Why is "Confusing en and à (saying 'à bus' or 'en pied')" a common mistake in Travel and transport?

Why it happens: English uses one word, 'by', for everything, so learners don't know when to switch. How to avoid it: Use the physical rule: *en* = you sit inside (en bus, en voiture, en avion); *à* = two wheels or your feet (à vélo, à moto, à pied). Drill the two lists until automatic. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)

Why is "Saying 'je prends en bus' instead of 'je prends le bus'" a common mistake in Travel and transport?

Why it happens: Learners mix the two patterns — aller + en and prendre + article — into one. How to avoid it: Keep them separate: *je vais en bus* (aller + en, no article) OR *je prends le bus* (prendre + article). After prendre, always use le/la/l'. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4

Why is "Translating 'car' as le car (which actually means coach)" a common mistake in Travel and transport?

Why it happens: Le car looks identical to the English word 'car', so beginners assume they match. How to avoid it: Remember the pair: *la voiture* = car, *le car* = coach. Note the genders too — voiture is feminine, car is masculine. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 1 (Listening)

Why is "Omitting accents on préfère/préféré and à (writing 'prefere', 'a')" a common mistake in Travel and transport?

Why it happens: English has no accents, so learners treat them as optional. How to avoid it: Learn the high-frequency forms exactly: *je préfère* (é-é-è), *mon transport préféré* (é-é-é), and *à* (with grave) when it means to/at. Check every accent before submitting. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy

Why is "Giving bare facts with no opinion or reason" a common mistake in Travel and transport?

Why it happens: Beginners answer literally ('I go by bus') and stop, thinking the question is answered. How to avoid it: Always add an opinion and a reason: *Je vais en bus, mais je préfère le vélo parce que c'est écologique.* Use parce que, car, mais and donc to extend every answer. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4 (range/development)

Why is "Using the wrong gender (un voiture, le moto)" a common mistake in Travel and transport?

Why it happens: Genders are not predictable from meaning and English has none, so learners guess. How to avoid it: Store each noun with its article: *la voiture*, *la moto*, *le vélo*, *le train*, *l'avion* (m.). Learn the noun and gender as one inseparable unit. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)

Topic Area 3 - The World Around UsCambridge IGCSE French (0520)

Travel and transport

Work through the notes, try the practice questions, then take the quiz. The report tells you exactly what to revise next.

PreviousNext

Learn this Topic

Start with the slides for the quick version, then go deeper with the full study notes.

Detailed Notes

Full prose, callouts and a recap — built for A* mastery, not just a quick scan.

Take these study notes with you

Download a branded PDF — full prose, callouts, recap and memorise list for Travel and transport, ready to print or save offline.

Travel and transport in French — Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 (2025-2027)

A complete beginner's toolkit for talking about how you get around: every key means of transport, the verbs prendre and aller, buying tickets at the station, and ready-made question-and-answer frames to win marks in Speaking and Writing.

At a glance

The core sentence pattern is je vais à … en/à … (I go to … by …): je vais à l'école en bus (I go to school by bus).
Most vehicles take en (en voiture — by car, en train — by train), but two-wheelers and walking take à: à vélo (by bike), à pied (on foot).
The verb prendre (to take) is your other engine: je prends le bus (I take the bus), je prends le train (I take the train).
Learn the genders: le train, le bus, le vélo, le métro, but la voiture (car), la moto (motorbike), **l'**avion (m. — plane).
Station and airport survival phrases are tested every year: un billet aller-retour, s'il vous plaît (a return ticket, please).
Opinions + reasons lift your mark: je préfère le train parce que c'est rapide (I prefer the train because it's fast).
Connectives like parce que (because), mais (but) and car (because/for) turn a list of facts into a real answer.
Accents matter: it is à pied (with à, on foot), à l'aéroport (at the airport), je préfère (two é's) — missing them costs accuracy marks in Paper 4.

What you’ll learn

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

Name the common means of transport in French with the correct gender (le/la/l').
Use en and à correctly to say how you travel (en bus, à pied, à vélo).
Conjugate and use the verbs aller (to go) and prendre (to take) in the present tense.
Produce survival language for stations and airports: buying tickets, asking about times and platforms.
Give and justify a preference about transport using opinion phrases plus parce que / car.
Build accurate question-and-answer frames for the Speaking and Writing papers (Comment vas-tu …? — how do you get …?).
Recognise and avoid the common anglophone errors with en/à, gender and the verb prendre.

Means of transport — the core vocabulary

The vehicles you need, each with its gender and a plain-English pronunciation.

