Tests

There are 4 tests:

Vocabulary
Grammar
Culture
Dictée

Instructions are given in English and French on every test

Each test has 3 versions: (NEW this year)

1A/1B
2/3
4/5/Native

But prizes are awarded for each category separately:

1A, 1B, 2, 3, 4, 5, and Native

Test Details

1. Vocabulary

65 questions
30 minutes
multiple choice (4 choices)

Topics include but are not limited to:
1A/1B

greetings
basic numbers
common French names
common body parts
physical characteristics
common foods
common animals
the house
common colors
simple time/date
prepositions of location
school
family
common idiomatic expressions

2/3

health and medicine
advanced numbers
advanced body parts
advanced foods
professions
clothing
plants
weather expressions
advanced time/date
geography
medium idiomatic expressions

4/5/N

work/office
holidays
technology
the city
advanced animals
advanced colors
advanced weather expressions
advanced idiomatic expressions

Note from the writers:

Vocab is all about words, words, words. The vocabulary test gives a good idea of how comfortable a student is with French words. Although most students will feel confident on most questions, each test has its difficulties. The topics to the left are a very good representation of what's on each test. Students should be able to fill in the blank, find synonyms/antonyms, and translate back and forth between English and French. There's a lot of questions, so go fast.
Study words and how to spell 'em—watch out for false cognates!

2. Grammar

55 questions
30 minutes
multiple choice (4 choices)

Topics include but are not limited to:
1A/1B

articles
partitive
gender/plurality of nouns
adjectives' order and agreement
conjugating common regular verbs
conjugating common irregular verbs
simple comparisons
forming simple questions
possessive adjectives
demonstrative adjectives
basic direct/indirect object pronouns
infinitives
basic negations
simple commands (the imperative)
tenses and moods include but are not limited to:
- indicatif
  - présent
- impératif
  - présent

2/3

more verbs, especially irregulars
reflexive verbs (pronominal verbs)
passive
relative pronouns
advanced comparisons
advanced questions
advanced object pronouns
advanced negations
advanced imperatives
adverbs
word order / sentence structure
tenses and moods include but are not limited to:
- indicatif
  - présent
  - futur proche
  - future simple
  - passé composé
  - passé récent
  - imparfait
- subjonctif
  - présent
- impératif
  - présent

4/5/N

causative faire
complex prepositions, including geographical
complex questions
participles & gerunds
tenses and moods include but are not limited to:
- indicatif:
  - imparfait
  - plus-que-parfait
  - passé récent
  - passé simple
  - passé composé
  - présent
  - futur simple
  - futur anterieur
- conditionnel
  - présent
  - passé
- subjonctif:
  - présent
  - passé
- impératif
  - présent

Note from the writers:

That topics list looks long, doesn't it? Well, the grammar test is meant to test a student's knowledge of French grammar from the most basic to the most advanced. Many answer choices are similar, so be careful not to get confused. Beginner students will find many questions they can answer, so don't be afraid! You have a little more time per question here than on Vocab, so you can go slower.
Study any grammar materials your teacher has, and be sure to know the topics listed to the left.

3. Culture

45 questions
20 minutes
multiple choice (4 choices) & true/false (2 choices)

Topics include but are not limited to:

French government
French territories
French history
famous Francophones
French music and visual arts
famous French sites
basic French geography
common French acronyms

Note from the writers:

Too many French culture tests are overly focused on old French history. Don't get us wrong—history is important, and it's on the test—but this test was written to focus mainly on modern French culture. The questions on this test are designed to be knowledge un vrai Français would know by heart. Note that the 1A/1B test is entirely in English, but the 2/3 and 4/5/N tests are in French.
Study by learning about French history and culture that a French citizen would know.

4. Dictée

~150 words long
will be read 3 times: normal, slow, and normal
fill-in-the-blank style

Topics include but are not limited to:

intermediate grammar
intermediate vocab
listening comprehension
spelling

Note from the writers:

The dictée is the quintessential French test. Known and feared by every élève in France, the dictée makes students turn what they hear into words on a page. The 1A/1B test is mostly about spelling, but the higher tests introduce some tricky expressions. Students should be extremely familiar with spoken French. Each blank is scored all or nothing.
Study common vocabulary, spelling (including accents!), and homonyms.