Why is "Writing *de le* or *à le* instead of *du* and *au* (je fais de le sport)" a common mistake in Sport and exercise?

Why it happens: Beginners build the phrase piece by piece (de + le) and forget that French forces a contraction. How to avoid it: Memorise the rule: *de + le = du*, *à + le = au*, *à + les = aux*. They are not optional. Only *de la, à la, de l', à l'* stay uncontracted: *je fais **du** sport*, *je joue **au** foot*. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy

Why is "Using the wrong verb (je fais au foot, or je joue de la natation)" a common mistake in Sport and exercise?

Why it happens: Learners pick one verb for all sports instead of matching the verb to the activity type. How to avoid it: Sort each sport: ball/team game → *jouer à* (*je joue au foot*); other activity → *faire de* (*je fais de la natation*); a place → *aller à*. When in doubt, ball games take *jouer*, everything else takes *faire*. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4

Why is "Using du/de la after an opinion verb (j'aime du sport)" a common mistake in Sport and exercise?

Why it happens: Students carry the *faire du sport* pattern across to *aimer*, where it doesn't belong. How to avoid it: After *aimer, adorer, préférer, détester*, use the definite article: *j'aime **le** sport*, *je préfère **la** natation*. Keep *du/de la* for *faire* only. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)

Why is "Giving an opinion with no reason (just 'j'aime le foot')" a common mistake in Sport and exercise?

Why it happens: Beginners answer the question literally and stop, not realising reasons earn higher marks. How to avoid it: Always extend with *parce que* + *c'est* + adjective: *j'aime le foot **parce que c'est amusant***. One reason per opinion is the quickest way to climb the bands. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking)

Why is "Mis-conjugating faire (saying 'vous faisez' or 'nous faisez')" a common mistake in Sport and exercise?

Why it happens: *faire* is irregular, but learners apply regular -er endings to it. How to avoid it: Drill the irregular forms: *nous **faisons***, *vous **faites***, *ils/elles **font***. *vous faites* and *ils font* are the two most often wrong. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 1 (Listening) & Paper 3

Why is "Pronouncing sport words with an English accent (TEN-iss, FOOT-ball)" a common mistake in Sport and exercise?

Why it happens: Many French sport words look like English, so learners say them the English way. How to avoid it: Say them the French way: *tennis* = tay-NEES, *football* = foot-BOL, *basket* = bas-KET, with even stress and a slight lift on the last syllable. Practise aloud, not just on paper. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking), pronunciation

Cambridge IGCSE French (0520)

Sport and exercise

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Detailed Study Notes

Detailed notes on Topic Area 1 - Everyday Activities for Cambridge IGCSE French, covering key concepts, explanations, examples, and exam-focused revision points.

Sport and exercise in French — vocabulary, verbs and opinions — Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 (2025-2027)

Learn the French words for sports and exercise, the three key verbs (jouer, faire, aller) that say which sport you do, and ready-made opinion sentences with reasons and connectives that lift your Speaking and Writing marks.

At a glance

Three verbs say you 'do' a sport: jouer à (to play, for ball/team games), faire de (to do, for most other activities), and aller à (to go to, for places like the gym or pool).
jouer à + le → au: je joue au foot (I play football). faire de + le → du: je fais du sport (I do sport). These contractions are tested for accuracy.
Core sports to know: le football (football), le tennis (tennis), la natation (swimming), le vélo / le cyclisme (cycling), la danse (dance), le basket (basketball).
Say how often with frequency words: souvent (often), tous les jours (every day), une fois par semaine (once a week), le week-end (at the weekend).
Opinion + reason is the band-lifter: J'aime le foot parce que c'est amusant (I like football because it's fun). Always add parce que (because) + a reason.
Connectives join your ideas: et (and), mais (but), aussi (also), parce que (because), cependant (however). Examiners reward a range of these.
Use the near future aller + infinitive to talk about plans: je vais jouer au tennis demain (I'm going to play tennis tomorrow).
Watch the genders: le sport, la natation, le vélo. Getting the article right keeps your contractions (au/du) correct too.