Start by learning the means of transport (les moyens de transport — the means of transport) together with their gender — that little le, la or l' in front of the noun. Genders are not optional: they change the word for "the" and "a", and they decide adjective agreement later, so learn each noun with its article from day one.

French	Pronunciation	English
le bus	luh bews	the bus
le car	luh kar	the coach (long-distance bus)
le train	luh tran	the train
le métro	luh may-TRO	the underground/subway
le tram / le tramway	luh tram	the tram
le vélo	luh vay-LO	the bike
le taxi	luh tak-SEE	the taxi
le bateau	luh ba-TOH	the boat
le ferry	luh fé-REE	the ferry
la voiture	la vwa-TÜR	the car
la moto	la mo-TOH	the motorbike
l'avion (m.)	la-vee-ON	the plane
à pied	a pee-AY	on foot

Careful with the false friend. Le car (kar) means a coach, not a car — a car is la voiture (vwa-TÜR). This catches almost every English speaker out in the Listening paper.

Worked mini-example. To say "the train" you need the gender: train is masculine, so le train. To say "a car" you need une voiture (car is feminine → une, not un). Always store the noun as a pair: le train, la voiture.

Learn every transport noun WITH its article: le train, la voiture, l'avion.
Masculine (le): bus, car, train, métro, vélo, taxi, bateau, ferry.
Feminine (la): voiture (car), moto (motorbike).
le car = coach (false friend!); la voiture = car.
à pied (on foot) is the odd one out — no vehicle, no article.

How you travel — en, à and the verb aller

Use 'en' for vehicles you sit inside, 'à' for two-wheelers and on foot.

Use en for transport you ride inside; use à for two-wheelers and on foot.

To say how you travel, French uses two little words, en and à, and the rule is wonderfully simple:

Use en (en — by/in) for transport you climb inside: en bus (by bus), en train (by train), en voiture (by car), en avion (by plane), en métro (by underground), en taxi (by taxi), en bateau (by boat).
Use à (à — on/at) for transport you sit on, plus walking: à vélo (by bike), à moto (by motorbike), à pied (on foot).

The verb that ties it together is aller (to go), one of the most important irregular verbs in French. Here it is in full:

French	Pronunciation	English
je vais	zhuh vay	I go
tu vas	tew va	you go (informal)
il / elle va	eel / el va	he / she goes
nous allons	noo-za-LON	we go
vous allez	voo-za-LAY	you go (formal/plural)
ils / elles vont	eel / el von	they go

Put the pieces together with the pattern [aller] + à [place] + en/à [transport]:

Je vais au collège en bus. (I go to school by bus.)
Nous allons en ville à pied. (We go into town on foot.)
Elle va à Paris en train. (She goes to Paris by train.)

Note on "to the". à combines with the article: à + le = au (au collège — to school), à + les = aux (aux magasins — to the shops). Before a vowel, à + l' stays: à l'école (to school).

Worked mini-example. Build "I go to the airport by taxi." Place = à l'aéroport (to the airport). Transport = inside a taxi → en taxi. Verb = je vais. Result: Je vais à l'aéroport en taxi.

en + transport you ride inside (en bus, en train, en voiture, en avion).
à + two-wheelers and walking (à vélo, à moto, à pied).
aller (to go): je vais, tu vas, il/elle va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont.
Pattern: je vais + à [place] + en/à [transport].
à + le = au, à + les = aux (au collège, aux magasins).

Taking transport — the verb prendre

prendre (to take) lets you say which service you take: je prends le bus.

Alongside aller, the verb prendre (to take) is the natural way to say which service you take. It is irregular, so learn it as a set:

French	Pronunciation	English
je prends	zhuh pron	I take
tu prends	tew pron	you take (informal)
il / elle prend	eel / el pron	he / she takes
nous prenons	noo pruh-NON	we take
vous prenez	voo pruh-NAY	you take (formal/plural)
ils / elles prennent	eel / el pren	they take

With prendre you use the definite article (le / la / l'), not en:

Je prends le bus. (I take the bus.) — not je prends en bus.
Elle prend le train de huit heures. (She takes the eight o'clock train.)
Nous prenons l'avion. (We take the plane.)

So you have two correct ways to say how you travel:

Je vais à l'école en bus. (with aller + en)
Je prends le bus pour aller à l'école. (with prendre + le; pour = in order to)

Both are good French — using both in an exam shows range.

