French — Syllabus & Chapters

The complete syllabus for French — every chapter you need to study, and how the exam paper is structured.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Composition courte en français
Chapter 2: Lettre formelle et lettre informelle
Chapter 3: Compréhension d'un passage inconnu
Chapter 4: Vocabulaire, syntaxe et idiomes
Chapter 5: Articles définis, indéfinis, contractés et partitifs
Chapter 6: Adjectifs démonstratifs, possessifs, qualificatifs et interrogatifs
Chapter 7: Interrogation et pronoms interrogatifs
Chapter 8: Négation
Chapter 9: Pronoms sujets, démonstratifs, possessifs, COD, COI, quantité, lieu et relatifs simples
Chapter 10: Prépositions et noms géographiques
Chapter 11: Temps verbaux et verbes pronominaux
Chapter 12: Comparatifs et superlatifs
Chapter 13: Exercices de conjugaison et transformation de phrases
Chapter 14: Traduction du français vers l'anglais
Chapter 15: Traduction de l'anglais vers le français
Chapter 16: Dialogue écrit sur des situations de la vie quotidienne
Chapter 17: Self, Family and Friends
Chapter 18: Important Events
Chapter 19: Interests and Hobbies
Chapter 20: Home and Locality
Chapter 21: Daily Routine
Chapter 22: School
Chapter 23: Travel, Transport and Tourism
Chapter 24: Accommodation
Chapter 25: Restaurant
Chapter 26: Directions
Chapter 27: Holiday Activities
Chapter 28: Services
Chapter 29: Home Life
Chapter 30: Everyday Living and Health
Chapter 31: Work Experience
Chapter 32: Leisure
Chapter 33: Shopping
Chapter 34: The Environment
Chapter 35: Listening Skills
Chapter 36: Speaking Skills
Chapter 37: Creative Writing Skills

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are there in French?

The French syllabus has 37 chapters, listed in full above. Cover the high-weightage chapters first using the exam pattern as a guide.

How do I know which French chapters carry the most marks?

Compare the chapter list above with the exam pattern and the last few years of question papers — the topics that appear most often and the units with the highest marks are where to focus first. Always confirm weightage against the official syllabus for your exam year.

Has the French syllabus changed this year?

Boards occasionally revise the syllabus or remove topics for a session. Always download the official syllabus for your exact exam year from the official ICSE & ISC portal rather than relying on an older copy or a social-media list.

How can I prepare for French faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for French — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused French study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.