Life at school/college

    OCR
    GCSE

    Examination of the French educational system (*le système éducatif français*), focusing on the structure of *le collège* and *le lycée*, the cultural significance of *la laïcité*, and the comparative rigour of the academic calendar. Study encompasses the daily experience of students, the pressure of *le Baccalauréat*, recent reforms (such as the 2019 *Réforme du Lycée*), and the ongoing debates regarding discipline, secularism, and the prohibition of mobile phones. Candidates must demonstrate understanding of the distinct differences between French and Anglophone school cultures.

    5
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Vocabulary for 'le règlement scolaire' (school rules) such as 'interdit', 'obligatoire', 'la retenue'
    • Differences in the education system: 'le collège' (11-15), 'le lycée' (15-18), 'le redoublement' (repeating a year)
    • Key verbs associated with study: 'apprendre', 'enseigner', 'réviser', 'échouer'
    • Facilities vocabulary: 'le CDI' (library/resource centre), 'la cantine', 'le laboratoire'
    • Time markers for future plans: 'l'année prochaine', 'à l'avenir', 'quand je quitterai le collège'

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have listed subjects, but you must justify your preference to access higher marks for Content"
    • "Check your gender agreements for school facilities; incorrect articles impact your Quality of Language mark"
    • "You used the past tense, but the auxiliary verb was missing. Ensure 'avoir' or 'être' is present"
    • "Excellent range of vocabulary; try to include a 'si' clause to demonstrate complex grammar for the top band"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for the accurate use of three time frames (past, present, future) when describing school events or study plans.
    • Credit responses that justify opinions on school subjects using varied connectives (e.g., 'puisque', 'étant donné que').
    • Candidates must demonstrate accurate adjectival agreement when describing school facilities and teachers.
    • Reward the use of complex structures such as 'il faut' + infinitive or 'avant de' + infinitive in the context of school rules.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In the 150-word writing task, ensure you explicitly address both bullet points to avoid a cap on Content marks.
    • 💡Use the 'palm' method (Past, Adjectives, Linking words, Modal verbs) to ensure grammatical variety in written responses.
    • 💡In listening tasks, beware of distractors; the first school subject mentioned is often not the correct answer.
    • 💡Allocate time to check verb endings carefully, particularly the difference between the imperfect (habitual past) and the perfect (specific past event).

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing 'passer un examen' (to take an exam) with 'réussir à un examen' (to pass an exam).
    • Incorrect gender assignment for common school vocabulary (e.g., 'le' vs 'la' cantine, 'le' vs 'la' gymnase).
    • Over-reliance on 'c'est' instead of specific subject pronouns when describing multiple subjects.

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Décris
    Explique
    Écris
    Justifie
    Mentionne
    Propose

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