Useful linked verbs. partir (to leave/depart): le train part à neuf heures (the train leaves at nine); arriver (to arrive): j'arrive à midi (I arrive at noon); attendre (to wait): j'attends le bus (I wait for the bus).

Worked mini-example. Say "We take the train to go to London." → prendre (nous) = nous prenons; the train = le train; in order to go = pour aller; to London = à Londres. Result: Nous prenons le train pour aller à Londres.

prendre (to take): je prends, tu prends, il/elle prend, nous prenons, vous prenez, ils/elles prennent.
With prendre use the article, not en: je prends le bus (NOT je prends en bus).
Two correct patterns: aller + en (je vais en bus) and prendre + le (je prends le bus).
pour aller à … = in order to go to … — links transport to destination.
Linked verbs: partir (leave), arriver (arrive), attendre (wait for).

At the station and airport — survival language

Tickets, platforms, times and directions — the phrases tested every year.

Transactional language at the gare (train station) and aéroport (airport) appears in Listening, Reading and the Speaking role-play. Learn these as whole chunks.

Places and things:

French	Pronunciation	English
la gare	la gar	the train station
la gare routière	la gar roo-tee-AIR	the bus/coach station
l'aéroport (m.)	la-ay-ro-POR	the airport
l'arrêt de bus (m.)	la-RAY duh bews	the bus stop
la station de métro	la sta-see-ON duh may-TRO	the metro station
le billet	luh bee-YAY	the ticket
le quai	luh kay	the platform
l'horaire (m.)	lo-RAIR	the timetable
la correspondance	la ko-res-pon-DONS	the connection (changing trains)
le guichet	luh gee-SHAY	the ticket office/counter

Buying a ticket — the key phrases:

French	English
Un billet pour Lyon, s'il vous plaît.	A ticket to Lyon, please.
Un aller simple	A single (one-way) ticket
Un aller-retour	A return ticket
C'est combien ?	How much is it?
À quelle heure part le train ?	What time does the train leave?
De quel quai ?	From which platform?
Le train pour Paris est à l'heure ?	Is the Paris train on time?
Où est la sortie ?	Where is the exit?

Politeness wins marks. Always include s'il vous plaît (please) and merci (thank you), and use vous (the formal "you") with officials: Pouvez-vous m'aider ? (Can you help me?).

Worked mini-example — a mini role-play. You: Bonjour, un aller-retour pour Nice, s'il vous plaît. (Hello, a return to Nice, please.) Clerk: Voilà. Ça fait quarante euros. (Here you are. That's forty euros.) You: À quelle heure part le train, s'il vous plaît ? (What time does the train leave, please?) Clerk: À quatorze heures, quai numéro trois. (At 2 p.m., platform three.) You: Merci beaucoup. Au revoir. (Thank you very much. Goodbye.)

Key places: la gare (station), l'aéroport (airport), l'arrêt de bus (bus stop).
Tickets: un aller simple (single), un aller-retour (return), le billet (ticket).
Ask times/platforms: À quelle heure part le train ? / De quel quai ?
Use vous + s'il vous plaît + merci with officials.
Learn the ticket role-play as a memorised chunk.

Opinions and reasons — lifting your mark

A preference plus a reason with parce que turns facts into a real answer.

An opinion phrase plus a connective plus a reason makes a full, mark-winning sentence.

Stating a fact ("I go by bus") is fine, but examiners reward opinions and reasons. The formula is: opinion phrase + transport + connective + reason.

Opinion phrases:

French	English
j'aime	I like
je n'aime pas	I don't like
je préfère	I prefer
je déteste	I hate
à mon avis	in my opinion

Connectives (joining words):

French	English
parce que	because
car	because / for
mais	but
donc	so / therefore
aussi	also

Reasons (with c'est = it is):

French	English
c'est rapide	it's fast
c'est lent	it's slow
c'est pratique	it's practical/handy
c'est cher	it's expensive
c'est moins cher	it's cheaper
c'est écologique	it's eco-friendly
c'est confortable	it's comfortable
c'est fatigant	it's tiring

Now combine them:

Je préfère le train parce que c'est rapide et confortable. (I prefer the train because it's fast and comfortable.)
Je n'aime pas la voiture car c'est cher et c'est mauvais pour l'environnement. (I don't like the car because it's expensive and bad for the environment.)
À mon avis, le vélo est génial parce que c'est écologique. (In my opinion, the bike is great because it's eco-friendly.)

Worked mini-example. Turn "I take the bus, but I prefer the bike because it's eco-friendly" into French. Je prends le bus, mais je préfère le vélo parce que c'est écologique. Two connectives (mais, parce que) and one opinion verb — exactly the range examiners look for.

