Q&A for How to Study for a French Exam

Spelling and grammar drills will help you remember these things. You can also study the alphabet to have a better idea of how words are spelled in French. Although French (like English) is far from being a phonetic language, there are basic patterns you can memorize to improve your spelling. However, keep in mind that if you're taking a proficiency exam, your basic understanding and comprehension of the language will matter more than your mastery of spelling and grammar.

Remember that it's just a test. You won't be shot down because you fail it. Avoid thinking to the possible consequences. Just think to what to have to do right now. And study thoroughly.

It may be helpful to look at basic sentence structures. If you can find a few "core sentences" to memorize, then all you have to do on the day of the test is fill in the blanks.

Just study the main topics given to you, and practice your French as often as possible. Ask a teacher if you need help. The more writing and grammar you practice, the more you can boost up your grades. Watching movies in French can help,

You should take 5-6 deep breaths. When we take deep breaths, the brain gets oxygen. This will make you active and you will be able to concentrate on your work.

Watch some French movies with subtitles in French. Try to repeat the sentences the same way the players do. It will help you with the pronunciation. You can also use apps to assist with speaking, by copying the phrases the speakers say.

Usually, the phrase or paragraph being played will be repeated. During the first time, listen as carefully as possible and write down the things you can pick up immediately (if you are allowed). During the second time, start to fill in the gaps and guess if you have to.

Study well before the exam, take a deep breath and read every question carefully.

Try using websites such as BBC Bitesize (if it's available in your area) and make sure you memorize verb endings for -ir, -er, and -re infinitives. For example, try conjugating finir ("to finish"), parler ("to speak") and perdre ("to lose") into the present tense, and practice taking the last two letters off and adding the different verb endings onto it.

If you're in high school, a small amount of coffee or caffeine can be useful to keep you awake. If you're younger than that, you should avoid drinking coffee or excessive caffeine.

Turn off all distractions, like your phone, laptop, music, etc. You can get app locks to turn off certain apps while you are studying as well. Try to motivate yourself. Handle what you need to study in manageable chunks so that you aren't scared by the big task at hand. Find a spot where you can study without any distractions. Don't allow yourself to think that you can do it later.

Don't think about the past grades you got. Think about what you can achieve now. Prepare as much as possible without overworking.

Just review your textbook and notes. If you don't understand the sentence, try to find a word/phrase that you understand, such as "Bonjour," or "J'aime." Then you may be able to understand what the sentence is talking about. It works for me. If you still don't get it, ask your friends for help. Also, try Google Translate. It's not perfect, but in a lot of cases it can really help you out.

Make and use flash cards. In addition, you can watch movies in French with subtitles or read French books with a dictionary by your side.