In simple terms
A friendly intro before the formal notes — no formulas yet.
The Detective's Guide to French Paper 2
Paper 2 is less about knowing every single word and more about being a skilled detective. This paper tests your ability to strategically find and interpret evidence (information) within a set of documents (texts) to solve a case (answer the questions).
Imagine a text is a crime scene and the questions are your leads. A bad detective wanders around aimlessly, hoping to stumble upon a clue. A great detective reads the leads first (the questions), knows what they're looking for (keywords), and then systematically searches the scene (the text) for specific evidence. You don't need to memorise the entire room, just find the exact proof needed to close the case.
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Preview the scene: Skim the text's title, subheadings, and images to understand the general context and text type in under 2 minutes.
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Analyse your leads: Read the questions carefully before reading the text in detail. Underline command terms and keywords to focus your search.
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Gather evidence: Scan the text for the keywords you identified. Once you find a relevant section, read it closely to extract the precise information needed.
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Present your findings: Formulate your answer clearly and concisely. For justification questions, quote the exact evidence from the text that proves your point.
Explore the concept
Use the live diagram and synced steps — play it or tap a step card to walk through.
Full topic notes
Formal explanation with the rigour you need for the exam.
Criterion A: The Sole Focus of Paper 2
Paper 2 is assessed exclusively on Criterion A: Compréhension. This criterion measures your ability to understand the written texts and respond appropriately to the questions. Unlike other papers, there are no marks for language or message here. Your entire focus should be on demonstrating clear and accurate understanding.
Top Band (9-10 marks): To score in this range, you must show 'very good comprehension' and provide responses that are 'consistently accurate and effective'. This means your answers are correct, directly address the question, and are supported by relevant textual evidence where required.
Precision is Paramount: Vague answers will not score well. If the question asks 'why', your answer must explain the reason. If it asks 'who', you must name the person or group.
No Negative Marking: You are not penalised for incorrect answers, so it is always worth attempting every question.
Follow Instructions: Pay close attention to the number of details required or if you need to quote from the text. Failing to follow these instructions can cost you marks, even if your underlying comprehension is strong.
The Three-Pass Strategy for Efficient Reading
Time is limited, so you cannot afford to read passively. A structured approach ensures you use every minute effectively. The three-pass strategy turns you from a passive reader into an active information hunter.
Pass 1: Le Survol (Skimming - 1-2 minutes): Before reading a single question, quickly skim the text. Look at the title, any subheadings, images, and the source (e.g., 'Extrait d'un blog', 'Article du Monde'). This gives you the 'idée générale', the text type, and the likely theme, which activates relevant vocabulary in your mind.
Pass 2: L'Analyse des Questions: Now, read all the questions for that text. Underline the key command terms ('Justifiez', 'Repérez') and question words ('Pourquoi', 'Comment', 'Qui'). This creates a mental checklist of what you are looking for. Your brain is now primed to find specific information.
Pass 3: Le Balayage et la Lecture Approfondie (Scanning and Close Reading): Begin reading the text from the start. Your eyes will naturally be drawn to information related to the questions you've just analysed. When you find a sentence or section that seems relevant, slow down and read it carefully (close reading) to confirm it contains the answer. Highlight or underline the exact phrase.
Deconstructing Common Question Types
Familiarity with the different question formats allows you to anticipate what's required and answer more effectively.
Questions à choix multiple (QCM): Eliminate the obviously incorrect options first. Then, carefully compare the remaining options with the text. Beware of 'distracteurs' which use keywords from the text but in a misleading context.
Réponses courtes: Be concise and to the point. Often, a phrase is better than a full sentence. While you should use vocabulary from the text, slightly rephrasing shows a higher level of comprehension than just copying a chunk of text.
Repérer l'expression: This is a test of precision. You must find the exact word or phrase in the text that is a synonym for or definition of the one given in the question. Copy it exactly as it appears, including any relevant articles or prepositions.
