GACE French

The French assessment, offered as part of the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators, is divided into two tests.

The first test consists of 50 selected-response questions (70% of the test score) and 2 constructed-response assignments (30% of the test score). The content areas covered by the first test are listening comprehension, language structures, language comparisons, and oral expressions. The topics covered by the listening comprehension subarea are: the techniques for deriving, interpreting, and analyzing essential information from culturally authentic oral messages in French. The topics covered by the language studies and comparisons subarea are: the linguistic structures of French; variations within French; and the connections between French and English. The topic covered by the oral expression subarea is the ability to communicate an effective oral message in French using appropriate vocabulary and linguistic structures.

The second test consists of 50 selected-response questions (70% of the test score) and 2 constructed-response questions (30% of the test score). The content areas covered by the second test are reading comprehension, cultural perspectives and connections, and written expressions. The topics covered by the reading comprehension subarea are: discerning, interpreting, and analyzing the literal content of authentic materials written in French, including brochures, websites, newspaper articles, and literature;. The topics covered by the cultural perspectives and connections subarea are: the relationships between the products and perspectives of French-speaking cultures; and the relationship between the historical development, geographic features, and practices of French-speaking cultures. The topic covered by the written expression subarea is the ability to respond to a prompt with an effective written message in French using appropriate vocabulary, syntax, and mechanical conventions.

The examination must be completed within four hours. The total test score is placed on a scale of 100 to 300, with 220 as the lowest passing score. Scores are based on the number of selected-response questions answered correctly and the scores assigned by judges to the constructed responses. Test-takers will also receive performance indices indicating their success in each subarea of the examination. Scores will be available approximately a month after the date of the examination; unofficial results are posted on the internet, and an official score report is mailed to the test-taker, the Professional Standards Commission, and the institution specified by the test-taker during registration.

GACE French Practice Questions

1. Translate the following: Est-ce que tu veux quelque chose?

A: Are you getting something?
B: Can I get you something?
C: Do you want that thing?
D: Do you want something?

2. In which of the following scenarios is the imperfect tense NOT used?

A: to describe a regular action that occurred in the past
B: to describe a past action that came before another past action
C: to describe an ongoing action that occurred in the past
D: to describe conditions as they existed in the past

3. Which mood is used to suggest uncertainty or hypothetical situations?

A: subjunctive
B: indicative
C: infinitive
D: imperative

4. Translate the following: Renee est plus intelligente que Thomas.

A: Renee is impressed with Thomas' intelligence.
B: Thomas is more intelligent than Renee.
C: Renee is just as intelligent as Thomas.
D: Renee is more intelligent than Thomas.

5. In which situation is the preposition de used?

A: to introduce a direct object
B: with periods of time
C: to indicate possession
D: to indicate a characteristic

Answer Key

1. D. The word quelque indicates an uncertain number of things.
2. B. In this case, the pluperfect would be used.
3. A. The subjunctive mood suggests that the action of the verb cannot be confirmed.
4. D. In French, the construction plus…que is used to indicate more… than.
5. C. The preposition de is similar to of in English.