Class 9 French Chapter 9 À l'École Previous Year Questions with Answers (2020–2025)

Rote learning vocabulary lists and grammar rules doesn't prepare you for exam pressure. When you solve previous year questions, three things happen: (1) You practise the exact question styles examiners use — multiple-choice vocab, fill-in-the-blank verb forms, and short essay prompts. (2) You identify your weak spots fast — if you stumble on avoir expressions or conjugation, you know to drill those, not waste time on what you already know. (3) You build speed and confidence. Exam day feels familiar because you've answered these types of questions before. For Chapter 9 (À l'École), past papers consistently test: naming school subjects in French, identifying school materials by picture or description, reading a timetable (emploi du temps) and answering comprehension, conjugating avoir in present tense within sentences, and writing 4–5 sentences describing your school or a typical school day. Past papers also reveal that 1-mark questions focus on vocabulary and simple present tense, while 3- and 5-mark questions demand fuller sentences, correct grammar, and contextual accuracy. By solving these questions now, you transform theory into muscle memory.

1-mark questions in À l'École typically ask you to name, identify, or complete a single word or short phrase. Here are five common formats you'll see: **Q1: Name three school subjects in French.** Expected answer: Les mathématiques, l'histoire-géographie, l'anglais. (Or: le français, la chimie, l'éducation physique.) Why it repeats: Vocabulary is the foundation. Examiners test this in almost every exam session because subject names are fundamental. **Q2: Complete: J'ai un **___** et un cahier dans mon sac.** Expected answer: stylo (or: livre, crayon, classeur) Why it repeats: Tests école (school materials) vocabulary and recognition of gender-agreement in articles. **Q3: Conjugate avoir: Tu __ deux stylos?** Expected answer: as Why it repeats: Present-tense avoir is tested in isolation in nearly every paper. **Q4: Translate to French: I have a pencil case.** Expected answer: J'ai une trousse. (Or: J'ai un étui à crayons.) Why it repeats: Combines avoir + vocab; tests both grammar and lexicon simultaneously. **Q5: Fill in: Dans mon emploi du temps, j'ai **___** le lundi.** Expected answer: français (or any school subject; context determines the subject) Why it repeats: Links vocabulary (subjects) to real school context (timetable). Examiners love practical, lifelike scenarios.

3-mark questions demand fuller responses — usually 2–3 sentences or a short paragraph. These test vocabulary *in context* and grammar accuracy. Here are five representative questions: **Q1: Describe your school subjects. Write three sentences (in French) naming three subjects and saying what you think of each.** Expected structure: Je suis les mathématiques. C'est difficile mais intéressant. J'aime l'anglais; c'est facile. L'histoire-géographie est ennuyeuse. (Mark scheme: 1 mark for each correctly named subject + opinion pair, 1 mark for grammar/spelling.) Why it repeats: Tests vocabulary command + subjective expression; common in communicative exams. **Q2: Using avoir, write three sentences about the materials you have in your schoolbag.** Expected structure: J'ai trois stylos. J'ai deux cahiers et un classeur. J'ai aussi une calculatrice. (Mark scheme: 1 mark per sentence if avoir is correctly conjugated and vocab is accurate.) **Q3: Read a timetable (emploi du temps) showing a student's Monday and Tuesday. Answer: What subjects does the student have on Monday morning? Write in French.** Expected structure: Le lundi matin, il/elle a les mathématiques et l'anglais. (Mark scheme: 1 mark for correct subjects, 1 mark for correct use of avoir or 'il/elle a,' 1 mark for structure/spelling.) Why it repeats: Tests reading comprehension + real-world timetable literacy. **Q4: Write three sentences in French comparing school materials. Example: A pen is different from a pencil.** Expected structure: Un stylo est différent d'un crayon. Un stylo est noir. Un crayon est jaune et gris. (Or: Un cahier est plus grand qu'un stylo.) Why it repeats: Combines vocabulary + comparative/descriptive adjectives. **Q5: Write a short paragraph (3–4 sentences) describing your typical Monday at school. Include: one subject, one material you use, and one opinion.** Expected structure: Le lundi, j'ai les mathématiques. J'utilise une calculatrice et un crayon. Les mathématiques sont difficiles mais utiles. J'aime aussi mon école. (Mark scheme: 1 mark for vocabulary, 1 mark for verb conjugation, 1 mark for overall clarity.)

