Aiming for a 40+ study score in VCE French? Here's what top students do differently

As thousands of Year 12 students across Victoria start thinking about their final VCE French exams, understanding exactly what will be assessed and how to perform at a high level on the day has never been more important.

Drawing on the official VCE French exam structure and VCE Units 3 and 4, this article outlines what the exam will involve and the strategies that high achieving students use to earn outstanding results.

So, what is in the exam?
The entire exam is made up of three parts: the oral, written and writing exams.

What is in the oral exam?
The oral exam is a brisk, 15-minute face-off: one student, a panel of assessors, and fifteen minutes to shine. Think of it as your chance to show how two years of French learning has really paid off.

The first seven minutes are personal. Students answer questions about their own world, including how they’ve encountered French language and culture, drawing on lived experience as well as course themes like The Individual and French-Speaking Communities. This section is worth 20 marks.

Then the pace picks up. Over the next eight minutes, students dive into a chosen subtopic, using a supporting image as their inspiration. The discussion connects to broader themes such as French-Speaking Communities or The World Around Us, giving students a chance to show curiosity, insight and flair.

All up, the oral is worth 40 marks, contributing 12.5 per cent to the final French exam score. It might seem stressful at first, but with the right preparation, it will be your moment to impress.

What does the written exam involve?

The written exam begins quietly, but quickly gathers pace: students have 15 minutes of reading time, followed by two hours of writing time. In that window, students move through a sequence of listening, reading and writing tasks designed to test both comprehension and expression in French.

The paper begins with a listening component worth 20 marks. Students hear two French audio texts, each played twice with a pause for note-taking. After the first recording, they answer questions written in English for responses in English. The second recording raises the stakes: the questions appear in both English and French, and responses must be written in French. Each audio text is worth 10 marks.

Next comes a combined reading and listening section worth 35 marks. Students begin by reading a contemporary French text, before hearing a related audio passage after five minutes of reading time. They then respond to questions in English that test their ability to connect ideas across both the written and spoken material, a task worth 20 marks. The section concludes with a short written response in French, around 150 words, worth 15 marks.

The exam finishes with a longer piece of writing in French worth 20 marks. Students choose one of four prompts and craft a response of 200 to 300 words. The tasks vary in style, and can include persuasive, narrative, reflective or evaluative texts, but all link back to the course’s central themes. For the writing exam, students may bring a monolingual or bilingual dictionary into the classroom.

In total, the written paper is worth 75 marks, accounting for 37.5 per cent of the overall French exam score.

So, what separates the top performers from the rest?

A VCE French unit score above 40 rarely comes from last-minute cramming or memorising model answers. The strongest students approach French as a long-term discipline, steadily building knowledge, fluency and an understanding of the course content and exam structure across Years 11 and 12.

They build strong foundations

High-achieving students revise grammar, spelling and vocabulary until they become second nature. That means mastering verb tenses, from the subtle distinction between passé composé and imparfait to the future and conditional, alongside gender and number agreement, the correct use of pronouns, and the logical connectors that give their writing nuance, such as néanmoins, pourtant and comme.

They train their ear

Top students immerse themselves in authentic French well beyond the classroom through radio and television, such as RFI or TV5 Monde, as well as podcasts, YouTube channels, music and films. The payoff is twofold: faster comprehension and an improved accent, but also a richer understanding of contemporary francophone culture.

They understand what examiners are looking for

High performers complete past papers under timed conditions, building their concentration, pacing and confidence. They learn to use reading time strategically, identify key words quickly and ensure there is enough time left for extended writing tasks.

The assessment criteria reward clear answers, grammatical accuracy and a strong range of vocabulary, qualities that only develop through consistent practice. Working through past exams also highlights weaknesses, allowing students to revise particular course themes before the final assessment.

Inside the classroom, top students cultivate disciplined habits: careful note-taking, writing down answers once they are confident, checking spelling and reflecting thoughtfully on their mistakes.

The VCE French exam ultimately tests a wide spectrum of skills, listening, reading, writing and speaking, requiring both knowledge of grammar and the ability to communicate ideas clearly.

Outstanding results are the product of deliberate preparation and sustained exposure to the language. With the right guidance, students will not only achieve exceptional scores but also develop lasting linguistic confidence, cultural awareness and academic maturity.

If you would like personalised support to help your child reach their full potential in VCE French, I would be delighted to discuss a tailored tutoring program and arrange a private consultation. Contact the French Language Studio today.