Theme 1.3: School Life, Subjects and Daily Routine - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

14 original exam-style questions - 4 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

Download PDF Jump to mark scheme (page 5)Theme 1.3: School Life, Subjects and Daily Routine revision guide

This topic is chapter 12 of GCSE French: Reading comprehension Practice Book.

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Theme 1.3: Jobs, Part-Time Work and Career Ambitions

3.11 Theme 1.3: School Life, Subjects and Daily Routine

AQA 8652 · about 40 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Write full English sentences where asked. Note: accents and the cedilla are used throughout the French texts; reproduce them correctly in your answers where required. Allow 50 minutes.

School blog post: 'Le collège de la Source - mes matières préférées' (match three subjects to translations). Text: "Au collège j'étudie les matières suivantes: français, mathématiques, histoire, sciences, EPS et dessin. J'aime surtout le dessin parce que c'est créatif." From the six French subjects given match the correct English translation for the three underlined in the blog: français, dessin, EPS. Provide ONE answer per line.

(Total for Question 1 is 3 marks)

Short comparison answer in English. Question: 'Give ONE difference mentioned between school in France and school in the UK from the comparison post.' Use the comparison text: "En France, beaucoup de collèges n'ont pas d'uniforme, mais ici en Angleterre la plupart des écoles en ont un. Les cours commencent généralement à 8h30 dans les deux pays."

(Total for Question 2 is 2 marks)

Multiple choice: Which lesson is NOT mentioned in the short timetable text used earlier in Q3? Options: A: Français. B: Mathématiques. C: Sciences. D: Histoire. Circle the correct letter.

(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)

Correct the mistake in this sentence from a student note: "Le professeur demande aux élèves rendre leurs devoirs demain." Rewrite the sentence correctly in French, fixing the verb structure error.

(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)

Reading: short parent comment to school blog: "Mon fils commence à 8h30 mais il préfère quand les cours commencent à 9h00 parce qu'il est toujours fatigué le matin. Les pauses sont importantes pour se concentrer." Question: According to the parent, give TWO things the child or parent prefers or thinks are important. Write each on its own line in English.

(Total for Question 5 is 4 marks)

Translate into English a short school notice: "Attention: le voyage scolaire partira à 7h30, alors les élèves doivent arriver au collège avant 7h15. Les parents doivent signer l'autorisation et payer la contribution avant vendredi." Translate this notice into English.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Reading comprehension: short school blog paragraph. Text: "Mon emploi du temps change tous les jours. Le lundi j'ai français, mathématiques, EPS et un atelier de musique. Le mercredi matin je n'ai pas cours, j'ai du temps pour faire mes devoirs. Les profs sont gentils mais il y a trop de règles parfois." Decide whether each statement about the blog is True, False or Not Mentioned. Statements: (a) The writer has music on Monday. (b) The writer has lessons on Wednesday morning. (c) The teachers are strict. (d) The timetable is the same every day.

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

Timetable gap-fill task. Prompt shows a short school day timetable text: "Mon emploi du temps: 8h30 - 9h30: (1) _______. 9h40 - 10h40: (2) _______. 11h00 - 12h00: (3) _______. 14h00 - 15h00: (4) _______." Word bank: Histoire, Français, Déjeuner, Mathématiques. Fill the FOUR gaps with the most natural options for a school day, using each word once.

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Short translation into English from a student forum post: "À mon école, il faut arriver à l'heure et on ne doit pas utiliser le téléphone en classe." Translate this sentence into English.

(Total for Question 9 is 2 marks)

Short answer in English from a reading: 'Manon explique pourquoi elle n'aime pas les sciences' Text excerpt: "Je n'aime pas les sciences parce que je trouve les expériences difficiles et le professeur est trop sévère. En plus, il y a beaucoup de devoirs après les cours." Give TWO reasons why Manon does not like science. Write each reason in English on a separate line.

(Total for Question 10 is 2 marks)

Opinion matching. Text: Short student review: "J'aime le français parce que j'adore lire, mais je déteste le sport parce que je suis nul en foot. Mon professeur de maths est sympa et explique bien." From the list of opinions below, tick the FOUR that match the student. Options: (a) The student enjoys reading. (b) The student loves PE. (c) The student is bad at football. (d) The maths teacher explains things well. (e) The student hates French. (f) The student thinks the maths teacher is unfriendly.

(Total for Question 11 is 4 marks)

True / False / Not Mentioned. Text: short comparison post: "En France, beaucoup de collèges n'ont pas d'uniforme, mais ici en Angleterre la plupart des écoles en ont un. Les cours commencent généralement à 8h30 dans les deux pays." Decide: (a) French state schools usually have no uniform. (b) Most schools in England have a uniform, according to the post. (c) Classes start at 9am in both countries. Answer with True, False or Not Mentioned for each.

(Total for Question 12 is 3 marks)

Translate into English a short timetable sentence: "Le vendredi, j'ai double cours de mathématiques le matin et une heure d'anglais après le déjeuner." Translate this sentence into English.