5-mark questions are extended writing or comprehension + writing combinations. They test fluency, grammar accuracy across multiple sentences, and the ability to stay on topic. Here are three realistic 5-mark questions: **Q1: Comprehension + Written Response** **Read this passage (in French) about a student's school day, then answer five comprehension questions and write a 4-sentence response describing what the student has and likes at school.** Passage (example): *Marie a un emploi du temps très chargé. Le lundi, elle a les mathématiques, l'anglais et la chimie. Elle a un sac très lourd avec quatre cahiers, trois stylos et une calculatrice. Elle aime l'anglais mais elle n'aime pas la chimie.* Answer structure: (i) 2–3 multiple-choice or short-answer questions from passage (2 marks) (ii) 4-sentence written response: "Marie has a heavy bag. She has four notebooks. She likes English. She doesn't like chemistry." (3 marks for vocabulary, grammar, and completion) Mark breakdown: Comprehension 2 marks, Writing (vocab + verb accuracy) 2 marks, Overall coherence 1 mark. **Q2: Extended Descriptive Writing** **Write a 5–6 sentence paragraph (in French) describing your ideal school. Include: (a) three subjects you would have, (b) school materials you would bring, (c) two opinions about your school, (d) use avoir at least twice.** Expected answer (sample): Mon école idéale aurait cinq salles de classe. J'aurais les mathématiques, l'art et l'informatique. J'ai un sac avec des cahiers, des stylos et une tablette. J'aime mon école parce qu'elle est moderne. Je n'aime pas la chimie. Mon école est petite et calme. C'est excellent pour étudier. Mark breakdown: Vocabulary (naming subjects + materials) 1.5 marks, Grammar (avoir conjugation, verb agreement) 1.5 marks, Use of adjectives/opinions 1 mark, Coherence & spelling 1 mark. **Q3: Compare Two Scenarios** **Read two timetables — one for a French student, one for you. Write 5–6 sentences comparing your school day to theirs. Include: (a) names of subjects each has, (b) at least three sentences with avoir (e.g., 'J'ai maths', 'Il/Elle a anglais'), (c) one opinion about each timetable.** Expected answer (sample): Je compare mon emploi du temps avec celui de Jean. Moi, j'ai les mathématiques le lundi. Jean a la chimie le lundi. J'ai aussi l'anglais le mardi. Il a l'histoire-géographie le mardi. Mon emploi du temps est plus facile. Son emploi du temps est plus chargé. J'aime mon école! Mark breakdown: Correct subject vocabulary & avoir usage 2 marks, Comparative structures 1.5 marks, Opinions/descriptions 1 mark, Grammar/spelling 0.5 marks.

Starting with the 2026–27 CBSE syllabus, French language exams are moving toward greater emphasis on communicative competence and real-world application. This means À l'École questions are evolving: (1) **More scenario-based tasks:** Instead of isolated vocabulary, expect questions like 'You're a French exchange student. Describe your school day to your Indian pen pal.' This tests vocab + contextual grammar simultaneously. (2) **Increased use of visual prompts:** Timetables, school diagrams, and material images will feature more prominently. You'll be asked to interpret visuals and respond in French — not just fill blanks. (3) **Emphasis on avoir + expressions:** Beyond basic conjugation (j'ai, tu as, il/elle a), examiners will test fixed expressions like avoir faim, avoir soif, avoir peur, avoir sommeil — especially in conversational or contextual writing. (4) **Longer, coherent paragraphs:** The shift from isolated sentences to paragraph-length responses (4–6 sentences per prompt) is intensifying. Expect fewer 1-mark standalone questions and more 3- and 5-mark integrative tasks. (5) **Grammar in context:** Errors in verb agreement, gender, and pluralization now carry heavier penalties in longer responses. Accuracy across multiple sentences is marked more strictly. To prepare for this shift, practise writing full paragraphs about your school, reading timetables and responding in full sentences, and using avoir not just as 'to have' but in idiomatic phrases within school contexts. Interactive practice platforms like cbsetutor.ai now simulate these new formats, helping you adapt ahead of time.

On exam day, here's a proven approach to maximize marks on À l'École questions: **Before you start (2 minutes):** Skim all questions. Identify which are vocabulary (mark quickly), which require verb conjugation, and which demand extended writing. Allocate time: 1-mark questions = 1–2 minutes each; 3-mark = 3–4 minutes; 5-mark = 6–8 minutes. **For 1-mark questions:** If it's 'name a subject,' list three (français, mathématiques, anglais) even if one is asked for — you get marks for any one correct. If it's 'conjugate avoir,' whisper to yourself the pattern (j'ai, tu as, il/elle a, nous avons, vous avez, ils/elles ont) and pick the right form. Don't second-guess. **For 3-mark questions:** Read the prompt twice. Underline what's being asked (subjects? Materials? Opinion?). Write 2–3 complete sentences, not fragments. Always include the main verb (avoir, aimer, être) even if short. Check: is every sentence a full thought? Are verbs conjugated? Is gender agreed (un/une, le/la)? **For 5-mark questions:** If it's a passage + response, read the passage once fully, then re-read carefully noting key words. Answer comprehension questions first (they're 'easier'). Then write your response in rough on the margin, checking: Do I have 5–6 sentences? Does each sentence have a verb? Are there at least two avoir conjugations? Do my opinions match French norms (e.g., use j'aime + noun, or c'est + adjective)? Only then write cleanly in your answer booklet. **Last 3 minutes:** Scan your answers for accents (é, è, ê, ô), apostrophes (l'école, d'un), and plural -s. French examiners deduct marks for these details. **Pro tip:** In À l'École, examiners reward concrete vocabulary and correct conjugation over creativity. If unsure, stick to the 15–20 core subjects (maths, English, history, chemistry, PE, art, music, geography, etc.) and 10–15 core materials (pen, pencil, notebook, bag, calculator, ruler, eraser, tablet). Repetition is safer than elaborate wording.