Tableaux à remplir: These questions test your ability to synthesise and categorise information. Read the column and row headings carefully first. Then, scan the text for the relevant details to populate each box. The information may be spread throughout the text.
Strategies for Unfamiliar Vocabulary
You will inevitably encounter words you don't know. Panicking is not a strategy. Instead, use these techniques to make an educated guess.
Use Context: Read the sentences before and after the unknown word. The overall meaning of the paragraph can provide strong clues.
Break Down the Word (Morphology): Look for prefixes (e.g., 're-', 'dé-', 'in-'), suffixes (e.g., '-tion', '-ment', '-able'), and root words you might recognise.
Identify Cognates: Look for words that resemble English words (e.g., 'flexibilité', 'entreprise'). However, be cautious of 'faux amis' (false friends) like 'librairie' (bookshop, not library) or 'actuellement' (currently, not actually).
Determine the Word's Function: Is it a noun, a verb, an adjective? Understanding its grammatical role in the sentence can help you narrow down its possible meaning.
Manage your time strictly. You have 60 minutes for three texts. Allocate roughly 20 minutes per text. If a question is taking too long, make your best guess, mark it, and move on. You can return to it at the end if you have time. It's better to answer all questions reasonably well than to perfect one section and run out of time for another.
Worked examples
See the formulas applied — reveal one step at a time, like the exam.
Texte (fictif): 'Le télétravail, autrefois une option de niche, est devenu la norme pour beaucoup de cadres parisiens. Une enquête de l'IFOP révèle que si 70% apprécient la flexibilité, près de la moitié se plaignent d'un sentiment d'isolement. Pour contrer ce phénomène, l'entreprise TechSolutions a mis en place des 'cafés virtuels' hebdomadaires, mais leur participation reste faible, les employés citant la 'fatigue de l'écran'.'
Affirmation: La majorité des cadres parisiens en télétravail se sentent isolés.
Cochez la bonne case et justifiez votre réponse par une citation du texte.
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Réponse: [ ] Vrai [X] Faux [ ] Pas mentionné
Using the same text on 'télétravail':
Question: Selon le texte, quelle est la raison pour laquelle les 'cafés virtuels' de TechSolutions ne sont pas populaires ? (Réponse courte)
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Model Answer (High-scoring): 'La raison est la 'fatigue de l'écran' ressentie par les employés.'
How it all connects
The big idea sits in the middle — tap a linked idea to explore the link.
Tap a linked idea to see how it connects back to the main topic — that connection is what examiners reward.
Glossary
Try to recall each definition before you reveal it.
Quick check
Answer in your head first — then tap to check. No pressure.
Revision flashcards
Flip the card. Test yourself before the exam.
Repérer
A command term meaning 'to locate' or 'to find'. You must find the specific word or phrase in the text.
Key takeaways
Review these before you close the topic — retrieval beats re-reading.
- ✓
Top Band (9-10 marks): To score in this range, you must show 'very good comprehension' and provide responses that are 'consistently accurate and effective'. This means your answers are correct, directly address the question, and are supported by relevant textual evidence where required.
- ✓
Precision is Paramount: Vague answers will not score well. If the question asks 'why', your answer must explain the reason. If it asks 'who', you must name the person or group.
- ✓
No Negative Marking: You are not penalised for incorrect answers, so it is always worth attempting every question.
- ✓
Follow Instructions: Pay close attention to the number of details required or if you need to quote from the text. Failing to follow these instructions can cost you marks, even if your underlying comprehension is strong.
Practice — then mark it
The whole point: a real Cambridge question, marked mark-by-mark.
Test Your Comprehension Skills
Test Your Comprehension Skills
Extra simulations & links
PhET, GeoGebra and other curated tools — open in a new tab.
Checkpoint
One marked question is worth ten re-reads — close the loop before you move on.
Reading it isn’t knowing it — prove it.
Before you move on: do Test Your Comprehension Skills on paper, snap a photo, and get examiner-style feedback on exactly where you win and lose marks.