GCSE-readyVocabulary: school life, rules and exams
Subjects, places and people at school, and the words for rules, marks and exams.
Subjects
| French | English |
|---|---|
| les sciences (f) | science |
| la chimie | chemistry |
| la physique | physics |
| la biologie | biology |
| l'histoire (f) | history |
| la géographie | geography |
| l'anglais (m) | English |
| l'allemand (m) | German |
| l'espagnol (m) | Spanish |
| l'informatique (f) | ICT, computing |
| le dessin | art, drawing |
| l'EPS (f) | PE |
| la musique | music |
| la matière | school subject |
Places, people and the school day
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la salle de classe | classroom |
| le laboratoire | laboratory |
| le gymnase | gym |
| la cour | playground |
| la cantine | canteen |
| l'élève (m / f) | pupil |
| le professeur | teacher |
| le directeur, la directrice | head teacher |
| le collège | secondary school (11 to 15) |
| le lycée | sixth-form college (15 to 18) |
| l'école primaire (f) | primary school |
| la récréation | break |
| l'emploi du temps (m) | timetable |
| le trimestre | term |
| la rentrée | start of the school year |
Work, rules and exams
| French | English |
|---|---|
| les devoirs (m) | homework |
| le cahier | exercise book |
| la trousse | pencil case |
| la règle | ruler, rule |
| l'examen (m) | exam |
| passer un examen | to sit an exam |
| réussir à un examen | to pass an exam |
| rater un examen | to fail an exam |
| la note | mark, grade |
| le bulletin scolaire | school report |
| la retenue | detention |
| l'uniforme (m) | uniform |
| obligatoire | compulsory |
| interdit(e) | forbidden |
| sévère | strict |
| le harcèlement (H) | bullying |
Translate: Yesterday I sat my chemistry exam and I hope that I passed.
- sat an exam = passé un examen (false friend)
- chemistry exam = examen de chimie
- I passed = j'ai réussi
Answer: Hier, j'ai passé mon examen de chimie et j'espère que j'ai réussi.
Les sciences, la chimie, la physique, l'histoire, l'informatique, l'EPS, la matière. La salle de classe, la cour, la cantine, l'élève, le collège, le lycée, l'emploi du temps, la rentrée. Les devoirs, la trousse, la règle, passer / réussir / rater un examen, la note, la retenue, obligatoire, interdit.
- les sciences
- science
- l'histoire
- history
- le collège
- secondary school
- le lycée
- sixth form, upper school
- les devoirs
- homework
- réussir
- to succeed, to pass
All GCSE and International GCSE French key terms and definitions →
- Not “I passed an exam”. To pass is réussir.
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What does l'allemand (m) mean?
- English
- Spanish
- art
- German
Show the answer
Answer: German
L'allemand = German.
Which is the French for "history"?
- la géographie
- l'histoire (f)
- l'allemand (m)
- la chimie
Show the answer
Answer: l'histoire (f)
History = l'histoire.
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- Pearson Edexcel GCSE French (1FR1) specification
- Pearson Edexcel International GCSE French (4FR1) specification
Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.