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 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

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.