✍️ A Simple Guide to VCE French Written Text Types

Learning how to write confidently in different VCE French text types is one of the most important skills for the written exam. Each text type has its own purpose, tone and language features, and understanding these conventions will help you express yourself clearly and score higher. This guide gives you a clear overview of the four main VCE French written text types: personal, evaluative, informative, and persuasive (I won't get into imaginative in this post).

You can also download the full PDF recap of the VCE French Text Types here.

Personal Texts

Personal texts such as diary entries, blog posts or emails allow you to express your thoughts, feelings and reflections. The tone is usually subjective and often written in the first person (je or tu). Because these texts are meant to sound authentic and emotional, you can use informal language, idiomatic expressions and even exaggeration.

To express your opinion or your feelings, you can use structures like je pense que (“I think that”), je me sens (“I feel”), or j’ai hâte de (“I can’t wait to”). Idioms such as je suis aux anges (“I’m over the moon”) or je suis au bout du rouleau (“I’m exhausted / at the end of my rope”) add colour and personality.

Exaggeration is also common in this text type. Superlatives like la meilleure journée de ma vie (“the best day of my life”) or dramatic exclamations such as Quel cauchemar ! (“What a nightmare!”) help convey intensity. Emotional adjectives—including attristé(e), dépassé(e), épuisé(e), envieux/envieuse, and soulagé(e) —are excellent tools to show nuance in how you feel.

Evaluative Texts

Evaluative texts (often written as articles, reports or speeches) require a more neutral and rational tone. Your goal is to examine a topic objectively, consider multiple viewpoints and end with a clear conclusion. This is the text type where your linking words, connectors and conjunctions matter most. They shape the structure of your reasoning and make your writing easier to follow.

You should use connectors such as tout d’abord, ensuite, néanmoins, par contre, malgré, etc. These help you organise ideas logically, compare perspectives and build towards your final judgment. You can also use comparative structures such as plus… que, moins… que or autant… que, which are essential tools when weighing up different positions.

Impersonal expressions are common in evaluative writing because they maintain an objective tone. Phrases like il est bien connu que (“it is well known that”), il est certain que (“it is certain that”), or la question qui se pose est… (“the question that arises is…”) help introduce arguments in a formal, academic way. Just remember that some impersonal structures require the subjunctive, such as il faut que.

Informative Texts

Informative texts include articles, blog posts, speeches or emails that aim to explain a topic clearly and accurately. Unlike persuasive texts, they do not try to influence the reader. Instead, they focus on facts, examples and clarification. These texts also rely heavily on logical connectors to create flow and structure.

Because the tone is impersonal and factual, students often use expressions such as on remarque que (“we notice that”), on se rend compte que (“we realise that”), or il est important de noter que (“it is important to note that”). These help introduce information smoothly and show the progression of your explanation.

Like evaluative texts, informative writing benefits enormously from strong organisation. Use connectors  to show the relationships between ideas and make your explanations clearer. Examiners love writing that feels structured, logical and easy to follow.

Persuasive Texts

Persuasive texts (often speeches, letters or emails) aim to convince or influence the reader. These texts allow more emotion, creativity and personality. You may use humour, exaggeration or rhetorical questions to strengthen your argument.

Typical persuasive techniques include asking questions such as Pourquoi ne pas agir maintenant ? (“Why not act now?”) or using imperatives to encourage action and add urgency: Réveillons-nous ! (“Let’s wake up!”) or N’hésitons plus ! (“Let’s not hesitate anymore!”). Strong opinion markers like il est clair que (“it is clear that”) or il ne fait aucun doute que (“there is no doubt that”) help reinforce your viewpoint with confidence.

Persuasive writing often sounds more intimate and direct because it uses je or nous to build connection with the audience. Even though you may acknowledge multiple viewpoints, your goal remains the same: to lead the reader towards your position.

Final Tips for Success in VCE French Writing

Before you begin any written task, always identify what type of text you are writing and what its purpose is. Then match your tone, register and structure to that purpose. Also pay attention to the level of formality (or informality) that is most appropriate. If you’re writing to a friend, your farewell and greeting will be very different than if you are writing to your school principal for example. Lastly, well-chosen connectors, varied sentence structures and precise vocabulary are key to succeed in the VCE French writing sections.

Writing becomes easier with repetition. The more you practise each text type, the more confident you will feel during the exam. Small improvements compound quickly, especially when you reuse helpful expressions and plan your structure clearly. If you need prompts to practice your written skills, I have combined all of the past exams written prompts here.

Download the Free VCE French Text Types PDF

For a complete version of this guide (with extra idioms, grammar notes and ready-to-use sentence starters), you can download the Free VCE French Text Types PDF below. It’s a perfect study tool for Units 3 & 4 and an essential resource for revising before SACs and the final exam.

👉 Download your free guide here.