Formula: opinion phrase + transport + connective + reason.
Opinions: j'aime, je n'aime pas, je préfère, je déteste, à mon avis.
Connectives: parce que, car, mais, donc, aussi.
Reasons with c'est: rapide, lent, pratique, cher, écologique, confortable.
Example: je préfère le train parce que c'est rapide.

Question-and-answer frames for Speaking and Writing

Reusable Q&A pairs you can adapt to almost any transport prompt.

In the Speaking exam you must both answer and sometimes ask questions, and in Writing you respond to prompts. Memorise these frames and slot in your own details.

Question	Model answer
Comment vas-tu à l'école ? (How do you get to school?)	Je vais à l'école en bus. (I go to school by bus.)
Combien de temps dure le trajet ? (How long is the journey?)	Le trajet dure vingt minutes. (The journey takes 20 minutes.)
Quel est ton moyen de transport préféré ? (What's your favourite means of transport?)	Mon moyen de transport préféré, c'est le train, parce que c'est rapide.
Tu aimes voyager ? (Do you like travelling?)	Oui, j'aime voyager, surtout en train. (Yes, I like travelling, especially by train.)
Comment vas-tu voyager cet été ? (How will you travel this summer?)	Cet été, je vais voyager en avion. (This summer, I'm going to travel by plane.)

Asking questions yourself (you may need this in the role-play):

Comment vas-tu au collège ? (How do you get to school?)
Tu préfères le bus ou le train ? (Do you prefer the bus or the train?)
À quelle heure part le bus ? (What time does the bus leave?)

Talking about the future with aller + infinitive (the "near future"):

Je vais prendre le train demain. (I'm going to take the train tomorrow.)
Nous allons voyager en France. (We're going to travel in France.)

This is the easiest future tense: just use aller (je vais, tu vas …) + an infinitive verb (prendre, voyager, aller).

Worked mini-example. Build a two-sentence answer to Comment vas-tu à l'école et tu aimes ça ? (How do you get to school and do you like it?). Je vais à l'école à pied parce que j'habite près. J'aime ça parce que c'est bon pour la santé. (I walk to school because I live nearby. I like it because it's good for my health.) — destination, transport, reason, opinion, second reason: a full, high-scoring response.

Comment vas-tu à l'école ? → Je vais à l'école en … — the core Q&A.
Add journey length: Le trajet dure … minutes.
State a favourite + reason: Mon transport préféré, c'est le …, parce que …
Near future = aller + infinitive: je vais prendre le train demain.
You may have to ASK too: À quelle heure part le bus ?

Memorise this

Verbatim phrases and definitions Cambridge mark schemes credit.

je vais à l'école en bus — I go to school by bus.
en + inside transport: en bus, en train, en voiture, en avion, en métro.
à + two-wheelers/walking: à vélo, à moto, à pied.
aller: je vais, tu vas, il/elle va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont.
prendre: je prends, tu prends, il/elle prend, nous prenons, vous prenez, ils/elles prennent.
je prends le bus (with the article — NOT en bus after prendre).
un aller simple (single) / un aller-retour (return) / le billet (ticket).
À quelle heure part le train ? / De quel quai ? / C'est combien ?
je préfère le train parce que c'est rapide — I prefer the train because it's fast.
Reasons: c'est rapide, c'est cher, c'est pratique, c'est écologique.
Near future: je vais prendre le train demain — I'm going to take the train tomorrow.

How it’s examined

Travel and transport is one of the most reliably tested themes across all four papers of Cambridge IGCSE French 0520.

Paper 1 (Listening): Announcements at stations and airports — departure times (often on the 24-hour clock), platform numbers, and which transport someone takes. Watch the false friend car (coach, not car) and times like seize heures (16:00).
Paper 2 (Reading): Timetables, travel adverts and short messages about journeys. You match transport to reasons (rapide, cher, écologique) and pick out details such as price and duration.
Paper 3 (Speaking): A station/ticket-office role-play is a classic, plus conversation questions like Comment vas-tu à l'école ? Use vous with the clerk, include s'il vous plaît, and give opinions with reasons.
Paper 4 (Writing): Describing how you travel and giving preferences. Accuracy marks depend on correct en/à, correct gender (la voiture), the verb forms of aller and prendre, and accents (je préfère, à pied).

Examiner reports note that candidates lose marks by confusing en and à, by saying je prends en bus, and by omitting accents on high-frequency words like préfère and à. Always pair a fact with an opinion and a reason to reach the higher 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.