What you’ll learn

Mapped to the Cambridge IGCSE 0520 syllabus (2025-2027).

Recognise and use the core French vocabulary for sports, exercise and related places.
Choose correctly between jouer à, faire de and aller à to say which sport or activity you do.
Form the contractions au/aux and du/de la/des accurately with sports vocabulary.
Express how often you do an activity using frequency expressions.
Give opinions about sport with reasons, using parce que and a range of connectives.
Use the near future (aller + infinitive) to describe sporting plans.
Build reusable question-and-answer frames for the Speaking exam and short writing tasks on sport.

Core sport and exercise vocabulary

The essential French words for sports and exercise, with pronunciation and gender.

Let's start with the words themselves. Notice the gender (le = masculine, la = feminine) — you need it to pick the right contraction later (au vs du). A few sports keep an English-looking spelling but are pronounced the French way.

French	Pronunciation	English
le sport	luh spor	sport
le football / le foot	luh foot-BOL / luh foot	football
le tennis	luh tay-NEES	tennis
le basket(-ball)	luh bas-KET	basketball
le rugby	luh ruug-BEE	rugby
la natation	la na-ta-SYON	swimming
le vélo / le cyclisme	luh vay-LO / luh see-KLEESM	cycling
la danse	la dahnss	dance/dancing
la course (à pied)	la koorss (a pyay)	running
la gymnastique / la gym	la zheem-na-STEEK	gymnastics/gym
le ski	luh skee	skiing
l'équitation (f)	lay-kee-ta-SYON	horse riding

Useful related nouns and places.

French	Pronunciation	English
le stade	luh stad	stadium
la piscine	la pee-SEEN	swimming pool
le gymnase	luh zheem-NAZ	gym/sports hall
le terrain	luh tay-RAN	pitch/court
une équipe	ün ay-KEEP	a team
un match	uhn match	a match
l'entraînement (m)	lon-trenn-MON	training

Worked mini-example. If you want to say "I love swimming", you need la natation (swimming). Because it is an activity, you'll use faire de (see the next section): J'adore faire de la natation (I love swimming). One word at a time — you already have the building blocks.

Learn each sport with its article (le/la) — you need the gender for au/du later.
le football, le tennis, le vélo are masculine; la natation, la danse, la gym are feminine.
Place words matter too: la piscine (pool), le stade (stadium), le gymnase (gym).
le foot and le basket are common short forms of le football and le basket-ball.

jouer à, faire de or aller à? — the key choice

Three verbs say you do a sport; choosing the right one is the heart of this topic.

How to choose between jouer à, faire de and aller à, with the contractions.

This is the single most important grammar point in the topic. French uses different verbs depending on the type of activity.

1. jouer à (to play) — for games you play, especially ball and team games. After jouer à, the à combines with the article:

à + le → au: je joue au foot (I play football), je joue au tennis (I play tennis).
à + la → stays à la: je joue à la pétanque (I play boules).
à + les → aux: je joue aux cartes (I play cards).

2. faire de (to do) — for most other physical activities. After faire de, the de combines with the article:

de + le → du: je fais du sport (I do sport), je fais du vélo (I cycle).
de + la → stays de la: je fais de la natation (I swim), je fais de la danse (I dance).
de + l' → de l' (before a vowel): *je fais **de l'*équitation (I do horse riding).

3. aller à (to go to) — for going to a place.

je vais au stade (I go to the stadium), je vais à la piscine (I go to the pool), je vais au gymnase (I go to the gym).

Quick rule of thumb: if you can "play" it like a game (with a ball, on a pitch, with cards) → jouer à. Otherwise → faire de. To talk about the venue → aller à.

