Free Practice Questions for LC French
Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.
Loading practice questions...
Explore More Irish Leaving Certificate & Junior Cycle
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
Key Facts: LC French Exam
25%
Higher Level oral (Speaking) weighting in the NCCA syllabus mark allocation
NCCA Leaving Certificate French syllabus
20%
Higher Level listening comprehension (aural) weighting
NCCA Leaving Certificate French syllabus
30%
Higher Level reading comprehension weighting
NCCA Leaving Certificate French syllabus
25%
Higher Level writing weighting
NCCA Leaving Certificate French syllabus
~15 min
Oral assessment time allotted per candidate in the syllabus
NCCA Leaving Certificate French syllabus
H1-H8
Higher Level grades range from H1 (90-100%) to H8 (below 30%)
State Examinations Commission grading scale
3 pillars
Syllabus behavioural objectives: Basic Communicative Proficiency, Language Awareness, Cultural Awareness
NCCA Leaving Certificate French syllabus
100
Free original single-best-answer practice questions in this English-language study adaptation
OpenExamPrep
Leaving Certificate French is Ireland's senior-cycle French exam, set by the SEC on the NCCA communicative syllabus. Higher Level weights Speaking 25%, Listening 20%, Reading 30% and Writing 25%. Assessment includes an oral conversation, an aural paper answered in English or Irish, and written reading and production tasks in French. This 100-question bank is an original English-language MCQ study adaptation for grammar, themes, oral structure, reading strategies and culture — not an official SEC paper or oral substitute.
Sample LC French Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the LC French exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Choose the correct form of avoir in the present tense: « Ils _____ une grande maison près de l'école. »
2Which sentence correctly uses the passé composé with être?
3Complete: « Quand j'étais petit, je _____ tous les jours au parc. » (habitual past action)
4Which negative form is correct?
5Choose the correct partitive article: « Je voudrais _____ eau, s'il vous plaît. »
6Which sentence correctly uses a direct object pronoun?
7Complete with the correct future tense form: « Demain, nous _____ en France. » (partir)
8Which question form is appropriately polite with a stranger?
9Choose the correct comparative: « Ce livre est _____ intéressant que l'autre. »
10Which sentence uses the correct possessive adjective for « Marie and her books »?
About the LC French Exam
Leaving Certificate French is a senior-cycle modern language subject examined by the State Examinations Commission at Higher and Ordinary Level on a common communicative syllabus published by the NCCA. The syllabus is organised around Basic Communicative Proficiency, Language Awareness and Cultural Awareness, with themes such as meeting people, plans, weather, travel, shopping, emergencies, feelings, school, work, holidays and intercultural comparison. Assessment covers four skills. At Higher Level the published weighting is Speaking 25%, Listening comprehension 20%, Reading comprehension 30% and Writing 25%. The oral is a general conversation of roughly 15 minutes based on syllabus content (optional literary work or project). Listening requires understanding of recorded stimuli with answers in English or Irish. Reading covers functional and journalistic/literary texts. Writing requires communicative production in French. Results are reported on the H1-H8 or O1-O8 grade scales for CAO points.
Exam sponsor: State Examinations Commission (SEC), Ireland. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Four skill areas. Higher Level mark weighting from the NCCA syllabus: Speaking 25%, Listening comprehension 20%, Reading comprehension 30%, Writing 25%. Ordinary Level: Speaking 20%, Listening 25%, Reading 40%, Writing 15%. Oral is general conversation (optional literary work or project). Aural answers are typically in English or Irish. Reading and writing form the written paper in French.
Time Limit
Oral assessment is allotted about 15 minutes per candidate. The aural and written papers follow the SEC June timetable (reading and writing on the terminal paper; listening as a separate comprehension examination).
Passing Score
No fixed pass mark. Higher Level results use the H1-H8 scale (H1 = 90-100% down to H8 = below 30%). Ordinary Level uses O1-O8. CAO points follow the published Higher/Ordinary points grid.
Exam / Certification Fees
Candidates in recognised schools do not pay a separate sitting fee; external and repeat candidates pay an examination fee set annually by the State Examinations Commission.
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Speaking (Oral)
Practice covers oral exam structure, conversation openers, developing answers on family, school, work, holidays and future plans, handling follow-up questions, optional document/project discussion, and markers of fluency, accuracy and communication.
Listening comprehension (Aural)
Practice covers aural exam strategy: predicting content from questions, listening for gist and detail, numbers/times/places, distinguishing speakers and register, and answering in clear English or Irish without inventing unsupported detail.
Reading comprehension
Practice covers journalistic and functional reading strategies, main idea and inference, false friends, connectors, tone and style, and locating evidence in French texts typical of Higher Level Section A-type tasks.
Writing and language accuracy
Practice covers grammar (tenses, agreement, pronouns, subjunctive triggers, negation), register (tu/vous, formal letters vs informal messages), vocabulary themes, and common written task types such as diary, letter, email, opinion piece and narrative.
Preparing for the LC French Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No fixed pass mark. Higher Level results use the H1-H8 scale (H1 = 90-100% down to H8 = below 30%). Ordinary Level uses O1-O8. CAO points follow the published Higher/Ordinary points grid.
- Assessment: Four skill areas. Higher Level mark weighting from the NCCA syllabus: Speaking 25%, Listening comprehension 20%, Reading comprehension 30%, Writing 25%. Ordinary Level: Speaking 20%, Listening 25%, Reading 40%, Writing 15%. Oral is general conversation (optional literary work or project). Aural answers are typically in English or Irish. Reading and writing form the written paper in French.
- Time limit: Oral assessment is allotted about 15 minutes per candidate. The aural and written papers follow the SEC June timetable (reading and writing on the terminal paper; listening as a separate comprehension examination).
- Exam / certification fees: Candidates in recognised schools do not pay a separate sitting fee; external and repeat candidates pay an examination fee set annually by the State Examinations Commission. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
LC French: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Leaving Certificate French examined?
Four skills are assessed: speaking (oral), listening (aural), reading and writing. At Higher Level the syllabus weights these as Speaking 25%, Listening 20%, Reading 30% and Writing 25%. Ordinary Level places more weight on receptive skills (Listening 25%, Reading 40%) and less on Writing (15%) and Speaking (20%).
What is the Higher Level oral like?
The oral is a general conversation based on syllabus content, lasting about 15 minutes per candidate. You may discuss a literary work or project you have prepared. Marks reward communication, accuracy, vocabulary and pronunciation — not word-for-word memorised scripts alone.
How does the aural work?
You listen to recorded stimuli (conversations, announcements, media-style extracts) and answer questions, typically in English or Irish, showing understanding of general and specific information. Practice past aural papers and train yourself to catch times, places, opinions and reasons.
What does the written paper include?
Reading comprehension of authentic-style texts (including journalistic and literary material at Higher Level) and written production tasks in French such as describing, relating events, explaining and expressing opinions. Exact question layout follows the SEC paper for that year.
What are the main syllabus components?
The NCCA syllabus has General Aims and Behavioural Objectives under three headings: Basic Communicative Proficiency, Language Awareness and Cultural Awareness. Assessment tasks draw from this full communicative content rather than a narrow grammar-only list.
Are these official State Examinations Commission questions?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep single-best-answer study questions in English (with French phrases where the skill is tested). They are not an official translation, not a past paper, and not a substitute for the SEC oral, aural or written examinations. Always practise with official past papers and live speaking.