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: Rédaction de composition courte
Chapter 2: Lettre formelle et informelle
Chapter 3: Compréhension d’un passage inédit
Chapter 4: Vocabulaire, syntaxe et idiomes
Chapter 5: Structures grammaticales et transformation de phrases
Chapter 6: Correction et réorganisation de phrases
Chapter 7: Traduction du français vers l’anglais
Chapter 8: Traduction de l’anglais vers le français
Chapter 9: Rédaction de dialogue en situation quotidienne
Chapter 10: Moi-même, famille et amis
Chapter 11: Événements importants, fêtes et célébrations
Chapter 12: Intérêts, loisirs, maison, quartier et école
Chapter 13: Vacances, voyages, transport et tourisme
Chapter 14: Hébergement, restaurant, directions, activités de vacances et services
Chapter 15: Vie à la maison, santé, travail, loisirs, achats et environnement
Chapter 16: Compréhension orale
Chapter 17: Expression orale
Chapter 18: Écriture créative

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are there in French?

The French syllabus has 18 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.