School Life and Future Plans
This topic spans school subjects, routine, opinions, and ambitions — core material for every exam component.
School Subjects
| French | English | French | English |
|---|
| les mathématiques (les maths) | maths | l'anglais | English |
| le français | French | les sciences | science |
| la physique | physics | la chimie | chemistry |
| la biologie | biology | l'informatique | IT / computing |
| l'histoire | history | la géographie | geography |
| l'éducation physique (l'EPS) | PE | la musique | music |
| le dessin / les arts plastiques | art | la technologie | technology |
| l'éducation religieuse | RE | le commerce | business |
| les langues vivantes | modern languages | l'espagnol / l'allemand | Spanish / German |
School Vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|
| un cours / une leçon | a lesson |
| un emploi du temps | a timetable |
| une matière | a subject |
| un(e) professeur(e) / un(e) prof | a teacher |
| un(e) élève | a pupil |
| les devoirs | homework |
| un examen / un contrôle | an exam / a test |
| une note | a mark / grade |
| la récréation (la récré) | break time |
| la cantine | the canteen |
| le règlement | school rules |
| l'uniforme scolaire | school uniform |
| le bulletin scolaire | school report |
| redoubler | to repeat a year |
| réussir un examen | to pass an exam |
| échouer / rater un examen | to fail an exam |
| sécher les cours | to skip lessons |
| le harcèlement scolaire | school bullying |
Describing School Life
- Ma matière préférée, c'est l'informatique parce que le prof est passionnant et les cours sont interactifs. — My favourite subject is IT because the teacher is inspiring and the lessons are interactive.
- Je n'aime pas la chimie car c'est trop compliqué et je ne comprends rien. — I don't like chemistry because it's too complicated and I don't understand anything.
- Les cours commencent à huit heures et demie et finissent à trois heures et quart. — Lessons start at 8:30 and finish at 3:15.
- Je trouve que le règlement est trop strict — on n'a pas le droit d'utiliser son portable. — I find the rules too strict — we're not allowed to use our phones.
French School System (Cultural Knowledge)
| Feature | France |
|---|
| Primary school | l'école primaire (6–11) |
| Secondary | le collège (11–15), le lycée (15–18) |
| School day | Typically 8:00–17:00, Wednesday afternoons often free |
| Exams | le brevet (Year 10 equivalent), le baccalauréat (Year 13) |
| Grades | 0–20 scale (10 = pass) |
| Uniform | Not generally required |
| Lunch | Long lunch break, hot meals in the cantine |
Future Plans
| French | English |
|---|
| continuer mes études | to continue my studies |
| aller à l'université / à la fac | to go to university |
| faire un apprentissage | to do an apprenticeship |
| faire une année sabbatique | to take a gap year |
| chercher un emploi / un travail | to look for a job |
| travailler à l'étranger | to work abroad |
| gagner de l'argent | to earn money |
| un métier / une carrière | a job / a career |
| devenir médecin / avocat(e) / ingénieur | to become a doctor / lawyer / engineer |
- Après mes examens, je vais continuer mes études au lycée pour faire le bac. — After my exams, I'm going to continue my studies at sixth form to do A-levels.
- Plus tard, je voudrais devenir ingénieur parce que j'adore les maths et la physique. — Later, I would like to become an engineer because I love maths and physics.
- Si j'avais le choix, je ferais une année sabbatique avant d'aller à l'université. — If I had the choice, I would take a gap year before going to university.
- Mon rêve serait de travailler à l'étranger, peut-être au Canada. — My dream would be to work abroad, perhaps in Canada.
Exam Tips
- In writing, always link subjects to future plans — it shows the examiner you can connect ideas across time frames.
- Know the differences between the French and English school systems — this comes up in reading and listening.
- Practise giving justified opinions about subjects: subject + opinion + reason + comparison.
- For role play: you may need to discuss timetable, uniform, or rules — have key vocabulary ready.