Expectations for VCE writing tasks

VCAA French past exams : https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/vce-assessment/past-examinations/Pages/French.aspx

For Writing tasks

A.   Be on topic – ALWAYS – answer the question, don’t ramble, don’t repeat yourself

B.   Planning – Introduction + body paragraphs + conclusion

C.   Sequencing – one or two relevant ideas/paragraph (Think TEEL) – explain them, give examples – CONNECTIVES!!!!

D.   Be interesting!!!

E.   Proofread for spelling, gender, agreements, conjugations, missing words

F.    Dictionary should only be used for spelling and gender.

For Answers to Listening and Reading tasks in French

A.   Answers do not need to be paragraphed unless explicitly indicated

B.   You MUST use connectives

C.   If in doubt, stick to the language used in the text

D.   Better still, use synonyms and change the French - if done well, this will get you the best marks

E.   Do not use dot points; you must write in full sentences and your text must be coherent

For answers to Listening and Reading tasks in English

A.   Dot points are fine

B.   No-one is judging your English as such

C.   If the answer is worth 3 points, you must find three points of information

D.   There are no half marks

E.   Don’t waste your time finding fancy synonyms – the correct answer is all that is required

Grammar expectations to get the best marks –this list is not exhaustive

1.    ‘Si’ clauses:

1. present + present;

2. present + future;

3. imperfect + conditional – NO OTHER COMBINATIONS

2.    Subjunctive: have some favourites e.g bien que ce soit difficile… ; je voulais qu’il vienne ; il est important que vous ayez… ; pour qu’on puisse faire…

3.    Range of connectives within and between paragraphs

4.    Correct noun adjective agreements with number, gender and placement

5.    Use of Ce qui, Ce que ; e.g. Ce qui me plait, c’est ; Ce que je voudrais faire, c’est

6.    Comparatives and superlatives

7.    Direct and indirect object pronouns

8.    Increasingly sophisticated grammar:

1.    Soit…soit = either…or e.g. Tu peux avoir soit du fromage, soit un dessert.

2.    Qu’il s’agisse de…or…  Whether it’s a question of…or…

3.    Non seulement…mais…

4.    Avant de + infinitive; Après avoir + past participle ; Après être + pp

5.    Preposition + infinitive :

pour/afin de		Tex s'allonge sur son lit pour lire.		Tex lies down on his bed to read.
avant de		Avant de s'endormir, Tex lit toujours un poème érotique.		Before going to sleep, Tex always reads an erotic poem.
sans		Il ne peut pas dormir sans rêver de Tammy.		He can not sleep without dreaming of Tammy.
par		Il finit par rêver de Tammy toute la nuit.		He ends up dreaming of Tammy all night long.

6.    AVOIR expressions

7.    Infinitive government – know which preposition to use ‘à’ or ‘de’ e.g. J’essaie de faire mes devoirs; J’aide ma mère à faire le jardinage.
9. Range of verb tenses