Exam practice

French task instructions: find every required point, then write

Turn a French email prompt into three clear jobs: announce a new time, explain the change and ask for replies. Write your answer and compare a model.

In short

Pair each instruction verb with the information it asks for. In this task, annoncez, expliquez and demandez give you three jobs. After writing, point to the sentence that completes each one.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

A learner wears a headset while working at a laptop beside a French window.
A consigne helps the learner check every required point. Illustration: Atelier

How do you find every required point in a French task?

Read the full prompt in the writing box below
Words in the promptWhat they doWhat your reply needs
Vous animez un groupe de conversation en ligne.Assign your role.Write as the group organiser.
Le mercredi à 18 heures → le jeudi à 19 heuresFix the old and new arrangements.Keep the day and time accurate.
Annoncez le nouvel horaire.Require an update.State Thursday at 7 pm.
Expliquez la raison du changement.Require an explanation.Connect the change to work hours.
Demandez une réponse avant lundi.Require a request.Ask members to reply by that deadline.
Vous pouvez ajouter une formule de remerciement.Offer an extra.Add thanks if it suits your message.

Three jobs can fit into one coherent email. The role and old time help you frame the update; the instructions tell you what to do with those facts. The optional thanks adds warmth after the essential content is clear.

B1 · Email writing · Focus on required pointsNot an official exam paper

Vous animez un groupe de conversation en ligne. Les séances ont lieu le mercredi à 18 heures. Plusieurs membres travaillent jusqu’à 18 h 30 le mercredi. Les séances auront désormais lieu le jeudi à 19 heures. Écrivez aux membres : annoncez le nouvel horaire, expliquez la raison du changement et demandez-leur de confirmer leur disponibilité avant lundi. Vous pouvez ajouter une formule de remerciement. Écrivez au moins 90 mots.

(90 mots minimum)

You organise an online conversation group. Sessions take place on Wednesdays at 6 pm. Several members work until 6.30 pm on Wednesdays. Sessions will now take place on Thursdays at 7 pm. Email the members: announce the new time, explain the reason for the change and ask them to confirm their availability before Monday. You may add a thank-you. Write at least 90 words for this exercise.

Your answer

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Read a model answer

Bonjour à toutes et à tous,

Je vous écris pour vous informer d’un changement d’horaire. Nos séances de conversation en ligne auront désormais lieu le jeudi à 19 heures, au lieu du mercredi à 18 heures.

Plusieurs membres travaillent jusqu’à 18 h 30 le mercredi et ne peuvent donc pas participer dès le début de la séance. Ce nouvel horaire vise à faciliter leur participation.

Pourriez-vous me confirmer votre disponibilité pour le jeudi soir avant lundi ? Vos réponses m’aideront à préparer la prochaine séance et à savoir combien de personnes pourront y participer.

Merci pour vos réponses et à bientôt !

Alex

Review your draft

Before you finish

A self-review aid, not an exam mark. Ticks are not saved.

Trace the model’s three jobs

Find the evidence in the model
JobSentence openingWhat it contributes
AnnounceNos séances… auront désormais lieu…The new day and time.
ExplainPlusieurs membres travaillent…The work conflict that causes the change.
RequestPourriez-vous me confirmer… ?The requested reply and its deadline.

The sentence about preparing the next session supports the request. It explains why replies help the organiser. If your draft only says Merci pour vos réponses, add the actual question: thanks alone leaves the requested action unclear.

Question 1No account needed
Which point is required by this prompt?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Ask members to confirm their availability before Monday.. Demandez-leur de confirmer leur disponibilité avant lundi directly requests that action.

Question 2No account needed
What does vous pouvez ajouter make the thank-you?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

An optional addition.. Vous pouvez ajouter offers an extra. The three imperative instructions still need clear answers.