Lettres 'AS'

1. Write on alternate lines !

2. Read the question carefully and do exactly what it asks for - summarise, criticise, offer reasons whatever. If not you will lose marks.

3. Letter writing:
Address it properly ( Cher Jean / Cher Monsieur Dupont / Chère Irène / Chère Madame Dupond or Monsieur, Madame).

4. Write at least 100 words or you will only be able to get 2/3 of the marks.

5. You need both comprehension points from the stimulus and also some personal reaction to get a good mark for communication. Therefore read the text and extract the relevant points with a luminous marker. Don't forget you can never use more than 6 words in order from the text / tape - so try as much as possible to rephrase. Keep it simple too !

6. Be consistent with TU and VOUS and check your verb endings....
Watch for participle agreements
Check less common things like the imperatives using TU / VOUS or get your modal verbs - pouvoir / devoir / falloir out !

7. See if you can get a passive and a conditional in there somewhere. Try out some parce que or que clauses and get a SUBJUNCTIVE in there too.

8. General Language points : verbs, (possessive) adjectives and cases. At the very least, be consistent and wrong rather than all over the place. Try and nail those adjective endings. It might sound patronising, but don't forget the BASICS.

9. Have some useful letter phrases ready to deploy and make your own collection. Here are some to start you off !

Merci bien pour ta dernière lettre que j'ai reçue hier.
Je viens de lire cet article et j'ai pensé à toi parce que....
Je trouve que cette idée est incroyable / folle / géniale / inexplicable, parce que ....

10. Have some useful opinion phrases ready to deploy and make your own collection. Here are some to start you off !

Je crois que / je pense que
C'est une fantastique idée parce que
À mon avis
...... serait la meilleure solution
Il faut que..... / Tu dois .....
On ne doit pas oublier que