Success at school (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
Success at school
Key vocabulary for school achievement
Understanding how to talk about academic success is essential for your GCSE French exam. This topic covers important vocabulary and grammar structures you'll need to express your educational goals and achievements.
Mastering school success vocabulary will help you discuss your educational experiences and future plans with confidence in both speaking and writing assessments.
Essential vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| améliorer | to improve |
| but (m) | aim, goal |
| comprendre | to understand |
| effort (m) | effort |
| espérer | to hope |
| études (fpl) | studies |
| examen (m) | exam |
| inspirer | to inspire |
| lecture (f) | reading |
| modèle (m) | role model |
| French | English |
|---|---|
| notes (fpl) | grades |
| passer | to take (an exam) |
| réussir (à) | to succeed in |
| succès (m) | success |
| travailleur/travailleuse | hardworking |
| amitié (f) | friendship |
| compétence (f) | skill, ability |
| épreuve (f) | test |
| objectif (m) | aim |
| pression (f) | pressure |
Example sentences in context:
- Je veux améliorer mes notes cette année. (I want to improve my grades this year.)
- Mon objectif est d'aller à l'université. (My aim is to go to university.)
- Elle fait beaucoup d'efforts pour réussir. (She makes a lot of effort to succeed.)
Using infinitives with à and de
Many French verbs require either à or de before an infinitive. Learning these patterns will help you create more sophisticated sentences and show variety in your writing and speaking.
Verbs followed by à + infinitive
These verbs connect to infinitives using à - memorise these common patterns as they frequently appear in exams.
These verbs connect to infinitives using à:
- commencer à = to start/begin to
- réussir à = to succeed in
- aider à = to help to
Examples with translations:
- Mes amis ont commencé à faire du sport. (My friends started to do sport.)
- J'ai réussi à avoir de bonnes notes. (I succeeded in getting good marks.)
- Mes professeurs m'ont aidé à améliorer mes compétences. (My teachers helped me to improve my skills.)
Verbs followed by de + infinitive
These verbs connect to infinitives using de:
- décider de = to decide to
- essayer de = to try to
Examples with translations:
- Elle a décidé d'étudier l'anglais. (She decided to study English.)
- J'ai essayé de travailler chaque soir. (I tried to work every evening.)
Why this matters for your exam
Using these constructions shows you can handle complex grammar structures. Instead of simple sentences, you can demonstrate sophistication by combining verbs with infinitives. This variety will improve your marks in both speaking and writing assessments.
Listening and reading comprehension tips
When tackling comprehension exercises about school success, pay attention to:
Key strategies for comprehension success:
- Similar-sounding words like travailleur (hardworking) and travailler (to work)
- Context clues that help you understand unfamiliar vocabulary
- Time markers that indicate when events happened
- Opinion phrases that show someone's attitude towards school
Common exam phrases
You might encounter these expressions in listening or reading tasks:
- Il faut bien travailler (You have to work hard)
- pour avoir de bonnes notes (to get good grades)
- réussir tous ses examens (to pass all one's exams)
Pay special attention to these phrases - they often contain key information needed to answer comprehension questions correctly.
Translation practice
Translation Practice:
French to English:
- Mon objectif est d'aller à l'université.
- J'ai décidé de travailler dur cette année.
English to French: 3. I like school. 4. My teachers help me every day.
Answers:
- My aim is to go to university.
- I decided to work hard this year.
- J'aime l'école.
- Mes professeurs m'aident tous les jours.
Exam tips
Strategic exam advice:
- Learn verb + preposition combinations by heart - they frequently appear in all four skills
- Practice using these structures in your own sentences about school life
- When listening, focus on the infinitive constructions to understand the speaker's intentions and goals
- In speaking assessments, use phrases like j'espère réussir à (I hope to succeed in) to show grammatical range
Key Points to Remember:
- Many French verbs need à or de before an infinitive - learn the most common patterns
- School success vocabulary is essential for describing your educational experiences and goals
- Using infinitive constructions demonstrates sophisticated grammar knowledge in your exam
- Context clues help you understand unfamiliar words in listening and reading exercises
- Practice translations regularly to reinforce both vocabulary and grammar structures