1. AP French Language and Culture Exam
The AP French Language and Culture Exam offers high school students the opportunity to showcase their French proficiency. Equivalent to an intermediate-level college course in French, AP French is a challenging course fir high school students.
The exam consists of three sections: multiple-choice questions without audio, multiple-choice questions with audio, and free-response written tasks. Successful completion of this exam allows students to earn college credit, and is widely recognized by colleges and universities across the country. Below are the themes that will be evaluated during the exam:
- Families in Different Societies
- The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity
- Influences of Beauty and Art
- How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives
- Factors That Impact the Quality of Life
- Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges
The exam allows students to earn college credit for their French proficiency and is recognized for credit by many colleges and universities across the country. Most students who take this exam will also have taken an AP French course during the school year.
Exam Date: May 15, 2024, 8 AM Local
2. International Baccalaureate French Baccalaureate
In the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, students study two modern languages (or a modern language and a classical language) as part of their curriculum, along with other subjects. Students can choose between Language ab initio courses or Language B courses if they have some previous experience learning French. At the end of the course, students will take external and internal assessments at either standard or higher level (depending on the course that they took) to evaluate their proficiency level.
3. Test de Connaissance du Français
The Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF), designed by France Education International (FEI) and accredited by the French Ministry of Education, is a French language proficiency test for non-native speakers of French who wish to evaluate and have their level of proficiency certified. The test is good for people who want to provide proof of proficiency if they’re going to a university in or moving to another country. French learners will be ranked on one of the six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, or C2, and their results will be valid for 2 years.
The next exam dates are:
Exam Date: Friday, July 5, 2024
Registration deadline: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Exam Date: Friday, October 4, 2024
Registration deadline: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French, The National French Contest, or Le Grand Concours, is an annual competition for students of French in grades 1-12 in all 50 states and abroad. It is open to students of all levels, from beginner to advanced, and includes sections on listening comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Participants will take a written test and compete with students coming from similar educational backgrounds for prizes. Grades 1-6 students will participate in the FLES (Français Langue Étrangère et Second) Contest, while Grades 7-12 students will participate in the Secondary Contest. There are various levels and divisions that students with different levels of proficiency can participate in. Please refer to the website for more information.
Contest Dates:
Grades 1-6 (FLES): February 12 – March 6, 2024
Grades 7-12 (levels 01-5): February 14 – April 8, 2024
The General Certificate of Secondary Education French covers four disciples of French and other languages: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Students who study in Great Britain can take this test to show their proficiency. The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is broken down into two comprehension levels: the Foundation Tier (grades 1–5) and the Higher Tier (grades 4–9).
DELF is an official certification awarded by the French Ministry of Education to certify the proficiency of candidates in the French language. It is suitable for students of all ages and levels. The DELF exam assesses four language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Divided into four levels, DELF offers a comprehensive evaluation of candidates’ language abilities. Achieving DELF certification is advantageous for students applying to French universities or seeking employment opportunities.
7. Learn French with Aralia’s Comprehensive Introduction to High School
Learning French is an exciting journey that opens doors to new opportunities and experiences. In Aralia’s Comprehensive Introduction to High School program, we offer a French class, designed to provide high school students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in French language learning and provide foundations to succeed in these assessments and competitions.
These French exams and competitions provide valuable opportunities for middle and high school students to demonstrate their proficiency and passion for the French language. Whether aiming for college credit, international certification, or simply personal growth, these assessments offer a structured path for students to achieve their language learning goals.
The French introductory course is an immersive course designed for students who have no French foundation. Students will focus on four aspects of language learning: speaking, writing, reading and listening.
