Two more original A Level French translation passages, one in each direction, with model versions and notes on what each one is testing.
They follow on from the six passages on the main A Level French translation practice page, which also explains how translation is marked on each board. Work through each passage the same way: spot the traps, write your own version, check it for common slips, then compare it with the model and tick off what you got right. Your work saves on this device as you type, and you can print it or save it as a PDF.
Passage 7: into English (french cinema)
The trap in this direction is not vocabulary. You already speak English, so a clumsy version sounds acceptable to you in a way it would not to a reader coming to it cold.
Passage 7: French cinema French → English
French original
Le cinéma français ne s'est jamais aussi bien porté à l'étranger, mais en France même, les salles peinent à retrouver leur public. Les plateformes de streaming, accusées de tous les maux, ne sont pourtant pas seules en cause. Le prix des places a augmenté plus vite que les salaires, et une sortie au cinéma revient désormais cher pour une famille. Certaines salles indépendantes ont choisi de miser sur l'expérience collective : débats avec les réalisateurs, projections en plein air, séances à tarif réduit pour les jeunes. Reste à savoir si ces initiatives suffiront à faire revenir ceux qui ont pris l'habitude de regarder des films chez eux.
Model version
French cinema has never done so well abroad, but in France itself cinemas are struggling to win back their audiences. Streaming platforms, blamed for every ill, are not the only ones at fault, however. Ticket prices have risen faster than wages, and a trip to the cinema is now expensive for a family. Some independent cinemas have chosen to bank on the shared experience: discussions with directors, open-air screenings and reduced-price showings for young people. It remains to be seen whether these initiatives will be enough to bring back those who have got into the habit of watching films at home.
What it was testing
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Idioms and set phrases ne s'est jamais aussi bien porté Se porter bien means "to be in good health"; here, "has never done so well". The perfect with jamais needs an English perfect.
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Vocabulary and false friends en France même Même after a noun means "itself", not "even": "in France itself".
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Vocabulary and false friends les salles peinent à Les salles are cinemas, not rooms. Peiner à means "to struggle to".
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Idioms and set phrases accusées de tous les maux "Blamed for everything" or "blamed for every ill". A literal "accused of all the evils" is not English.
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Idioms and set phrases revient cher Revenir cher means "to cost a lot", not "to come back expensive".
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Idioms and set phrases miser sur "To bank on" or "to bet on".
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Idioms and set phrases Reste à savoir si An impersonal construction with the il dropped: "it remains to be seen whether". Learn it whole.
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Sentence structure faire revenir Causative faire: "to bring back", "to get people to come back".
Vocabulary for this topic: Le septième art crossword
Passage 8: into French (young people and politics)
The trap in this direction is grammar you know but forget under time pressure: agreements, tense sequence, and the subjunctive after its trigger. Every one of them sits inside a marked segment.
Passage 8: Young people and politics English → French
English original
Young people are often accused of not being interested in politics. However, the figures suggest otherwise. While fewer of them vote, many sign petitions, take part in demonstrations or join associations. What they reject is not politics itself but the way it is done. They want to be listened to before decisions are taken, not after. If parties want to win back their trust, they will have to give them a real voice. Otherwise, the gap between the generations is likely to widen.
Model version
On reproche souvent aux jeunes de ne pas s'intéresser à la politique. Pourtant, les chiffres suggèrent autre chose. S'ils sont moins nombreux à voter, beaucoup signent des pétitions, participent à des manifestations ou adhèrent à des associations. Ce qu'ils rejettent, ce n'est pas la politique elle-même, mais la manière dont elle se fait. Ils veulent qu'on les écoute avant que les décisions soient prises, et non après. Si les partis veulent regagner leur confiance, il faudra qu'ils leur donnent une vraie voix. Sinon, le fossé entre les générations risque de se creuser.
What it was testing
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Sentence structure are often accused of Reprocher takes à + person, so "young people are accused" cannot become les jeunes sont reprochés. Use on: on reproche souvent aux jeunes de…
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Sentence structure fewer of them vote Ils sont moins nombreux à voter: the standard French way to compare numbers of people.
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Vocabulary and false friends While "While" is concessive here, so si (or même si), not pendant que, which is about time.
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Sentence structure What they reject is not… but… The split sentence Ce qu'ils rejettent, ce n'est pas… mais… mirrors the English emphasis.
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Sentence structure the way it is done La manière dont elle se fait: dont after manière, and a pronominal verb in place of the passive.
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Subjunctive and conditional They want to be listened to Ils veulent qu'on les écoute: vouloir que + subjunctive, with on replacing the passive. Ils veulent être écoutés is also correct.
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Subjunctive and conditional before decisions are taken Avant que + subjunctive: avant que les décisions soient prises, with agreement on prises.
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Subjunctive and conditional they will have to Il faudra qu'ils leur donnent: il faut que in the future, still followed by the subjunctive. Ils devront leur donner also works.
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Sentence structure is likely to widen Risque de se creuser. Risquer de is the usual way to express an unwelcome likelihood.
Vocabulary for this topic: Les jeunes et l'engagement politique crossword
More practice
If you would like your translations marked, that is a large part of what I do in A Level lessons. See the French tuition page or book a free 15-minute call. The A Level French Grammar Course covers the structures these passages test.
The passages on this page are original and were written for this guide.