Master this Topic

Worked examples, formulae, definitions and the mistakes examiners flag — everything you need to push from a pass to an A*.

Take this whole topic with you

Download a branded revision sheet — worked examples, formulae, definitions and common mistakes for Travel and transport, ready to print or save as PDF.

Step-by-step worked examples — Travel and transport

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

1Choose en or à for each means of transport
Getting started
Question
Fill the gap with en or à: (1) je vais ___ bus, (2) je vais ___ pied, (3) je vais ___ voiture, (4) je vais ___ vélo.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Ask: do I travel inside it? If yes, use en. A bus, a car and a plane are things you climb inside.
2. Step 2
  Two wheels or no vehicle → use à. A bike (vélo) and walking (pied) take à.
3. Step 3
  Apply it. (1) bus = inside → en bus. (2) pied = walking → à pied. (3) voiture = inside → en voiture. (4) vélo = two wheels → à vélo.
Answer
(1) en bus — by bus; (2) à pied — on foot; (3) en voiture — by car; (4) à vélo — by bike.
Examiner tip
Confusing en and à is one of the most common errors in Cambridge 0520 Writing. The memory rule is physical: en = you sit inside (bus, train, voiture, avion); à = two wheels or your own feet (vélo, moto, pied).
2Build a sentence with the verb aller
Getting started
Question
Make the French for We go to Paris by train. using aller. (we = nous; to Paris = à Paris; by train = en train.)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Conjugate aller for 'nous'. aller is irregular: je vais, tu vas, il/elle va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont. So 'we go' = nous allons.
2. Step 2
  Add the destination. 'to Paris' = à Paris (Paris is a town name, so no article needed).
3. Step 3
  Add the transport. A train is something you ride inside → en train.
4. Step 4
  Assemble in order: subject + verb + place + transport.
Answer
Nous allons à Paris en train. (We go to Paris by train.)
Examiner tip
aller is on every Speaking and Writing paper. Learn all six forms by heart — the nous form (allons) and the ils/elles form (vont) are the ones beginners most often get wrong.
3Say the same idea two ways: aller + en and prendre + le
Building confidence
Question
Express I go to school by bus in TWO correct ways — once with aller, once with prendre.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Version with aller + en. je vais + à l'école + en bus. Here 'how' is shown by en + the bare noun (no article).
2. Step 2
  Version with prendre + the article. je prends + le bus. With prendre you take le bus (with the article) — never je prends en bus.
3. Step 3
  Link the prendre version to the destination with pour aller à (in order to go to): pour aller à l'école.
Answer
Version 1: Je vais à l'école en bus. Version 2: Je prends le bus pour aller à l'école. Both mean 'I go to school by bus'.
Examiner tip
Showing the same idea two ways demonstrates range, which lifts you into the higher bands. The trap to avoid is mixing them: je prends en bus is wrong — use le bus (article) after prendre, or en bus after aller.
4Complete a ticket-office role-play
Building confidence
Question
At the gare, ask for a return ticket to Lyon, then ask the departure time and the platform. Give the three French sentences.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Ask for the ticket. 'a return' = un aller-retour; 'to Lyon' = pour Lyon; add s'il vous plaît (please) — use vous with the clerk.
2. Step 2
  Ask the time. 'What time does the train leave?' = À quelle heure part le train ? (partir = to leave).
3. Step 3
  Ask the platform. 'From which platform?' = De quel quai ? (le quai = the platform).
Answer
Un aller-retour pour Lyon, s'il vous plaît. (A return to Lyon, please.) — À quelle heure part le train ? (What time does the train leave?) — De quel quai ? (From which platform?)
Examiner tip
The station role-play is a recurring Paper 3 task. Mark schemes reward politeness (s'il vous plaît, vous) and correct transactional phrases. Learn aller simple (single) vs aller-retour (return) — they are routinely tested in Listening too.
5Give a transport preference with a reason
Stretch
Question
Write a high-scoring answer to Quel est ton moyen de transport préféré ? (What is your favourite means of transport?). Include a preference, a reason, and a contrast.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Start with an opinion phrase + transport. Mon moyen de transport préféré, c'est le train. (My favourite means of transport is the train.)
2. Step 2
  Add a reason with parce que. parce que c'est rapide et confortable (because it's fast and comfortable). Note c'est with the apostrophe.
3. Step 3
  Add a contrast with mais. mais je n'aime pas la voiture car c'est cher (but I don't like the car because it's expensive). car is another word for 'because'.
4. Step 4
  Check the accents: préféré (two é's), préfère would take è, and à mon avis if you open with an opinion.
Answer
Mon moyen de transport préféré, c'est le train, parce que c'est rapide et confortable. Mais je n'aime pas la voiture car c'est cher et mauvais pour l'environnement. (My favourite means of transport is the train, because it's fast and comfortable. But I don't like the car because it's expensive and bad for the environment.)
Examiner tip
This answer reaches the top band because it combines an opinion, two reasons, a connective (mais), and a second connective (car / parce que). Examiner reports stress that bare facts ('I go by bus') score low — always justify with parce que or car.

Model Answers — Travel and transport

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

Question 1
Paper 4 (Writing) style. Write about how you travel to school and whether you like it (about 40 words).
Model answer
Normalement, je vais à l'école en bus avec mes amis. Le trajet dure environ vingt minutes. J'aime ça parce que c'est pratique, mais le bus est souvent en retard. Je préfère le vélo car c'est plus rapide et c'est bon pour la santé.

(Usually, I go to school by bus with my friends. The journey takes about twenty minutes. I like it because it's handy, but the bus is often late. I prefer the bike because it's faster and good for my health.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It uses aller + en correctly (en bus), adds a time detail (vingt minutes), and gives opinions with reasons using parce que, car and mais. The comparative plus rapide (faster) and the eco-reason show range — exactly what Paper 4 rewards beyond simple facts.
Question 2
Paper 3 (Speaking) style. Role-play at the ticket office: buy a single ticket to Nice and ask about the next train. Give a model exchange.
Model answer
You: Bonjour. Un aller simple pour Nice, s'il vous plaît. (Hello. A single to Nice, please.) Clerk: Voilà. Ça fait trente-cinq euros. (Here you are. That's 35 euros.) You: À quelle heure part le prochain train, s'il vous plaît ? (What time does the next train leave, please?) Clerk: À seize heures, quai numéro deux. (At 4 p.m., platform two.) You: Merci beaucoup. Au revoir. (Thank you very much. Goodbye.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. Polite register throughout (vous, s'il vous plaît, merci), correct transactional vocabulary (aller simple, quai), and comprehension of the 24-hour time (seize heures = 16:00). Reacting correctly to the clerk's answer is what the communication marks reward.
Question 3
Paper 3 (Speaking) style. The examiner asks: Comment vas-tu voyager pendant les vacances ? (How will you travel during the holidays?) Give a model answer.
Model answer
Cet été, je vais voyager en Espagne. Je vais prendre l'avion parce que c'est rapide. Ensuite, en Espagne, je vais louer un vélo pour visiter la ville, car j'adore faire du vélo.

(This summer, I'm going to travel to Spain. I'm going to take the plane because it's fast. Then, in Spain, I'm going to rent a bike to visit the city, because I love cycling.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It uses the near future correctly (aller + infinitive: je vais voyager, je vais prendre, je vais louer) and justifies each choice with parce que / car. Adding ensuite (then) and faire du vélo (to cycle) lifts it into the higher bands for range.

Key Definitions and Keywords — Travel and transport

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

aller (to go)
Examiner keyword
The irregular verb 'to go'. Present tense: je vais, tu vas, il/elle va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont. Also used + infinitive for the near future.
Example
Je vais à l'école en bus. (I go to school by bus.) Je vais prendre le train. (I'm going to take the train.)
prendre (to take)
Examiner keyword
The irregular verb 'to take', used with the article to say which service you take. Present: je prends, tu prends, il/elle prend, nous prenons, vous prenez, ils/elles prennent.
Example
Je prends le bus. (I take the bus.) Past participle: pris — j'ai pris le métro (I took the underground).
en (by — transport you ride inside)
Examiner keyword
Used before transport you travel inside, with no article: en bus, en train, en voiture, en avion, en métro, en taxi, en bateau.
Example
Je voyage en train. (I travel by train.)
à (by/on — two wheels or on foot)
Examiner keyword
Used before transport you sit on, and for walking: à vélo (by bike), à moto (by motorbike), à pied (on foot). Also means 'to/at' a place.
Example
Je vais au collège à pied. (I walk to school.)
la voiture (the car)
Examiner keyword
The French word for a car. Feminine (la / une voiture). Do NOT confuse with le car, which means a coach.
Example
Mes parents ont une voiture rouge. (My parents have a red car.)
le car (the coach)
A long-distance coach (bus). A false friend: it does NOT mean a car. Masculine (le / un car).
Example
Nous prenons le car pour aller à la montagne. (We take the coach to go to the mountains.)
le billet (the ticket)
Examiner keyword
A travel ticket. Buy a single = un aller simple; buy a return = un aller-retour.
Example
Un aller-retour pour Lyon, s'il vous plaît. (A return to Lyon, please.)
la gare (the train station)
The railway station. The coach/bus station is la gare routière; the airport is l'aéroport (m.).
Example
Le train part de la gare à neuf heures. (The train leaves the station at nine.)
le quai (the platform)
The platform at a station. Ask 'from which platform?' with De quel quai ?
Example
Le train pour Paris part du quai numéro trois. (The Paris train leaves from platform three.)
parce que (because)
Examiner keyword
A connective used to give a reason — the single most valuable word for lifting your mark. car is a near-synonym.
Example
Je préfère le train parce que c'est rapide. (I prefer the train because it's fast.)

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Travel and transport

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

✕Confusing en and à (saying 'à bus' or 'en pied')
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)
Why it happens
English uses one word, 'by', for everything, so learners don't know when to switch.
How to avoid it
Use the physical rule: en = you sit inside (en bus, en voiture, en avion); à = two wheels or your feet (à vélo, à moto, à pied). Drill the two lists until automatic.
✕Saying 'je prends en bus' instead of 'je prends le bus'
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4
Why it happens
Learners mix the two patterns — aller + en and prendre + article — into one.
How to avoid it
Keep them separate: je vais en bus (aller + en, no article) OR je prends le bus (prendre + article). After prendre, always use le/la/l'.
✕Translating 'car' as le car (which actually means coach)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 1 (Listening)
Why it happens
Le car looks identical to the English word 'car', so beginners assume they match.
How to avoid it
Remember the pair: la voiture = car, le car = coach. Note the genders too — voiture is feminine, car is masculine.
✕Omitting accents on préfère/préféré and à (writing 'prefere', 'a')
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy
Why it happens
English has no accents, so learners treat them as optional.
How to avoid it
Learn the high-frequency forms exactly: je préfère (é-é-è), mon transport préféré (é-é-é), and à (with grave) when it means to/at. Check every accent before submitting.
✕Giving bare facts with no opinion or reason
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4 (range/development)
Why it happens
Beginners answer literally ('I go by bus') and stop, thinking the question is answered.
How to avoid it
Always add an opinion and a reason: Je vais en bus, mais je préfère le vélo parce que c'est écologique. Use parce que, car, mais and donc to extend every answer.
✕Using the wrong gender (un voiture, le moto)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)
Why it happens
Genders are not predictable from meaning and English has none, so learners guess.
How to avoid it
Store each noun with its article: la voiture, la moto, le vélo, le train, l'avion (m.). Learn the noun and gender as one inseparable unit.

Past paper style quiz

Get a report showing which sub-topics you've nailed and which ones still need work.

French

Pronunciation

English

le bus

luh bews

the bus

le car

luh kar

the coach (long-distance bus)

le train

luh tran

the train

le métro

luh may-TRO

the underground/subway

le tram / le tramway

luh tram

the tram

le vélo

luh vay-LO

the bike

le taxi

luh tak-SEE

the taxi

le bateau

luh ba-TOH

the boat

le ferry

luh fé-REE

the ferry

la voiture

la vwa-TÜR

the car

la moto

la mo-TOH

the motorbike

l'avion (m.)

la-vee-ON

the plane

à pied

a pee-AY

on foot

French

Pronunciation

English

je vais

zhuh vay

I go

tu vas

tew va

you go (informal)

il / elle va

eel / el va

he / she goes

nous allons

noo-za-LON

we go

vous allez

voo-za-LAY

you go (formal/plural)

ils / elles vont

eel / el von

they go

French

Pronunciation

English

je prends

zhuh pron

I take

tu prends

tew pron

you take (informal)

il / elle prend

eel / el pron

he / she takes

nous prenons

noo pruh-NON

we take

vous prenez

voo pruh-NAY

you take (formal/plural)

ils / elles prennent

eel / el pren

they take

French

Pronunciation

English

la gare

la gar

the train station

la gare routière

la gar roo-tee-AIR

the bus/coach station

l'aéroport (m.)

la-ay-ro-POR

the airport

l'arrêt de bus (m.)

la-RAY duh bews

the bus stop

la station de métro

la sta-see-ON duh may-TRO

the metro station

le billet

luh bee-YAY

the ticket

le quai

luh kay

the platform

l'horaire (m.)

lo-RAIR

the timetable

la correspondance

la ko-res-pon-DONS

the connection (changing trains)

le guichet

luh gee-SHAY

the ticket office/counter

French

English

Un billet pour Lyon, s'il vous plaît.

