Exam tips

• Planning your writing

  You should start by thinking about the topics, in this case work, food and weather. What vocabulary and phrases can you use from these topics to help you write your letter?

  You should also look at the French that has already been given to you in the question. How much of it could you use in your answer?

  Plan an opportunity to write about - something that happened in the past, eg how about a visit to a Chinese restaurant? - the future, eg how about tomorrow's weather?

• Developing your writing

  Gather vocabulary to do with work, for example the adjective 'travailleur' and the verb 'travailler'. Think of material that you might have prepared for your oral exam, for example 'je distribue des journaux'. Do the same with the topics of food and weather.

  Take language from the question and recycle it in your answer. For example: 'Les Anglais sont très paresseux' can help you to write 'Les Anglais ne sont pas paresseux. Ils sont travailleurs.' 'La cuisine anglaise est très mauvaise' can help you to write 'La cuisine anglaise n'est pas mauvaise'. Using the question in this way is fine as long as you are keeping to the subject.

• Checking your writing

  Check for agreements with adjectives such as 'paresseux(euse), travailleur(euse), mauvais(e)' - and also with verb endings, eg 'je distribue', 'mes parents travaillent'.

  Make sure that you have dealt with all three areas mentioned in the article.

  Don't write too few words. When you are asked to write 90 words, writing less means that you are wasting opportunities of getting marks for quality of language. On the other hand don't write more than 20 words above the stated length. You won't get credit for going way over the limit.

  Don't take risks with language. Use what you know and keep in control.

Now try a Test Bite