French

This is a complete, free study companion for French — built around what the exam actually asks. The topics examiners repeat most are Composition en français: récit, description, expérience personnelle, Compréhension d’un passage inédit: réponses, vocabulaire, vrai/faux, and Traduction du français vers l’anglais. The syllabus runs to 37 chapters. Below you'll find the full topic-frequency ranking, the exam paper pattern, every chapter, a step-by-step study plan, and the official downloads — everything in one place.

Everything here is free. We're an independent student resource, not the official ICSE & ISC body, so always confirm the current syllabus and exam dates on the official ICSE & ISC website before you rely on them.

Key information

Level: Class 10
Programme: CL10
Exam: Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
Conducted by: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

Most frequently examined topics

#	Topic	Times asked
1	Composition en français: récit, description, expérience personnelle	5
2	Compréhension d’un passage inédit: réponses, vocabulaire, vrai/faux	5
3	Traduction du français vers l’anglais	5
4	Traduction de l’anglais vers le français	5
5	Articles définis, indéfinis, contractés et partitifs	5
6	Interrogation: est-ce que, inversion, mots interrogatifs	5
7	Négation: ne...pas, ne...plus, ne...jamais, ne...rien	5
8	Pronoms COD, COI, y, en, relatifs simples	5
9	Prépositions de lieu, temps, pays et mouvement	5
10	Conjugaison: présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur, conditionnel	5
11	Phrases mélangées et correction d’erreurs	5
12	Lettre informelle: invitation, remerciement, conseils, récit	5

Counted across the official previous-year question papers we have analysed for this subject. It shows what has been asked before — it does not predict what will appear in your exam. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Composition en français
Chapter 2: Lettre formelle et informelle
Chapter 3: Compréhension d’un passage inédit
Chapter 4: Traduction du français vers l’anglais
Chapter 5: Traduction de l’anglais vers le français
Chapter 6: Rédaction de dialogue
Chapter 7: Articles définis, indéfinis, contractés et partitifs
Chapter 8: Adjectifs démonstratifs, possessifs, qualificatifs et interrogatifs
Chapter 9: Interrogation et pronoms interrogatifs
Chapter 10: Négation
Chapter 11: Pronoms sujets, démonstratifs, possessifs, COD, COI, quantité, lieu et relatifs simples
Chapter 12: Prépositions de lieu, de temps, de mouvement et autres prépositions
Chapter 13: Temps verbaux et verbes pronominaux
Chapter 14: Comparatifs de qualité et de quantité
Chapter 15: Superlatifs réguliers et irréguliers
Chapter 16: Exercices de conjugaison, phrases, erreurs et phrases mélangées
Chapter 17: Soi-même, famille et amis
Chapter 18: Événements importants
Chapter 19: Intérêts et loisirs
Chapter 20: Maison et localité
Chapter 21: Routine quotidienne
Chapter 22: École
Chapter 23: Voyage, transport et tourisme
Chapter 24: Logement
Chapter 25: Restaurant
Chapter 26: Directions
Chapter 27: Activités de vacances
Chapter 28: Services
Chapter 29: Vie à la maison
Chapter 30: Vie quotidienne et santé
Chapter 31: Expérience professionnelle
Chapter 32: Loisirs
Chapter 33: Achats
Chapter 34: Environnement
Chapter 35: Compréhension orale
Chapter 36: Expression orale
Chapter 37: Écriture créative

Official textbook

French — official textbook / study material — Free download from the official source.

How to study French and score well

Start with the highest-frequency topics — In French, Composition en français: récit, description, expérience personnelle, Compréhension d’un passage inédit: réponses, vocabulaire, vrai/faux, Traduction du français vers l’anglais, and Traduction de l’anglais vers le français appear again and again in past papers. Master these first — they return the most marks for the time you put in.
Practise with previous-year papers — Solve the last 5–10 years of ICSE & ISC French papers under timed, exam-like conditions. Past papers show exactly which topics repeat and how questions are worded.
Revise actively, not passively — Write a one-page summary for each of the 37 chapters — key definitions, formulas and the points examiners reward — then re-test yourself instead of re-reading.
Mark your answers with the official scheme — After each practice paper, score yourself against the official marking scheme. It shows how marks are awarded step-by-step, so you learn to present answers the way examiners expect.

Exam tips: how to score higher in French

Where students lose marks: rushing the high-weightage questions, skipping the steps the marking scheme rewards, and saving easy sections for last. Read the whole paper first, attempt your strongest section early to bank marks, and always show your working.

Manage your time: split your time in proportion to the marks each section carries, keep a few minutes at the end to check, and never leave a question blank — a partial, structured answer still earns partial marks.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most important topics in French?

Based on past papers, the most frequently asked topics include Composition en français: récit, description, expérience personnelle, Compréhension d’un passage inédit: réponses, vocabulaire, vrai/faux, Traduction du français vers l’anglais. The full ranked list with how often each appears is in the "Most important topics" section above.

Where can I download French previous-year question papers?

Official ICSE & ISC previous-year question papers are available on the official ICSE & ISC website. Open the Question Papers section for the direct link, plus the exam pattern and the topics that repeat most.

How can I prepare for French faster?

Start with the highest-frequency topics, learn the exam pattern so you know how each section is marked, and practise with past papers. A subject-aware study tutor can quiz you on exactly these topics.

A Gyani AI tutor trained on the French syllabus and past papers can quiz you on the most-asked topics and show you exactly what to revise.