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Cambridge IGCSE French as a Foreign Language Past Papers
Official question papers, mark schemes and examiner reports.
133 papers18 exam sessionsFree to download
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Navigator’s note
Using the Incorrect Tense or Time Frame
Check the time frame in every bullet point before answering.
All 6 examiner tipsCambridge IGCSE French as a Foreign Language papers by session
November 2021
9 papersLatest seriesJune 2021
9 papersMarch 2021
3 papersExaminer InsightsCambridge IGCSE French as a Foreign Language
Where marks are made.
Spot the common mistake. Make the precise correction.
01Common mistake
Using the Incorrect Tense or Time Frame
Students often answer in a different tense from the one required by the task. For example, they may write about the present when the question asks about a past event, future plan or intention.
How to solve it
Check the time frame in every bullet point before answering.
Look for clues such as récemment or le week-end dernier for the past, and use suitable structures such as je voudrais + infinitive for wishes or intentions. Make sure your tense matches what the question is asking.
Check the command word before you write.
02Common mistake
Answering in the Wrong Person in Reading
Students sometimes copy directly from the text and leave the answer in the first person, even when the question requires a response about another person.
How to solve it
Adapt the language from the passage so that the person matches the question.
Change pronouns, possessive adjectives and verb forms where necessary, such as ma → sa or je suis → il/elle est.
Check the command word before you write.
03Common mistake
Omitting Reflexive Pronouns
Students often forget the reflexive pronoun when using verbs such as se détendre, se relaxer, se reposer, s’amuser or se marier.
How to solve it
Learn reflexive verbs together with their pronouns rather than as isolated verbs.
For example, write je me repose or je me détends, not simply je repose or je détends, and check that the pronoun agrees with the subject.
Check the command word before you write.
04Common mistake
Misunderstanding Question Words
Students sometimes give irrelevant answers because they misunderstand common question words such as où, quand, qui and combien.
How to solve it
Learn the main interrogative words thoroughly and identify them before answering.
Remember that où asks about a place, quand about time, qui about a person and combien about a number, quantity or price.
Check the command word before you write.
05Common mistake
Confusing Travailler and Voyager
Students sometimes use travailler when they actually mean voyager, confusing the ideas of working and travelling.
How to solve it
Keep the two verbs clearly separate in your vocabulary.
Travailler means “to work” and is linked to le travail, while voyager means “to travel” and is linked to le voyage.
Check the command word before you write.
06Common mistake
Falling for Keywords and Missing Negatives in Listening
Students often hear a familiar word and immediately choose an answer without listening to the full sentence. This can cause them to miss negatives or qualifiers that completely change the meaning.
How to solve it
Listen for the whole meaning, not just individual keywords.
Pay particular attention to negatives such as ne…pas and ne…jamais, as well as words such as presque and sauf, which can make an obvious-looking answer incorrect
Check the command word before you write.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any changes to Cambridge IGCSE French for 2027 compared with 2026?
No. Cambridge IGCSE French (0520 / 7156) follows the same 2025–2027 syllabus, so the content, assessment structure and paper format remain the same in 2027. Resources designed for the 2025–2027 syllabus are therefore suitable for both years.
When was the Cambridge IGCSE French syllabus last changed?
The most recent major update to Cambridge IGCSE French (0520) took effect for the 2025–2027 exam cycle. The previous major structural revision was introduced for the 2021 examination series, and the next update is planned for the 2028–2030 syllabus cycle.
How do I know if Cambridge IGCSE French is the right syllabus code for me?
Check your school registration, student portal or Statement of Entry. For exams in 2026 or 2027, most students take French (0520), while schools using the 9–1 grading system may use 7156. You should also confirm your exam year and assessment route, as Cambridge introduces new French syllabus codes from 2028.
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