Leaving Cert French Written Exam Guide

The written paper at a glance

Higher Level written-production format

In the established format, Section II contains 100 marks. You answer two pieces in total: the compulsory Question 1 and one further question selected from Questions 2 to 6.

The word count is guidance, not an invitation to stop halfway through an idea. First answer the complete task; then make sure your response is focused and appropriately developed.

Writing formats you should understand

The opinion piece

You respond to a statement, question or stimulus and express a clear position. Strong responses make two or three developed points, explain why, include relevant examples and finish with a brief conclusion. A learned essay forced onto the wrong question will not become relevant simply because the French is impressive.

Le récit — narrative writing

A récit asks you to recount an incident that may be real or imaginary. You need control of past tenses, a logical sequence and enough detail to make the events clear. Plan the beginning, key event and ending before writing.

Le journal intime

A diary entry calls for a personal, informal voice. Include an appropriate opening, describe the event and—crucially—express feelings and reactions. Do not produce a neutral factual report when the task asks how you felt.

Email, letter, message or practical task

Follow the required register and format. Address every bullet point in the prompt, use tu or vous consistently, and include an appropriate opening and closing. These tasks reward careful reading as much as prepared language.

What makes a strong written answer?

The official syllabus states that assessment considers the communication of meaning and the accuracy and appropriateness of language, including the range of vocabulary and structures used. In practice, focus on four things:

A reliable method for every writing task

1. Identify the task: circle the format, audience, tense and every instruction.
2. Choose your position or storyline: decide what you actually want to communicate.
3. Plan in French: note keywords, verbs, connectors and examples—not full English sentences to translate.
4. Use paragraphs: give each central point or stage a clear place.
5. Develop: add a reason, consequence, contrast or example instead of jumping to a new point.
6. Leave checking time: correct errors you know how to correct before handing up the paper.

Time management

You have 150 minutes for the complete written paper, including both reading comprehensions. Your exact timing will depend on your strengths, but it should be decided during practice—not invented on exam day.

A workable target is roughly 75–80 minutes for the two comprehensions and 60–65 minutes for written production, leaving a small checking margin. Within written production, allow more time for the 60-mark answer than the 40-mark answer.

Practise with a clock. Knowing the format is not the same as being able to complete it calmly within the examination time.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Answering a familiar topic instead of the precise question asked.
• Ignoring one of the bullet points in an email or practical task.
• Switching inconsistently between tu and vous.
• Writing an opinion piece without explaining or exemplifying opinions.
• Using only the passé composé in a narrative that requires description and background.
• Memorising introductions so long that they consume the answer.
• Translating complex English thoughts word for word.
• Finishing at the final second without checking verbs, agreements or accents.

Your final checking list

• Have I answered the exact question and every instruction?
• Is the format and register appropriate?
• Are my verbs in the intended tense and correctly formed?
• Have I checked adjective and past-participle agreements?
• Are negatives, articles and prepositions complete?
• Have I used connectors without repeating the same one constantly?
• Do accents change or clarify any words I have written?
• Is the ending complete and appropriate to the task?

How to improve before June

Build a bank of flexible language for giving opinions, explaining reasons, contrasting ideas, describing feelings and sequencing events. Then practise applying those structures to unfamiliar questions.

Keep an error log. If the same problem appears repeatedly—such as adjective agreement, infinitives after prepositions or confusion between the imperfect and passé composé—that is where your next revision session should begin.

Finally, rewrite corrected work. Reading a teacher’s correction is helpful, but producing the corrected sentence yourself is what begins to change your writing habits.

Frequently asked questions