Worked mini-example. Translate "I play basketball and I do gymnastics." Basketball is a ball game → jouer au basket. Gymnastics is an activity → faire de la gym. Result: Je joue au basket et je fais de la gym.

jouer à = play (ball/team games): je joue au foot, au tennis, aux cartes.
faire de = do (most activities): je fais du sport, du vélo, de la natation, de la danse.
aller à = go to (a place): je vais à la piscine, au stade, au gymnase.
Contractions: à+le=au, à+les=aux, de+le=du; à la / de la / de l' stay as they are.

Conjugating jouer, faire and aller

The present-tense forms of the three key verbs, ready to drop into sentences.

To talk about yourself, a friend, or a group, you need the verb forms. Jouer is a regular -er verb; faire and aller are irregular but extremely common, so learn them by heart.

jouer (to play) — regular -er verb.

Subject	Form	Example
je	joue	je joue au foot (I play football)
tu	joues	tu joues au tennis (you play tennis)
il/elle	joue	elle joue au basket (she plays basketball)
nous	jouons	nous jouons au rugby (we play rugby)
vous	jouez	vous jouez aux cartes (you play cards)
ils/elles	jouent	ils jouent au foot (they play football)

(Note: joue, joues, jouent all sound the same — "zhoo" — because those endings are silent.)

faire (to do/make) — irregular.

Subject	Form	Example
je	fais	je fais du sport (I do sport)
tu	fais	tu fais du vélo (you cycle)
il/elle	fait	il fait de la natation (he swims)
nous	faisons	nous faisons de la danse (we dance)
vous	faites	vous faites du ski (you ski)
ils/elles	font	elles font de la gym (they do gym)

aller (to go) — irregular.

Subject	Form	Example
je	vais	je vais à la piscine (I go to the pool)
tu	vas	tu vas au stade (you go to the stadium)
il/elle	va	elle va au gymnase (she goes to the gym)
nous	allons	nous allons à la piscine (we go to the pool)
vous	allez	vous allez au match (you go to the match)
ils/elles	vont	ils vont au stade (they go to the stadium)

Worked mini-example. "My sister does dance and my brothers play football." Ma sœur takes elle → fait; mes frères takes ils → jouent. Result: Ma sœur fait de la danse et mes frères jouent au foot.

jouer is regular -er: je joue, tu joues, il joue, nous jouons, vous jouez, ils jouent.
faire (irregular): je fais, tu fais, il fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils font.
aller (irregular): je vais, tu vas, il va, nous allons, vous allez, ils vont.
The -e, -es, -ent endings of jouer are all silent, so they sound identical.

Saying how often — and talking about plans

Frequency expressions add detail; aller + infinitive talks about the future.

Examiners reward detail. Two easy ways to add it: say how often you do something, and say what you are going to do.

Frequency expressions.

French	Pronunciation	English
souvent	soo-VON	often
toujours	too-ZHOOR	always
quelquefois / parfois	kel-kuh-FWA	sometimes
rarement	rar-MON	rarely
tous les jours	too lay zhoor	every day
une fois par semaine	ün fwa par suh-MEN	once a week
deux fois par semaine	duh fwa par suh-MEN	twice a week
le week-end	luh week-END	at the weekend

These usually go after the verb: je joue souvent au tennis (I often play tennis); je fais du sport deux fois par semaine (I do sport twice a week).

The near future — aller + infinitive. To say what you are going to do, use the present tense of aller + an infinitive (the dictionary form of the verb). This is the easiest future in French.

je vais jouer au foot demain — I'm going to play football tomorrow.
nous allons faire du vélo ce week-end — we're going to cycle this weekend.
elle va aller à la piscine — she's going to go to the pool.

Handy time words: demain (tomorrow), ce week-end (this weekend), la semaine prochaine (next week), plus tard (later).

Worked mini-example. "I often go to the gym, and tomorrow I'm going to play tennis." Frequency souvent after the verb; near future vais + jouer. Result: Je vais souvent au gymnase, et demain je vais jouer au tennis. (Note je vais = I go AND begins the near future — context makes it clear.)

Frequency words go after the verb: je joue souvent au tennis.
Key ones: souvent (often), tous les jours (every day), une fois par semaine (once a week).
Near future = aller (present) + infinitive: je vais jouer (I'm going to play).
Add time markers: demain (tomorrow), ce week-end (this weekend).

