French

This is a complete, free study companion for French — built around what the exam actually asks. The topics examiners repeat most are Compréhension écrite: questions, vrai/faux, synonymes et antonymes, Temps et conjugaison: présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur proche, and Articles définis, indéfinis et partitifs. The syllabus runs to 35 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 9
Exam: School Based Examination
Conducted by: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

Most important topics (by past-paper frequency)

#	Topic	Times asked	Likelihood
1	Compréhension écrite: questions, vrai/faux, synonymes et antonymes	11	100%
2	Temps et conjugaison: présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur proche	11	100%
3	Articles définis, indéfinis et partitifs	10	90.9%
4	Adjectifs: accord, possessifs et démonstratifs	9	81.8%
5	Pronoms compléments: le, la, les, lui, leur, y, en	10	90.9%
6	Négation: ne...pas, ne...jamais, ne...plus, ne...rien	9	81.8%
7	Traduction du français vers l'anglais	9	81.8%
8	Traduction de l'anglais vers le français	9	81.8%
9	Rédaction: vacances, école, fête, environnement	10	90.9%
10	Lettre informelle et formelle	7	63.6%
11	École: matières, professeurs, règles et activités	9	81.8%
12	Routine quotidienne et verbes pronominaux	9	81.8%

Based on how often each topic appeared in official previous-year question papers.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Rédaction
Chapter 2: Lettre formelle et informelle
Chapter 3: Compréhension écrite
Chapter 4: Articles
Chapter 5: Adjectifs
Chapter 6: Interrogation
Chapter 7: Négation
Chapter 8: Pronoms
Chapter 9: Prépositions
Chapter 10: Temps et conjugaison
Chapter 11: Comparatifs et superlatifs
Chapter 12: Traduction du français vers l'anglais
Chapter 13: Traduction de l'anglais vers le français
Chapter 14: Dialogue de la vie quotidienne
Chapter 15: Self, Family and Friends
Chapter 16: Important Events
Chapter 17: Interests and Hobbies
Chapter 18: Home and Locality
Chapter 19: Daily Routine
Chapter 20: School
Chapter 21: Travel, Transport and Tourism
Chapter 22: Accommodation
Chapter 23: Restaurant
Chapter 24: Directions
Chapter 25: Holiday Activities
Chapter 26: Services
Chapter 27: Home Life
Chapter 28: Everyday Living and Health
Chapter 29: Work Experience
Chapter 30: Leisure
Chapter 31: Shopping
Chapter 32: The Environment
Chapter 33: Compréhension orale
Chapter 34: Expression orale
Chapter 35: Écriture créative

How to study French and score well

Start with the highest-frequency topics — In French, Compréhension écrite: questions, vrai/faux, synonymes et antonymes, Temps et conjugaison: présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur proche, Articles définis, indéfinis et partitifs, and Adjectifs: accord, possessifs et démonstratifs 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 35 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 Compréhension écrite: questions, vrai/faux, synonymes et antonymes, Temps et conjugaison: présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur proche, Articles définis, indéfinis et partitifs. 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.