Key rules at a glance

Part of The 90-word task: three time frames, every bullet · Section 3 of 4

Key FactsUnit: Writing: 50, 90 and 150 Words + Translation into FrenchGCSE

This key facts covers Key rules at a glance within The 90-word task: three time frames, every bullet for GCSE French. Revise The 90-word task: three time frames, every bullet in Writing: 50, 90 and 150 Words + Translation into French for GCSE French with 15 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 4 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

📌 Key rules at a glance

  • Both bullets = non-negotiable: missing one bullet means a maximum of 2–3 out of 5 for communication regardless of quality
  • Three tenses minimum: present + past (perfect) + future (near future counts) — each tense used correctly lifts your language band
  • Opinions with justifications: je pense que… parce que / il me semble que… car — develop every opinion with a reason
  • Connectives create range: swap basic et/mais for cependant/toutefois at Higher level
  • 85–100 words is the sweet spot: under 70 hurts content marks; over 120 wastes exam time
  • Mark split: 5 communication + 5 language = 10 marks total

Practice questions for The 90-word task: three time frames, every bullet

The 90-word writing task (Question 2, Paper 4) is worth how many marks in total?

  • A. 20 marks
  • B. 16 marks
  • C. 10 marks
  • D. 25 marks
1 markfoundation

What is the KEY difference between the 90-word task and the 50-word task in terms of mark scheme requirements?

  • A. The 90-word task requires bullet points to be answered in full sentences.
  • B. The 90-word task requires at least 2 (ideally 3) different time frames.
  • C. The 90-word task is marked on handwriting quality.
  • D. The 90-word task allows answers in English if French vocabulary is unknown.
1 markfoundation

Quick recall flashcards

c'était + adjective
It was + adjective. A gold-standard Foundation phrase for past opinions: 'C'était génial / formidable / ennuyeux / affreux.' Shows imperfect tense usage with zero risk of conjugation error.
j'espère + infinitive
I hope to... 'J'espère visiter le Japon.' = I hope to visit Japan. 'J'espère aller à l'université.' = I hope to go to university. A safe way to express future plans without needing the inflectional future tense.

15 questions on The 90-word task: three time frames, every bullet — practise free

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