabulary and grammar you know well. Once you’ve covered the basics, and if you have time, you can add more complex structures to push your work into a higher grade band.

Final Thought

The writing paper isn’t just about knowing French—it’s about showing off what you can do. Use these tips to plan, structure, and polish your answers, and you’ll walk into the exam with confidence 🦾