Opinions with reasons and connectives — the band-lifter

Saying WHAT you think and WHY, joined with connectives, is what lifts you into the higher bands.

The opinion-with-reason formula and the connectives that join your ideas.

Naming a sport scores a basic mark. Giving an opinion with a reason is what moves you up the bands in Speaking (Paper 3) and Writing (Paper 4).

Opinion phrases (verbs of liking). Remember these take le/la/les before the sport (the definite article, used for likes/dislikes):

j'aime (I like) · j'adore (I love) · je préfère (I prefer) · je n'aime pas (I don't like) · je déteste (I hate).
J'adore le foot (I love football); je n'aime pas la course (I don't like running).

Reasons (use c'est + adjective).

French	Pronunciation	English
c'est amusant	say ta-mü-ZON	it's fun
c'est génial	say zhay-NYAL	it's great
c'est relaxant	say ruh-lak-SON	it's relaxing
c'est bon pour la santé	say bon poor la son-TAY	it's good for your health
c'est fatigant	say fa-tee-GON	it's tiring
c'est ennuyeux	say ton-nwee-YUH	it's boring
c'est dangereux	say don-zhuh-RUH	it's dangerous

Connectives (mots de liaison). These join your ideas and are explicitly rewarded:

et (and) · mais (but) · aussi (also/too) · ou (or) · parce que (because) · car (because/for) · donc (so/therefore) · cependant (however) · par contre (on the other hand).

Putting it together.

J'aime le foot parce que c'est amusant, mais je n'aime pas la course car c'est fatigant. Je fais aussi de la natation, donc je suis en forme. (I like football because it's fun, but I don't like running because it's tiring. I also swim, so I'm fit.)

That single answer contains four connectives, two opinions, two reasons and a frequency idea — exactly the range examiners reward.

Worked mini-example. Build an opinion: like + tennis + because + relaxing. → J'aime le tennis parce que c'est relaxant. Now add a contrast: …mais je déteste le rugby car c'est dangereux.

Opinion verbs take the definite article: j'aime le foot, je déteste la course.
Always justify: parce que / car + a reason (c'est amusant, c'est fatigant).
Reasons use c'est + adjective: amusant, génial, relaxant, ennuyeux, fatigant.
Connectives lift the band: et, mais, aussi, parce que, donc, cependant, par contre.

Question and answer frames for Speaking and Writing

Ready-made Q&A patterns you can reuse straight into Paper 3 and Paper 4.

Examiners ask predictable questions about sport. Learn these frames and just swap in your own details — they work in both the Speaking exam and short writing tasks.

Question (with English)	Frame for your answer
Quel sport fais-tu ? (What sport do you do?)	Je fais du / de la ___, et je joue au ___.
Tu aimes le sport ? (Do you like sport?)	Oui, j'adore le sport parce que c'est ___.
Quel est ton sport préféré ? (What's your favourite sport?)	Mon sport préféré, c'est ___, parce que ___.
Tu fais du sport souvent ? (Do you do sport often?)	Je fais du sport ___ (souvent / deux fois par semaine).
Où fais-tu du sport ? (Where do you do sport?)	Je vais ___ (au stade / à la piscine / au gymnase).
Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ? (What are you going to do this weekend?)	Ce week-end, je vais ___ (jouer au foot / faire du vélo).
Tu n'aimes pas quel sport ? (Which sport don't you like?)	Je n'aime pas le ___ parce que c'est ___.

A model spoken answer (stitched from the frames):

Mon sport préféré, c'est le tennis, parce que c'est amusant et bon pour la santé. Je joue au tennis deux fois par semaine au gymnase. J'aime aussi la natation, mais je n'aime pas la course parce que c'est fatigant. Ce week-end, je vais jouer au tennis avec mon ami. (My favourite sport is tennis, because it's fun and good for your health. I play tennis twice a week at the sports hall. I also like swimming, but I don't like running because it's tiring. This weekend, I'm going to play tennis with my friend.)

That answer uses the right verbs (jouer au, faire de, aller), an opinion with reasons, connectives, a frequency phrase, and the near future — a complete, high-scoring response built entirely from reusable frames.

Worked mini-example. Answer Quel est ton sport préféré ? Pick swimming. Use the frame: Mon sport préféré, c'est ___, parce que ___. → Mon sport préféré, c'est la natation, parce que c'est relaxant.

Learn frames, then swap in your details — they reuse across Speaking and Writing.
Favourite: Mon sport préféré, c'est ___, parce que ___.
Frequency: Je fais du sport souvent / deux fois par semaine.
Plans: Ce week-end, je vais jouer au foot / faire du vélo.

Quick recap

Three verbs say which sport: jouer à (ball/team games), faire de (most activities), aller à (places).
Contractions: à+le=au, à+les=aux, de+le=du; je joue au foot, je fais du vélo, je vais à la piscine.
Learn each sport with its gender: le football/tennis/vélo; la natation/danse/gym.
Conjugate the big three: jouer (regular -er), faire (je fais… nous faisons… ils font), aller (je vais… nous allons… ils vont).
Add detail with frequency (souvent, tous les jours, une fois par semaine) and the near future (aller + infinitive).
Opinion verbs (j'aime/je déteste) take le/la; always add parce que + a reason (c'est amusant/fatigant).
Connectives (et, mais, aussi, parce que, donc, cependant) and reusable Q&A frames lift your Speaking and Writing bands.

Memorise this

Verbatim phrases and definitions Cambridge mark schemes credit.

jouer à (play, ball games): je joue au foot, aux cartes.
faire de (do, activities): je fais du sport, de la natation, de l'équitation.
aller à (go to a place): je vais à la piscine, au stade, au gymnase.
Contractions: à+le=au, à+les=aux, de+le=du.
faire: je fais, tu fais, il fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils font.
aller: je vais, tu vas, il va, nous allons, vous allez, ils vont.
Opinion + le/la: j'aime le sport, je déteste la course.
Reason: parce que c'est amusant / fatigant / bon pour la santé.
Near future: je vais jouer au tennis demain (I'm going to play tennis tomorrow).
Frequency: souvent, tous les jours, une fois par semaine.
Connectives: et, mais, aussi, parce que, car, donc, cependant, par contre.

How it’s examined

Sport and exercise is a high-frequency theme in the Everyday Activities topic area and appears across all four papers of Cambridge IGCSE French 0520.

Paper 1 (Listening): Speakers describe what sport they do, how often, and their opinions. You must catch the verb (joue/fais/va), the frequency word, and the opinion + reason. Watch for the nous faisons trap and near-future je vais + infinitive.
Paper 2 (Reading): Texts about hobbies and healthy living use this vocabulary. Spotting opinion-and-reason structures and connectives (mais, cependant) helps you answer true/false and matching questions.
Paper 3 (Speaking): The role-play and conversation routinely include "What sport do you do? Do you like it? What will you do this weekend?". Use the Q&A frames, get jouer au/faire du right, and always justify your opinion.
Paper 4 (Writing): Short messages and the longer task often ask about free time and sport. Marks come from correct contractions (au/du), correct conjugations, opinions with reasons, connectives, and a tense beyond the present (the near future).

Examiner reports note that candidates lose marks by omitting the verb-preposition combo (writing je joue football), by failing to contract (de le sport instead of du sport), and by giving opinions without reasons. Adding parce que + a reason is the quickest way to climb the bands.

Sources: Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 Syllabus 2025-2027; Cambridge 0520 Paper 3 (Speaking) & Paper 4 (Writing) Specimen 2025-2027; Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports 2022-2024. Last reviewed 2026-06-02.

Take this whole topic with you

Step-by-step worked examples — Sport and exercise

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on sport and exercise, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Choose jouer à, faire de or aller à
Getting started
Question
Complete each sentence with the correct verb and contraction: (a) Je ___ ___ foot. (I play football.) (b) Je ___ ___ natation. (I swim.) (c) Je ___ ___ piscine. (I go to the pool.)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  (a) Football is a ball/team game → jouer à. jouer in the je form is joue; à + le foot contracts to au foot.
2. Step 2
  (b) Swimming is an activity → faire de. faire in the je form is fais; natation is feminine, so de + la stays de la natation.
3. Step 3
  (c) The pool is a place → aller à. aller in the je form is vais; piscine is feminine, so à + la stays à la piscine.
Answer
(a) Je joue au foot. (b) Je fais de la natation. (c) Je vais à la piscine.
Examiner tip
This three-way choice is the core skill of the topic. Ball/team game → jouer à; other activity → faire de; a place → aller à. Getting the verb AND the contraction right (au/du/de la) is exactly what Paper 4 accuracy marks reward.
2Fix the contractions au / du / de la
Building confidence
Question
Correct the contraction errors: Je fais de le vélo, je joue à le tennis, et je vais à le stade.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  de le vélo → du vélo. With faire, de + le MUST contract to du: je fais du vélo.
2. Step 2
  à le tennis → au tennis. With jouer à, à + le MUST contract to au: je joue au tennis.
3. Step 3
  à le stade → au stade. With aller à, à + le again contracts to au: je vais au stade.
Answer
Je fais du vélo, je joue au tennis, et je vais au stade. (de+le→du, à+le→au, à+le→au.)
Examiner tip
Examiner reports list missing contractions as a top Paper 4 accuracy error. Remember: de le and à le never exist in correct French — they always become du and au. Only de la, à la, de l' and à l' stay uncontracted.
3Build an opinion with a reason and a connective
Building confidence
Question
Turn these notes into one French sentence: like football (fun) + don't like running (tiring).
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Opinion verbs take the definite article. j'aime le foot (I like THE football), not du foot.
2. Step 2
  Add the reason with parce que + c'est + adjective. parce que c'est amusant (because it's fun).
3. Step 3
  Join the contrast with mais (but). Then repeat the pattern for the dislike: je n'aime pas la course parce que c'est fatigant.
Answer
J'aime le foot parce que c'est amusant, mais je n'aime pas la course parce que c'est fatigant. (I like football because it's fun, but I don't like running because it's tiring.)
Examiner tip
Opinion + reason + connective is the single biggest band-lifter in Papers 3 and 4. Note the article switch: aimer/détester take le/la (j'aime le foot), while faire takes du/de la (je fais du foot). Don't mix them.
4Talk about weekend plans with the near future
Stretch
Question
Answer in French, using the near future: Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ? (What are you going to do this weekend?) Say you're going to play tennis on Saturday and go to the pool on Sunday.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Near future = aller (present) + infinitive. je vais + an unconjugated verb. For 'play tennis' the infinitive is jouer: je vais jouer au tennis.
2. Step 2
  Add the day. samedi (on Saturday) — French uses no 'on'. Front it for variety: Samedi, je vais jouer au tennis.
3. Step 3
  Second plan, same structure. 'go to the pool' → infinitive aller: je vais aller à la piscine. dimanche = on Sunday.
4. Step 4
  Join with a connective such as et (and) to make one flowing answer.
Answer
Ce week-end, samedi je vais jouer au tennis, et dimanche je vais aller à la piscine. (This weekend, on Saturday I'm going to play tennis, and on Sunday I'm going to go to the pool.)
Examiner tip
Using a tense beyond the present (here the near future aller + infinitive) is explicitly rewarded in Papers 3 and 4. Note je vais aller (going to go) is correct and natural — don't be afraid of vais + aller. Days take no article and no 'on': samedi, dimanche.

Model Answers — Sport and exercise

High-scoring sample answers for sport and exercise on the Cambridge IGCSE 0520 paper, with examiner-style notes mapping each response to the mark scheme and assessment objectives.

Question 1
6 marks
Paper 3 (Speaking) style. The examiner asks: Quel est ton sport préféré et pourquoi ? (What is your favourite sport and why?) Give a model spoken answer.
Model answer
Mon sport préféré, c'est le tennis, parce que c'est amusant et bon pour la santé. (My favourite sport is tennis, because it's fun and good for your health.)

Je joue au tennis deux fois par semaine au gymnase avec mon ami. (I play tennis twice a week at the sports hall with my friend.)

J'aime aussi la natation, mais je n'aime pas la course parce que c'est fatigant. (I also like swimming, but I don't like running because it's tiring.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It gives an opinion with reasons (parce que c'est amusant et bon pour la santé), uses the correct verb-preposition combos (jouer au tennis, la natation, la course), a frequency phrase (deux fois par semaine), a place (au gymnase), and connectives (aussi, mais, parce que). The article is correctly definite after opinion verbs (j'aime la natation).
Question 2
8 marks
Paper 4 (Writing) style. Write a short reply (about 30-40 words) to a French friend who asks: Tu fais du sport ? Raconte. (Do you do sport? Tell me about it.)
Model answer
Oui, je fais beaucoup de sport ! Je fais du vélo le week-end et je joue au basket tous les mardis. (Yes, I do lots of sport! I cycle at the weekend and I play basketball every Tuesday.)

J'adore le sport parce que c'est génial et relaxant. Le week-end prochain, je vais faire de la natation à la piscine. (I love sport because it's great and relaxing. Next weekend, I'm going to swim at the pool.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It mixes faire du vélo, jouer au basket and faire de la natation (showing the verb choice is understood), adds frequency (le week-end, tous les mardis), an opinion with reasons (parce que c'est génial et relaxant), and crucially a second tense — the near future (je vais faire). Contractions (du vélo, au basket, à la piscine) are all correct.
Question 3
Paper 3 (Speaking) style. The examiner asks: Tu préfères les sports d'équipe ou les sports individuels ? (Do you prefer team sports or individual sports?) Give a model answer that justifies a preference.
Model answer
Je préfère les sports d'équipe, comme le football, parce que j'aime jouer avec mes amis et c'est amusant. (I prefer team sports, like football, because I like playing with my friends and it's fun.)

Cependant, je fais aussi un sport individuel : la natation. C'est relaxant et bon pour la santé. (However, I also do an individual sport: swimming. It's relaxing and good for your health.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It states a clear preference (je préfère), justifies it with two reasons, and uses a sophisticated connective (cependant — however) to introduce a contrast. The verb forms are accurate (jouer avec mes amis, je fais… la natation), and comme (like/such as) gives a relevant example — all features of a higher-band response.

Key Definitions and Keywords — Sport and exercise

Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for sport and exercise answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 0520 sitting.

jouer à
Examiner keyword
To play — used for ball and team games. The à contracts with the article: à+le→au, à+les→aux.
Example
je joue au foot (I play football); je joue aux cartes (I play cards).
faire de
Examiner keyword
To do — used for most other physical activities. The de contracts with the article: de+le→du; de la and de l' stay.
Example
je fais du sport (I do sport); je fais de la natation (I swim).
aller à
Examiner keyword
To go to — used for going to a place. The à contracts: à+le→au, à+les→aux; à la and à l' stay.
Example
je vais à la piscine (I go to the pool); je vais au stade (I go to the stadium).
faire (present tense)
Examiner keyword
Irregular verb 'to do/make': je fais, tu fais, il/elle fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils/elles font.
Example
nous faisons du vélo (we cycle); ils font du sport (they do sport).
aller (present tense)
Examiner keyword
Irregular verb 'to go': je vais, tu vas, il/elle va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont. Also forms the near future.
Example
elle va à la piscine (she goes to the pool).
le futur proche (aller + infinitive)
Examiner keyword
The near future: present tense of aller + an infinitive, meaning 'going to (do)'. The easiest way to talk about plans.
Example
je vais jouer au tennis demain (I'm going to play tennis tomorrow).
parce que
Examiner keyword
Because — introduces the reason for an opinion. Usually followed by c'est + adjective. The key to higher bands.
Example
j'aime le foot parce que c'est amusant (I like football because it's fun).
les connecteurs (connectives)
Linking words that join ideas: et (and), mais (but), aussi (also), donc (so), cependant (however), par contre (on the other hand).
Example
j'aime le foot, mais je déteste la course (I like football, but I hate running).
le / la (after opinion verbs)
Examiner keyword
After aimer, adorer, préférer, détester, use the definite article le/la/les before the sport — not du/de la.
Example
j'aime le sport (I like sport); je déteste la course (I hate running).
les expressions de fréquence
Frequency expressions saying how often you do something; they usually follow the verb.
Example
souvent (often), tous les jours (every day), une fois par semaine (once a week).

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Sport and exercise

The traps other students keep falling into on sport and exercise questions — taken from recent Cambridge IGCSE 0520 examiner reports and mark schemes — and how to avoid them.

✕Writing de le or à le instead of du and au (je fais de le sport)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy
Why it happens
Beginners build the phrase piece by piece (de + le) and forget that French forces a contraction.
How to avoid it
Memorise the rule: de + le = du, à + le = au, à + les = aux. They are not optional. Only de la, à la, de l', à l' stay uncontracted: je fais du sport, je joue au foot.
✕Using the wrong verb (je fais au foot, or je joue de la natation)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4
Why it happens
Learners pick one verb for all sports instead of matching the verb to the activity type.
How to avoid it
Sort each sport: ball/team game → jouer à (je joue au foot); other activity → faire de (je fais de la natation); a place → aller à. When in doubt, ball games take jouer, everything else takes faire.
✕Using du/de la after an opinion verb (j'aime du sport)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)
Why it happens
Students carry the faire du sport pattern across to aimer, where it doesn't belong.
How to avoid it
After aimer, adorer, préférer, détester, use the definite article: j'aime le sport, je préfère la natation. Keep du/de la for faire only.
✕Giving an opinion with no reason (just 'j'aime le foot')
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking)
Why it happens
Beginners answer the question literally and stop, not realising reasons earn higher marks.
How to avoid it
Always extend with parce que + c'est + adjective: j'aime le foot parce que c'est amusant. One reason per opinion is the quickest way to climb the bands.
✕Mis-conjugating faire (saying 'vous faisez' or 'nous faisez')
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 1 (Listening) & Paper 3
Why it happens
faire is irregular, but learners apply regular -er endings to it.
How to avoid it
Drill the irregular forms: nous faisons, vous faites, ils/elles font. vous faites and ils font are the two most often wrong.
✕Pronouncing sport words with an English accent (TEN-iss, FOOT-ball)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking), pronunciation
Why it happens
Many French sport words look like English, so learners say them the English way.
How to avoid it
Say them the French way: tennis = tay-NEES, football = foot-BOL, basket = bas-KET, with even stress and a slight lift on the last syllable. Practise aloud, not just on paper.

Sport and exercise

Detailed Study Notes

At a glance

What you’ll learn

Quick recap

Memorise this

How it’s examined

Take this whole topic with you

1Choose jouer à, faire de or aller à

2Fix the contractions au / du / de la

3Build an opinion with a reason and a connective

4Talk about weekend plans with the near future

jouer à

faire de

aller à

faire (present tense)

aller (present tense)

le futur proche (aller + infinitive)

parce que

les connecteurs (connectives)

le / la (after opinion verbs)

les expressions de fréquence

✕Writing de le or à le instead of du and au (je fais de le sport)

✕Using the wrong verb (je fais au foot, or je joue de la natation)

✕Using du/de la after an opinion verb (j'aime du sport)

✕Giving an opinion with no reason (just 'j'aime le foot')

✕Mis-conjugating faire (saying 'vous faisez' or 'nous faisez')

✕Pronouncing sport words with an English accent (TEN-iss, FOOT-ball)