Learning French feels like opening a door to a whole new world of culture, travel, and professional opportunities. But let’s be honest—when you first encounter les verbes irréguliers (irregular verbs) or the dreaded gendered nouns, that door can feel a bit heavy.
Below is the exam paper download link
Past Paper On Beginners French For Revision
Above is the exam paper download link
Whether you are preparing for a university elective, a certificate course, or a national proficiency test, the transition from “learning” to “testing” is a big leap. The most effective way to lower your anxiety and raise your grade is to practice with actual past papers. To help you get started, we’ve put together a Q&A based on the most common traps beginners fall into, followed by a link to download a full revision paper.
Master the Basics: Q&A for French Beginners
Q1: How do I remember if a noun is masculine or feminine?
A: This is the #1 struggle for every French student. While there are exceptions, look at the endings! Most nouns ending in -tion, -sion, -té, and -ette are feminine (la nation, la liberté). Nouns ending in -age, -ment, or -eau are often masculine (le garage, le monument, le bureau). Checking these patterns in a past paper helps you spot them instantly.
Q2: What is the most common mistake made with the verb ‘Avoir’ (To Have)?
A: Beginners often try to translate directly from English. In French, we use Avoir for age and physical sensations. You don’t “be” 20 years old; you “have” 20 years.
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Incorrect: Je suis 20 ans.
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Correct: J’ai 20 ans. The same goes for being hungry (J’ai faim) or thirsty (J’ai soif). Expect to see this in the “Fill in the Blanks” section of your exam!
Q3: How do I conjugate regular ‘-ER’ verbs in the present tense?
A: These are the “easy wins” on a paper. Drop the -er and add:
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Je -e
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Tu -es
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Il/Elle -e
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Nous -ons
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Vous -ez
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Ils/Elles -ent Example: Parler (To speak) becomes Je parle, Nous parlons.
Q4: What should I focus on for the ‘Reading Comprehension’ section?
A: Don’t try to translate every word. Look for Cognates—words that look and mean the same in English and French (like appartement, table, or invitation). Focus on the question words: Qui (Who), Quand (When), Où (Where), and Pourquoi (Why).
Why You Should Practice with Past Papers
You might know your vocabulary lists, but an exam is a test of application. Here is why downloading the paper below is a game-changer:
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Format Familiarity: Does your exam use multiple-choice, or do you have to write full sentences? Knowing this ahead of time prevents “exam shock.”
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Vocabulary Context: Seeing words used in a paragraph is much more helpful than seeing them on a flashcard.
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Timing Your Responses: Many beginners run out of time on the writing section (La Production Écrite). Practicing a past paper helps you gauge how much time to spend on the short grammar questions vs. the long essay.
Download Your Revision Material
Ready to move beyond “Bonjour” and “Merci”? We’ve provided a comprehensive Beginners French past paper that covers basic grammar, daily vocabulary, and simple sentence construction.
[Download: Beginners French Revision Past Paper (PDF)]
(Pro-tip: After you finish the paper, read your answers out loud. It helps you catch errors in gender agreement and verb endings that your eyes might have skipped!)
Final Thoughts
Learning French is a marathon, not a sprint. Using past papers allows you to see how far you’ve come and exactly where you need to put in a little more effort. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes—that’s how the language sticks!
