GCSE French: School & Work Revision

School & Work is a core part of GCSE French. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.

Key concepts

Les métiersJobs: médecin (doctor), professeur, ingénieur, avocat (lawyer), infirmier/infirmière (nurse). No article: 'Je suis professeur.'

Future tenseSimple future for plans: 'Je travaillerai...' (I will work). Stem + endings: -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.

Conditional for ambitions'J'aimerais être...' (I would like to be...), 'Je voudrais devenir...' (I would like to become...).

Gap year & uniUne année sabbatique (gap year), à l'université, faire des études (to study), un diplôme (degree).

Workplace vocabLe travail, le salaire (wage), le patron (boss), un entretien (interview), un stage (internship).

Reasons & qualitiesJustifying a career: 'parce que je suis créatif/patient/organisé'. Useful adjectives for personal statements.

il fautyou must / one must

il est interdit deit is forbidden

porter un uniformeto wear a uniform

je vais aller àI am going to go

le lycéethe sixth-form / high school

l'universitéthe university

j'aimeI like

je n'aime pasI don't like

Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:

How do you make a French sentence negative?✗ By adding a single word, like English. ✓ Usually by wrapping the verb: ne … pas.

Does the perfect tense always use 'avoir'?✗ Yes, always 'avoir'. ✓ No — some verbs and all reflexives use 'être' (and agree).

Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic: