Why is "Conjugating the second verb instead of using the infinitive (*je vais étudie*)" a common mistake in Continuing education after IGCSE?

Why it happens: Beginners feel both verbs 'belong to I' and try to conjugate both. How to avoid it: Remember the rule: ONE conjugated verb (aller/vouloir/espérer) + ONE infinitive. Say *je vais étudier*, *je veux aller*, *j'espère réussir* — the second verb keeps its dictionary ending (-er/-ir/-re). Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), verb accuracy

Why is "Adding un/une before a job after être or devenir (*je veux être un professeur*)" a common mistake in Continuing education after IGCSE?

Why it happens: English says 'a teacher', so learners copy the article into French. How to avoid it: Drop the article after être/devenir: *je veux être professeur*, *j'espère devenir médecin*. Add an article only when an adjective describes the job (*un bon professeur*). Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 & 4, World of Work

Why is "Omitting accents on key words (lycee, universite, baccalaureat, esperer)" a common mistake in Continuing education after IGCSE?

Why it happens: English has no accents, so they are treated as optional. How to avoid it: Treat accents as part of the spelling: **lycée, université, baccalauréat, j'espère, préférer**. Learn these high-frequency words with their accents and check every written answer. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy

Why is "Dropping the article before a subject (*j'aime sciences* instead of *j'aime les sciences*)" a common mistake in Continuing education after IGCSE?

Why it happens: English drops 'the' before subjects ('I like science'), so learners do too. How to avoid it: Keep the article in French: *j'aime **les** sciences*, *j'étudie **l'**histoire*, *je préfère **les** langues*. The article is required even for general likes. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 2 & 4

Why is "Confusing pourquoi (why) with parce que (because)" a common mistake in Continuing education after IGCSE?

Why it happens: Both relate to reasons, so the two get swapped. How to avoid it: *Pourquoi ?* **asks** a question; *parce que* **answers** it with a reason. Q: *Pourquoi ?* A: *Parce que c'est utile.* Remember *parce que* → *parce qu'* before a vowel. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking)

Why is "Using a singular for 'studies' (*mon étude*) instead of *mes études*" a common mistake in Continuing education after IGCSE?

Why it happens: English 'my education/study' feels singular, so learners pick a singular form. How to avoid it: Use the fixed feminine plural **les études / mes études** when you mean schoolwork: *je veux continuer mes études* (I want to continue my studies). Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)

Cambridge IGCSE French (0520)

Continuing education after IGCSE

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Detailed Study Notes

Detailed notes on Topic Area 4 - The World of Work for Cambridge IGCSE French, covering key concepts, explanations, examples, and exam-focused revision points.

Continuing education after IGCSE — Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 (2025-2027) vocabulary and future-plans language

Learn the French vocabulary and ready-made sentence frames to talk about staying in education after your IGCSEs — the lycée (sixth form), university, subjects, exams and your study plans. Master the future-tense building blocks (aller + infinitive, vouloir/espérer + infinitive) that win marks in Speaking and Writing.

At a glance

This is part of Topic Area 4 – The World of Work: how to discuss continuing your studies after IGCSE — sixth form, university, subjects, and your future plans.
Core institutions: le lycée (sixth-form college / upper secondary), l'université (university), la faculté / la fac (the uni faculty, informal).
Two big exams to name: le baccalauréat (the 'bac' — the French school-leaving exam, like A Levels) and un diplôme (a diploma/degree).
The number-one structure for plans is aller + infinitive = 'going to': je vais étudier (I am going to study).
Add wishes and hopes with vouloir + infinitive (to want to) and espérer + infinitive (to hope to): je veux aller à l'université (I want to go to university), j'espère réussir (I hope to succeed/pass).
Give an opinion + reason: je voudrais continuer mes études parce que j'aime apprendre (I'd like to continue my studies because I like learning).
Reusable question→answer frames such as Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire après tes examens ? (What are you going to do after your exams?) make Speaking and Writing far easier.
Watch the small but mark-worthy details: mes études (my studies — feminine plural), à l'université (the contraction/elision), and the accents on lycée, université, baccalauréat.

What you’ll learn

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

Recognise and use core vocabulary for post-IGCSE education (lycée, université, baccalauréat, diplôme, matières).
Form future plans with aller + infinitive ('going to do something').
Express wishes and hopes using vouloir + infinitive and espérer + infinitive.
Give opinions about studying with a reason, using parce que and connectives.
Build and answer common question frames about plans after IGCSE.
Talk about which subjects you want to continue and why, with correct gender and articles.
Avoid the typical anglophone errors with mes études, à l'université, and accents.

The essential vocabulary — schools, exams and subjects

Learn the French names for sixth form, university, exams and study, each with a pronunciation hint and gender.

Before you can talk about your plans, you need the building-block nouns. French nouns have a gender (le = masculine 'the', la = feminine 'the', l' before a vowel), and you must learn each word with its article — the gender is part of the word.

French	Pronunciation	English
le lycée	luh lee-SAY	sixth-form college / upper secondary
l'université (f)	loo-nee-vair-see-TAY	the university
la faculté / la fac	la fa-kewl-TAY / la fak	the faculty / "uni" (informal)
les études (f, pl)	lay zay-TEWD	studies
le baccalauréat / le bac	luh ba-ka-lo-ray-A / luh bak	the school-leaving exam (≈ A Levels)
un diplôme	uhn dee-PLOHM	a diploma / a degree
un examen	uhn eg-za-MAN	an exam
une matière	ewn ma-TYAIR	a (school) subject
un cours	uhn koor	a class / course
un(e) étudiant(e)	uhn ay-tew-dee-AN / ewn ay-tew-dee-ANT	a (university) student

Useful subjects (les matières). You will often want to say which subject you'll continue:

French	Pronunciation	English
les maths (f, pl)	lay mat	maths
les sciences (f, pl)	lay see-ONSS	science(s)
l'histoire (f)	lee-STWAR	history
les langues (f, pl)	lay long	languages
le français	luh fron-SEH	French
l'anglais (m)	lon-GLEH	English
l'informatique (f)	lan-for-ma-TEEK	computing / ICT

Worked mini-example — say it with the right article. "I love science and languages" → J'aime les sciences et les langues. In French you keep les ('the') before the subject even though English drops it — J'aime les sciences, never J'aime sciences.

Learn each noun with its article: le lycée, l'université, les études.
le bac = le baccalauréat, the French school-leaving exam (think A Levels).
Subjects keep les in French: J'aime les sciences (I like science).
Mind the accents: lycée, université, baccalauréat, matière.

Talking about plans — aller + infinitive ('going to')

The easiest way to talk about the future: use the verb aller plus a second verb in the infinitive.

The near future (futur proche): conjugate aller, then add an unchanged infinitive.

The simplest way to talk about the future in French is the futur proche (near future). The recipe is short:

aller (conjugated) + infinitive = "going to do something"

The verb aller (to go) changes for the person; the second verb stays as a plain infinitive (the dictionary form, ending in -er, -ir or -re). You do not change the second verb.

French	English
Je vais étudier au lycée.	I'm going to study at sixth form.
Tu vas passer le bac.	You're going to take the bac.
Il / Elle va aller à l'université.	He/She is going to go to university.
Nous allons continuer nos études.	We're going to continue our studies.
Ils / Elles vont choisir leurs matières.	They're going to choose their subjects.

Notice that aller à l'université uses aller twice in a row — once conjugated (va), once as the infinitive (aller). That is correct and very common: "is going to go".

Worked mini-example. "After the exams, I'm going to study sciences" →

Time phrase first: Après les examens, (After the exams,)
je vais (I'm going to) + infinitive étudier (to study)
Add the subject with its article: les sciences. Result: Après les examens, je vais étudier les sciences.

aller + infinitive = 'going to': je vais étudier (I'm going to study).
Only aller changes (vais, vas, va, allons, allez, vont); the second verb stays infinitive.
aller à l'université can follow va: il va aller à l'université (he's going to go to uni).
Put a time phrase first: Après le bac, je vais... (After the bac, I'm going to...).

Wishes and hopes — vouloir and espérer + infinitive

Use vouloir (to want) and espérer (to hope) followed by an infinitive to talk about ambitions.

Plans are good, but examiners reward range. Two more verbs let you express what you want and hope to do — and they follow the same pattern as aller: a conjugated verb + an infinitive.

vouloir (to want). The polite, softer form je voudrais (I would like) is especially useful and very common at this level.

French	English
Je veux aller à l'université.	I want to go to university.
Je voudrais étudier la médecine.	I would like to study medicine.
Tu veux continuer tes études ?	Do you want to continue your studies?
Il / Elle veut passer le bac.	He/She wants to take the bac.

espérer (to hope). Note the accents: the infinitive is espérer, and the present-tense forms change the second é to è in some persons (j'espère, tu espères).

French	English
J'espère réussir mes examens.	I hope to pass my exams.
J'espère aller à la fac.	I hope to go to uni.
Nous espérons trouver une bonne école.	We hope to find a good school.

Quick reference — the three "future" building blocks together:

Structure	Means	Example
aller + infinitive	going to (plan)	je vais étudier — I'm going to study
vouloir + infinitive	want to (wish)	je veux étudier — I want to study
espérer + infinitive	hope to (hope)	j'espère étudier — I hope to study

Worked mini-example. "I would like to go to university because I want to study languages" → Je voudrais aller à l'université parce que je veux étudier les langues. Here voudrais, veux are conjugated; aller and étudier stay as infinitives.

vouloir + infinitive = want to: je veux étudier (I want to study).
je voudrais = 'I would like' — softer, polite, very useful.
espérer + infinitive = hope to: j'espère réussir (I hope to succeed).
All three (aller / vouloir / espérer) take an infinitive after them.

Opinions with reasons — saying why you'll continue

Combine an opinion verb with parce que and a reason to score communication and range marks.

An answer that says je vais étudier les sciences is fine — but adding an opinion and a reason turns a basic sentence into a high-mark one. The magic connective is parce que (because).

Opinion starters (learn these by heart):

French	English
J'aime (+ noun / infinitive)	I like
J'adore	I love
Je préfère	I prefer
Je n'aime pas	I don't like
Je pense que	I think that
À mon avis	In my opinion

Reason connectives:

French	English
parce que / car	because
pour (+ infinitive)	in order to / to
donc	so / therefore
mais	but

Putting it together (opinion + plan + reason):

J'aime les sciences, donc je vais continuer au lycée. (I like science, so I'm going to continue at sixth form.)
Je voudrais aller à l'université parce que je veux être médecin. (I'd like to go to university because I want to be a doctor.)
Je vais étudier les langues pour voyager. (I'm going to study languages in order to travel.)

Worked mini-example. Turn "I prefer history. I'm going to study it because it's interesting" into one flowing French sentence: Je préfère l'histoire, donc je vais l'étudier parce que c'est intéressant. Note l' twice (elision before a vowel), c'est (it is), and intéressant with its accent.

Add an opinion (j'aime, je préfère, à mon avis) to lift a basic sentence.
Give a reason with parce que / car (because) or pour + infinitive (in order to).
Link ideas with donc (so), mais (but) for flow.
c'est intéressant (it's interesting), c'est utile (it's useful) are handy reasons.

Question → answer frames you can reuse

Ready-made question and answer patterns for the Speaking exam and Writing tasks.

In the Speaking test the examiner asks about your future. If you learn the question, you can predict the answer — and reuse the same words back. Here are the highest-value frames for this topic.

Question (French)	English	Model answer frame
Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire après tes examens ?	What are you going to do after your exams?	Je vais aller au lycée. (I'm going to go to sixth form.)
Tu veux aller à l'université ?	Do you want to go to university?	Oui, je voudrais étudier... (Yes, I'd like to study...)
Quelles matières veux-tu continuer ?	Which subjects do you want to continue?	Je veux continuer les sciences et les maths.
Pourquoi ?	Why?	Parce que j'aime ça et c'est utile. (Because I like it and it's useful.)
Qu'est-ce que tu espères faire plus tard ?	What do you hope to do later?	J'espère devenir... (I hope to become...)

Time and sequence words make answers sound natural:

French	English
après	after
après les examens / le bac	after the exams / the bac
plus tard	later
d'abord ... ensuite ... enfin	first ... then ... finally
l'année prochaine	next year

Worked mini-example — a full spoken answer. Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire après tes examens ?

D'abord, je vais continuer au lycée. Ensuite, je voudrais aller à l'université pour étudier les langues, parce que j'aime voyager. Plus tard, j'espère devenir professeur. (First, I'm going to continue at sixth form. Then I'd like to go to university to study languages, because I like travelling. Later, I hope to become a teacher.)

That single answer uses aller + infinitive, voudrais + infinitive, pour + infinitive, parce que, espérer + infinitive, and sequence words — exactly the range examiners reward.

Learn the question, predict the answer: Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire après tes examens ?
Reuse the examiner's words in your reply (continuer, université, matières).
Sequence with d'abord ... ensuite ... enfin (first... then... finally).
Stack structures in one answer: aller + vouloir + pour + parce que + espérer.

Linking study to the world of work

Connect your studies to a future job using devenir, travailler comme, and 'pour + infinitive'.

Because this subtopic sits inside Topic Area 4 – The World of Work, examiners love it when you link why you're studying to what you want to become. A few verbs and a no-article rule make this easy.

Key verbs:

French	Pronunciation	English
devenir	duh-vuh-NEER	to become
travailler	tra-va-YAY	to work
travailler comme	tra-va-YAY kom	to work as

The "no article with jobs" rule. After être (to be) and devenir (to become), French drops the article before a job:

Je veux être professeur. (I want to be a teacher.) — no un.
J'espère devenir médecin. (I hope to become a doctor.) — no un.

Compare English, which says "a teacher". French does not, unless you add a describing word (Je suis un bon professeur — I'm a good teacher).

A few useful jobs to name a goal:

French	English
un professeur / une professeure	a teacher
un médecin	a doctor
un ingénieur / une ingénieure	an engineer
un(e) avocat(e)	a lawyer
un(e) infirmier / infirmière	a nurse

Worked mini-example. "I'm going to study science to become a doctor" → Je vais étudier les sciences pour devenir médecin. Here pour + infinitive (in order to) links the study to the goal, devenir stays infinitive, and médecin takes no article after devenir.

devenir = to become; travailler comme = to work as.
After être / devenir, drop the article before a job: je veux être professeur.
Link study to a goal with pour + infinitive: pour devenir médecin (to become a doctor).
Jobs still have gender: un professeur / une professeure, un infirmier / une infirmière.

Quick recap

Core nouns (with gender): le lycée, l'université, les études (f, pl), le baccalauréat / le bac, un diplôme, une matière.
Plans use aller + infinitive: je vais étudier (I'm going to study) — only aller changes.
Wishes and hopes use vouloir + infinitive (je veux / je voudrais) and espérer + infinitive (j'espère réussir).
Add an opinion + reason: je vais continuer parce que j'aime ça (because I like it).
Reuse question frames: Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire après tes examens ? → Je vais aller au lycée.
Sequence answers with d'abord ... ensuite ... enfin and time words (après le bac, plus tard, l'année prochaine).
Link study to work with pour + infinitive and devenir — and drop the article before a job (je veux être professeur).

Memorise this

Verbatim phrases and definitions Cambridge mark schemes credit.

le lycée (luh lee-SAY) = sixth form; l'université (f) = university; la fac = uni (informal).
les études (f, pl) = studies; le bac / le baccalauréat = school-leaving exam; un diplôme = a diploma/degree.
une matière = a (school) subject; subjects keep les: J'aime les sciences / les langues / les maths.
Plans: aller + infinitive → je vais étudier au lycée (I'm going to study at sixth form).
Wishes: je veux / je voudrais + infinitive → je voudrais aller à l'université.
Hopes: j'espère + infinitive → j'espère réussir mes examens (I hope to pass my exams).
Reason: parce que / car = because; pour + infinitive = in order to → pour devenir médecin.
Jobs after être/devenir take no article: je veux être professeur, j'espère devenir médecin.
Frame: Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire après tes examens ? → Je vais continuer mes études.

How it’s examined

This vocabulary and the future-plans structures are tested across all four papers of Cambridge IGCSE French 0520, under Topic Area 4 – The World of Work.

Paper 1 (Listening): You may hear a teenager describe their plans (je vais aller au lycée, je voudrais étudier...). You must catch the verb of intention (aller/vouloir/espérer) and the subject/institution. Natural speech may use informal questions (Tu vas faire quoi ?).
Paper 2 (Reading): Short texts about students' future choices test the vocabulary (lycée, université, matières, bac) and reasons (parce que, pour). Cognate-spotting helps: université → university, diplôme → diploma.
Paper 3 (Speaking): A near-certain conversation topic — Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire après tes examens ? Marks reward range (mixing aller + vouloir + espérer), opinions with reasons (parce que / pour), and accurate pronunciation of nasal and accented words (lycée, université).
Paper 4 (Writing): Tasks often ask you to write about future plans. Mark schemes credit correct aller/vouloir/espérer + infinitive constructions, opinions justified with parce que, accurate accents (lycée, université, baccalauréat), and the no-article-with-jobs rule (je veux être professeur).

Examiner reports note that candidates lose marks by conjugating the second verb instead of leaving it as an infinitive, by omitting accents, and by adding un/une before jobs after être/devenir.

Sources: Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 Syllabus 2025-2027; Cambridge 0520 Topic Area 4 – The World of Work (Syllabus 2025-2027); Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports 2022-2024. Last reviewed 2026-06-02.

Take this whole topic with you

Step-by-step worked examples — Continuing education after IGCSE

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on continuing education after igcse, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Build a future plan with aller + infinitive
Getting started
Question
Say in French: I am going to study at sixth form. Use the near-future structure (aller + infinitive).
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Choose the structure. Plans use aller + infinitive = 'going to'. The subject is 'I', so conjugate aller as je vais.
2. Step 2
  Add the infinitive unchanged. 'To study' is étudier — leave it as the infinitive, do NOT conjugate it.
3. Step 3
  Add the place. 'At sixth form' = au lycée (au = à + le, 'at the'). Keep the accent on lycée.
Answer
Je vais étudier au lycée. (I'm going to study at sixth form.)
Examiner tip
The single most common error here is conjugating the second verb (je vais étudie). Mark schemes credit one conjugated verb (aller) + one infinitive. Note au lycée, the contraction of à + le.
2Express a wish and a hope
Building confidence
Question
Write two sentences: (a) I want to go to university. (b) I hope to pass my exams. Use vouloir and espérer.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  (a) vouloir + infinitive. 'I want' = je veux; 'to go' stays as the infinitive aller; 'to university' = à l'université (elision: à + l' before a vowel).
2. Step 2
  (b) espérer + infinitive. 'I hope' = j'espère (note the accents: è then é; and elision je → j' before the vowel).
3. Step 3
  Add the object. 'To pass/succeed' = réussir; 'my exams' = mes examens (mes = my, plural).
Answer
(a) Je veux aller à l'université. (b) J'espère réussir mes examens.
Examiner tip
Both verbs take an infinitive (aller, réussir). Watch the accents in j'espère and the elision in à l'université and j'espère — examiner reports flag these as frequent accuracy losses in Paper 4.
3Add an opinion and a reason
Building confidence
Question
Upgrade the basic sentence Je vais étudier les langues (I'm going to study languages) by adding an opinion and a reason, to make it a higher-mark answer.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Start with an opinion. Add J'aime les langues (I like languages) or À mon avis, c'est utile (In my opinion, it's useful).
2. Step 2
  Connect with a reason word. Use parce que (because) or pour + infinitive (in order to). To say 'to travel' = pour voyager.
3. Step 3
  Join it smoothly. Use donc (so) or a comma to link the opinion to the plan: J'aime les langues, donc je vais les étudier pour voyager.
Answer
J'aime les langues, donc je vais les étudier pour voyager. (I like languages, so I'm going to study them in order to travel.) — Or: Je vais étudier les langues parce que c'est intéressant.
Examiner tip
Range and justification lift a mark band. Stacking an opinion (j'aime), a connective (donc), a plan (je vais... étudier) and a purpose (pour voyager) shows exactly the variety the Speaking and Writing mark schemes reward.
4Answer the Speaking question about your plans
Stretch
Question
The examiner asks: Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire après tes examens ? (What are you going to do after your exams?) Give a full, well-sequenced spoken answer.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Sequence your ideas. Start with D'abord (first), then Ensuite (then), and Plus tard / Enfin (later / finally) so the answer flows.
2. Step 2
  Mix the structures. Use aller + infinitive for the plan, vouloir/voudrais + infinitive for a wish, pour + infinitive for a purpose, and espérer + infinitive for a hope.
3. Step 3
  Add a reason. Justify at least one choice with parce que to earn the reasoning marks.
4. Step 4
  Link to a job. End with a goal using devenir (no article before the job): j'espère devenir professeur.
Answer
D'abord, je vais continuer au lycée. Ensuite, je voudrais aller à l'université pour étudier les langues, parce que j'aime voyager. Plus tard, j'espère devenir professeur. (First, I'm going to continue at sixth form. Then I'd like to go to university to study languages, because I like travelling. Later, I hope to become a teacher.)
Examiner tip
This answer mixes five structures (aller, voudrais, pour, parce que, espérer) plus sequencing words, and ends with the no-article job rule (devenir professeur). That breadth, with correct accents, targets the top of the Paper 3 communication and range descriptors.

Model Answers — Continuing education after IGCSE

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

Question 1
Paper 3 (Speaking) style. Tu veux aller à l'université ? Pourquoi ? (Do you want to go to university? Why?) Give a model answer.
Model answer
Oui, je voudrais aller à l'université. (Yes, I'd like to go to university.) Je veux étudier les sciences parce que c'est intéressant et utile. (I want to study science because it's interesting and useful.) J'espère devenir médecin plus tard. (I hope to become a doctor later.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It answers the oui/non directly, then justifies with parce que and two reasons (intéressant et utile). It mixes voudrais, veux and j'espère + infinitive, and applies the no-article job rule (devenir médecin). Accents on intéressant, médecin and the elision à l'université are all correct.
Question 2
Paper 4 (Writing) style. In about 30 words, write about which subjects you will continue and why.
Model answer
Après le bac, je vais continuer les maths et l'informatique. (After the bac, I'm going to continue maths and computing.) Je préfère ces matières parce qu'elles sont logiques. (I prefer these subjects because they are logical.) Plus tard, je voudrais travailler comme ingénieur. (Later, I'd like to work as an engineer.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It uses a time phrase (après le bac), aller + infinitive, an opinion with a justified reason (parce qu'elles sont logiques — note the elision parce qu' before a vowel), and links to a future job with travailler comme. Articles before subjects (les maths, l'informatique) are correct.
Question 3
Paper 1/3 style. How would you say, naturally: I'm not sure yet, but I hope to study languages to travel.
Model answer
Je ne suis pas encore sûr(e), mais j'espère étudier les langues pour voyager. (I'm not sure yet, but I hope to study languages in order to travel.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It shows the negative ne... pas, the useful phrase pas encore (not yet), the contrast connective mais (but), and a hope (j'espère + infinitive) with a purpose (pour voyager). The optional -e on sûr(e) correctly agrees if the speaker is female — a detail examiners credit.

Key Definitions and Keywords — Continuing education after IGCSE

Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for continuing education after igcse answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 0520 sitting.

le lycée
Examiner keyword
Sixth-form college / upper secondary school (ages ~15-18), where French students study for the bac. Pronounced 'luh lee-SAY'.
Example
Je vais continuer au lycée. — I'm going to continue at sixth form.
l'université (f)
Examiner keyword
University. Feminine; uses elision (l'). Informally also la fac / la faculté. Pronounced 'loo-nee-vair-see-TAY'.
Example
Je voudrais aller à l'université. — I'd like to go to university.
le baccalauréat / le bac
Examiner keyword
The French school-leaving / university-entrance exam, roughly equivalent to A Levels. le bac is the everyday short form.
Example
Je vais passer le bac l'année prochaine. — I'm going to take the bac next year.
les études (f, pl)
Examiner keyword
Studies / schoolwork. Always feminine plural; use mes études (my studies), not a singular.
Example
Je veux continuer mes études. — I want to continue my studies.
une matière
A school/academic subject (e.g. maths, history). Feminine. Subjects take an article: les maths, l'histoire.
Example
Ma matière préférée est l'histoire. — My favourite subject is history.
aller + infinitif
Examiner keyword
The near future (futur proche): conjugated aller + an unchanged infinitive = 'going to do'. Only aller changes.
Example
Je vais étudier. — I'm going to study. Ils vont choisir. — They're going to choose.
vouloir + infinitif
Examiner keyword
'To want to do something'. je veux = I want; the polite je voudrais = I would like. Followed by an infinitive.
Example
Je voudrais aller à l'université. — I'd like to go to university.
espérer + infinitif
Examiner keyword
'To hope to do something'. j'espère = I hope. Accent change verb (é → è in some forms). Followed by an infinitive.
Example
J'espère réussir mes examens. — I hope to pass my exams.
parce que
Examiner keyword
'Because' — introduces a reason. Becomes parce qu' before a vowel. Do not confuse with pourquoi (why).
Example
Je continue parce que j'aime ça. — I'm continuing because I like it.
pour + infinitif
'In order to / to' — links an action to its purpose. Always followed by an infinitive.
Example
J'étudie les langues pour voyager. — I study languages in order to travel.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Continuing education after IGCSE

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

✕Conjugating the second verb instead of using the infinitive (je vais étudie)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), verb accuracy
Why it happens
Beginners feel both verbs 'belong to I' and try to conjugate both.
How to avoid it
Remember the rule: ONE conjugated verb (aller/vouloir/espérer) + ONE infinitive. Say je vais étudier, je veux aller, j'espère réussir — the second verb keeps its dictionary ending (-er/-ir/-re).
✕Adding un/une before a job after être or devenir (je veux être un professeur)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 & 4, World of Work
Why it happens
English says 'a teacher', so learners copy the article into French.
How to avoid it
Drop the article after être/devenir: je veux être professeur, j'espère devenir médecin. Add an article only when an adjective describes the job (un bon professeur).
✕Omitting accents on key words (lycee, universite, baccalaureat, esperer)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy
Why it happens
English has no accents, so they are treated as optional.
How to avoid it
Treat accents as part of the spelling: lycée, université, baccalauréat, j'espère, préférer. Learn these high-frequency words with their accents and check every written answer.
✕Dropping the article before a subject (j'aime sciences instead of j'aime les sciences)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 2 & 4
Why it happens
English drops 'the' before subjects ('I like science'), so learners do too.
How to avoid it
Keep the article in French: j'aime les sciences, *j'étudie **l'*histoire, je préfère les langues. The article is required even for general likes.
✕Confusing pourquoi (why) with parce que (because)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking)
Why it happens
Both relate to reasons, so the two get swapped.
How to avoid it
Pourquoi ? asks a question; parce que answers it with a reason. Q: Pourquoi ? A: Parce que c'est utile. Remember parce que → parce qu' before a vowel.
✕Using a singular for 'studies' (mon étude) instead of mes études
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)
Why it happens
English 'my education/study' feels singular, so learners pick a singular form.
How to avoid it
Use the fixed feminine plural les études / mes études when you mean schoolwork: je veux continuer mes études (I want to continue my studies).

Continuing education after IGCSE

Detailed Study Notes

At a glance

What you’ll learn

Quick recap

Memorise this

How it’s examined

Take this whole topic with you

1Build a future plan with aller + infinitive

2Express a wish and a hope

3Add an opinion and a reason

4Answer the Speaking question about your plans

le lycée

l'université (f)

le baccalauréat / le bac

les études (f, pl)

une matière

aller + infinitif

vouloir + infinitif

espérer + infinitif

parce que

pour + infinitif

✕Conjugating the second verb instead of using the infinitive (je vais étudie)

✕Adding un/une before a job after être or devenir (je veux être un professeur)

✕Omitting accents on key words (lycee, universite, baccalaureat, esperer)

✕Dropping the article before a subject (j'aime sciences instead of j'aime les sciences)

✕Confusing pourquoi (why) with parce que (because)

✕Using a singular for 'studies' (mon étude) instead of mes études