(Total for Question 13 is 3 marks)

Grammar gap-fill: Complete the classroom rule in French. Text: "Dans notre classe, on doit toujours __________ nos livres et __________ ses devoirs à l'heure." Word bank: apporter, finir, respecter, rendre. Fill the TWO blanks with the most suitable verbs from the bank.

(Total for Question 14 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · 3.11 Theme 1.3: School Life, Subjects and Daily Routine

Question 1

B1 français = French
B1 dessin = art / drawing
B1 EPS = PE / physical education
Answer: français = French; dessin = art/drawing; EPS = PE (physical education)

Question 2

B1 difference: French state schools often do not have a uniform whereas most schools in England do
B1 alternative wording accepted: 'In France many schools have no uniform; in England most schools have one.'
Answer: French schools often do not have a uniform, but most schools in England do.

Question 3

B1 C is correct, Sciences was not listed in the Q3 timetable gaps final answer
Answer: C

Question 4

B1 correct sentence: Le professeur demande aux élèves de rendre leurs devoirs demain. or Le professeur demande aux élèves qu'ils rendent leurs devoirs demain is acceptable but less natural
Answer: Le professeur demande aux élèves de rendre leurs devoirs demain.

Question 5

B1 Preference 1: The child prefers lessons to start at 9am
B1 Preference 2: The child is always tired in the morning (accept as stated reason)
B1 Opinion 1: Breaks/pauses are important to concentrate
B1 Any two distinct points from the three earn 2 marks each, up to 4
Answer: 1. He prefers lessons to start at 9am. 2. Breaks are important for concentrating. (Also present: the child is always tired in the morning.)

Question 6

M1 correct rendering of start time and instruction: 'the school trip will leave at 7:30' and 'pupils must arrive at school before 7:15' or equivalent
M1 correct rendering of 'Les parents doivent signer l'autorisation' as 'parents must sign the permission slip / authorisation'
M1 correct rendering of 'et payer la contribution' as 'and pay the contribution / fee'
A1 correct rendering of 'avant vendredi' as 'before Friday'
Answer: Notice: The school trip will leave at 7:30, so pupils must arrive at school before 7:15. Parents must sign the permission form and pay the contribution before Friday.

Question 7

B1 (a) True, because 'un atelier de musique' on lundi is mentioned
B1 (b) False, because 'Le mercredi matin je n'ai pas cours' says there are no lessons
B1 (c) Not Mentioned, the blog says 'les profs sont gentils' not 'stricts'
B1 (d) False, because 'Mon emploi du temps change tous les jours' indicates it is not the same
Answer: (a) True. (b) False. (c) Not mentioned. (d) False.

Question 8

B1 gap (1) Français
B1 gap (2) Mathématiques
B1 gap (3) Déjeuner
B1 gap (4) Histoire
Answer: (1) Français. (2) Mathématiques. (3) Déjeuner. (4) Histoire.

Question 9

M1 correct rendering of 'il faut arriver à l'heure' as 'you must / it is necessary to arrive on time' or equivalent
A1 correct rendering of 'on ne doit pas utiliser le téléphone en classe' as 'you must not use your phone in class' or equivalent natural English
Answer: At my school, you must arrive on time and you must not use your phone in class.

Question 10

B1 Reason 1: The experiments are difficult / she finds experiments difficult
B1 Reason 2: The teacher is too strict OR there is too much homework after lessons (either second point from the text)
Answer: 1. She finds the experiments difficult. 2. The teacher is too strict. (Also accept: There is a lot of homework after lessons.)

Question 11

B1 (a) True, 'j'adore lire' shows enjoyment of reading
B1 (b) False, the student detests sport
B1 (c) True, 'je suis nul en foot' indicates they are bad at football
B1 (d) True, 'Mon professeur de maths est sympa et explique bien' indicates the teacher explains well
Answer: Tick: (a), (c), (d). Do not tick (b), (e), (f).

Question 12

B1 (a) True, the post states 'beaucoup de collèges n'ont pas d'uniforme'
B1 (b) True, the post says 'ici en Angleterre la plupart des écoles en ont un'
B1 (c) False, the post says courses start generally at 8h30, not 9h00
Answer: (a) True. (b) True. (c) False.

Question 13

M1 correct rendering of 'Le vendredi' and 'j'ai double cours de mathématiques le matin' as 'On Fridays / On Friday, I have a double maths lesson in the morning' or equivalent
M1 correct rendering of 'et une heure d'anglais' as 'and one hour of English' or 'a one-hour English lesson'
A1 correct rendering of 'après le déjeuner' as 'after lunch'
Answer: On Friday, I have a double maths lesson in the morning and one hour of English after lunch.

Question 14

B1 first blank: apporter (apporter nos livres = bring our books)
B1 second blank: rendre (rendre ses devoirs à l'heure = hand in / return homework on time)
B1 both verbs must come from the bank and fit the sense; alternatives from the bank that are grammatically impossible are not credited
Answer: Dans notre classe, on doit toujours apporter nos livres et rendre ses devoirs à l'heure.

Theme 1.3: School Life, Subjects and Daily Routine - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

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