Demonstrate understanding of a variety of written and/or visual French text(s) on familiar matters
This is an external exam (sat in the NCEA exam period, marked by NZQA) worth 5 credits. Students read and look at a variety of French texts — things like articles, letters, blog posts, advertisements, or interviews — and answer questions in English, Māori, or French to show they understand what the texts mean. The texts are about everyday topics like relationships, environment, school, or culture. The 2025 exam included texts about cats threatening New Zealand wildlife, a letter between pen pals organising a visit, and an interview with two Tahitian sisters who studied in New Zealand.
You get the gist of each text and can pick out some correct information. Your answers may be short or a bit vague, and you might misread some vocabulary or numbers, but you show a basic understanding of what each text is about.
You clearly understand each text and can pick out the right details to answer each question. You attempt to draw links and conclusions from the text. You may still miss a few key details or misunderstand the odd word or phrase, but your answers are well-supported and unambiguous.
You show thorough understanding of the full text — including tricky vocabulary, implied meanings, and conclusions the author is pointing toward. Your answers are clear, well-organised, and backed up with precise evidence from the text. You can correctly interpret 'false friends' (words that look like English but mean something different) and draw logical inferences that go beyond just repeating what the text says.
Standards typically taken alongside or after this one. Same subject, grouped by level.