A ticket to Lyon, please.

Un aller simple

A single (one-way) ticket

Un aller-retour

A return ticket

C'est combien ?

How much is it?

À quelle heure part le train ?

What time does the train leave?

De quel quai ?

From which platform?

Le train pour Paris est à l'heure ?

Is the Paris train on time?

Où est la sortie ?

Where is the exit?

French

English

j'aime

I like

je n'aime pas

I don't like

je préfère

I prefer

je déteste

I hate

à mon avis

in my opinion

French

English

parce que

because

car

because / for

mais

but

donc

so / therefore

aussi

also

French

English

c'est rapide

it's fast

c'est lent

it's slow

c'est pratique

it's practical/handy

c'est cher

it's expensive

c'est moins cher

it's cheaper

c'est écologique

it's eco-friendly

c'est confortable

it's comfortable

c'est fatigant

it's tiring

Question

Model answer

Comment vas-tu à l'école ? (How do you get to school?)

Je vais à l'école en bus. (I go to school by bus.)

Combien de temps dure le trajet ? (How long is the journey?)

Le trajet dure vingt minutes. (The journey takes 20 minutes.)

Quel est ton moyen de transport préféré ? (What's your favourite means of transport?)

Mon moyen de transport préféré, c'est le train, parce que c'est rapide.

Tu aimes voyager ? (Do you like travelling?)

Oui, j'aime voyager, surtout en train. (Yes, I like travelling, especially by train.)

Comment vas-tu voyager cet été ? (How will you travel this summer?)

Cet été, je vais voyager en avion. (This summer, I'm going to travel by plane.)

Travel and transport is one of the most reliably tested themes across all four papers of Cambridge IGCSE French 0520.

Paper 1 (Listening): Announcements at stations and airports — departure times (often on the 24-hour clock), platform numbers, and which transport someone takes. Watch the false friend car (coach, not car) and times like seize heures (16:00).
Paper 2 (Reading): Timetables, travel adverts and short messages about journeys. You match transport to reasons (rapide, cher, écologique) and pick out details such as price and duration.
Paper 3 (Speaking): A station/ticket-office role-play is a classic, plus conversation questions like Comment vas-tu à l'école ? Use vous with the clerk, include s'il vous plaît, and give opinions with reasons.
Paper 4 (Writing): Describing how you travel and giving preferences. Accuracy marks depend on correct en/à, correct gender (la voiture), the verb forms of aller and prendre, and accents (je préfère, à pied).

Travel and transport

Detailed Notes

What you’ll learn

How it’s examined

1Choose en or à for each means of transport

2Build a sentence with the verb aller

3Say the same idea two ways: aller + en and prendre + le

4Complete a ticket-office role-play

5Give a transport preference with a reason

aller (to go)

prendre (to take)

en (by — transport you ride inside)

à (by/on — two wheels or on foot)

la voiture (the car)

le car (the coach)

le billet (the ticket)

la gare (the train station)

le quai (the platform)

parce que (because)

✕Confusing en and à (saying 'à bus' or 'en pied')

✕Saying 'je prends en bus' instead of 'je prends le bus'

✕Translating 'car' as le car (which actually means coach)

✕Omitting accents on préfère/préféré and à (writing 'prefere', 'a')

✕Giving bare facts with no opinion or reason

✕Using the wrong gender (un voiture, le moto)

Past paper style quiz

Travel and transport

Detailed Notes

What you’ll learn

How it’s examined

1Choose en or à for each means of transport

2Build a sentence with the verb aller

3Say the same idea two ways: aller + en and prendre + le

4Complete a ticket-office role-play

5Give a transport preference with a reason

aller (to go)

prendre (to take)

en (by — transport you ride inside)

à (by/on — two wheels or on foot)

la voiture (the car)

le car (the coach)

le billet (the ticket)

la gare (the train station)

le quai (the platform)

parce que (because)

✕Confusing en and à (saying 'à bus' or 'en pied')

✕Saying 'je prends en bus' instead of 'je prends le bus'

✕Translating 'car' as le car (which actually means coach)

✕Omitting accents on préfère/préféré and à (writing 'prefere', 'a')

✕Giving bare facts with no opinion or reason

✕Using the wrong gender (un voiture, le moto)

Past paper style quiz