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Detailed information

It is composed of three compulsory examinations and two optional examinations

The three compulsory examinations (80 questions)

These take the form of multiple choice questions, with a total of 80 questions. Of the four available answers for each question, only one is correct. The questions get progressively more difficult, going from level A1 to level C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Listening comprehension (30 questions, 25 minutes)

The questions assess the candidate's ability to:

• identify the essential information communicated in everyday communicative situations;
• understand simple statements on familiar topics in messages, announcements, interviews, telephone conversations, etc. and identify the topic of a conversation;
• understand the main points of a spoken text on familiar topics encountered in work, university, leisure;
• understand the main ideas in complex spoken texts on a concrete or abstract topic, familiar or not encountered in the candidate's personal, social or professional life;
• follow a spoken text on abstract and complex topics and recognise a wide range of idiomatic expressions;
• understand any type of spoken language delivered at fast speed.

The recordings are representative of spoken communication that can be heard in France or French-speaking countries, in particular as regards excerpts from RFI (Radio France Internationale) programmes.

Use of language structures: grammar and vocabulary (20 questions, 20 minutes)

• The questions assess the candidate's ability to identify and select the correct wording in syntactic and lexical structures.
• The questions are always linked with communicative situations and the context of France or French-speaking countries.

Reading comprehension (30 questions, 45 minutes)

The questions assess the candidate's ability to:

• identify the gist of documents used in everyday communicative situations (short messages from friends or work colleagues);
• identify the gist of and find specific information in everyday material (advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables, etc.);
• find specific information about people, facts or events (personal letters, etc.);
• find fine points of detail and detailed information in texts written in everyday language relating to everyday life or to work;
• understand the points of view of authors on concrete or abstract topics in articles and reports;
• understand abstract or complex texts taken from literary or specialised works.

The documents are representative of texts that can be read in France or French-speaking countries.

The two optional examinations

Spoken expression (interview; 15 minutes maximum)

The spoken expression examination takes the form of a one-to-one interview with an examiner.

• No preparation is required for this examination.
• The questions asked are divided into six levels, from level A1 to level C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
• The interview is recorded and sent to the CIEP for assessment after the examination.

The candidate is assessed on their ability to communicate and react to the cues given by the examiner. Candidates are asked to:

• describe places (home, work, etc.) and people;
• talk about their living conditions, and current, recent or future work or studies;
• describe experiences, events and plans;
• explain a plan or an idea, the plot of a book or film and express their reactions;
• explain the advantages and disadvantages of a plan, give their opinion, express their agreement and disagreement;
• present a clear and structured argument in a style appropriate to the context;
• present detailed and structured descriptions of complex topics, developing particular points and rounding off with a conclusion.

Written expression (1 hour 45 minutes)

This examination includes six exercises that get progressively more difficult, each of which corresponds to one of the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (level A1 to level C2).

Description of the exercises:

• writing a simple message (approx. 40 words);
• writing a personal letter about everyday situations, using an everyday register (approx. 60 words);
• writing a report of experiences, a story, an account of an opinion (approx. 80 words);
• writing an explanatory text, which develops points of view and a line of argument (approx. 100 words);
• comparing two opinions and taking a stand on a general topic (100 to 125 words);
• rewording the main ideas in a document, account of a point of view with justifications (approx. 100 words).

Candidates are assessed on their ability to:

• follow the instructions given;
• communicate a message clearly;
• link ideas and show consistency in their views;
• express their opinion and provide justifications;
• use a range of vocabulary related to the task they have been requested to perform;
• show that they can use complex structures proficiently;
• show that they have the ability to synthesise;
• reword in their own words.