French Language
Description of the Examination
The French Language examination is designed to measure knowledge and ability equivalent to that of students who have completed two to four semesters of college French language study. It focuses on skills typically acquired from the end of the first year through the second year of college study; material taught during both years is incorporated into a single exam.
The examination contains 121 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored. There are three separately timed sections. The three sections are weighted so that each question contributes equally to the total score. Any time candidates spend on tutorials or providing personal information is in addition to the actual testing time.
Most colleges that award credit for the French Language examination award either two or four semesters of credit, depending on the candidate's score on the exam.
Knowledge and Skills Required
Candidates must demonstrate their ability to understand spoken and written French. The CLEP French Language examination tests their listening and reading skills through the various types of questions listed below. The percentages indicate the approximate percentage of exam questions devoted to each type of question.
| 15% |
Section I: Listening: Rejoinders Listening comprehension: choosing the best responses to short spoken prompts |
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| 25% |
Section II: Listening: Dialogues and Narratives Listening comprehension: choosing the answers to questions based on longer spoken selections |
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| 60% | Section III: Reading | ||
| 10% | Part A. Discrete sentences (vocabulary and structure) | ||
| 20% | Part B. Short cloze passages (vocabulary and structure) | ||
| 30% | Part C. Reading passages and authentic stimulus materials (reading comprehension) | ||
Study Resources
Most textbooks used in college-level French language courses cover the topics in the outline given earlier, but the approaches to certain topics and the emphasis given to them may differ. To prepare for the French Language exam, it is advisable to study one or more college textbooks, which can be found in most college bookstores. When selecting a textbook, check the table of contents against the "Knowledge and Skills Required" for this test.
Besides studying basic vocabulary, you should understand and be able to apply the grammatical principles that make up the language. To improve your reading comprehension, read passages from textbooks, short magazine or newspaper articles, or other printed material of your choice. To improve your listening comprehension, seek opportunities to hear the language spoken by native speakers and to converse with native speakers. French records and tapes are available in many libraries. Take advantage of opportunities to join organizations with French-speaking members, to attend French movies, or to hear French-language radio broadcasts. The Internet is another resource you could explore.
