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French imparfait childhood memories test answer key with scoring for French A2 (free PDF download)

Remembering childhood: then and now – French A2 test answer key with Zoé, the Français PDF coach

The questions are on the French Imparfait Childhood Memories test. Take it under real conditions before reading the answer key.

Quick answer: To describe childhood memories in French, use the imparfait for habits and states: take the nous form of the present, drop -ons, and add -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. This scoring guide gives the expected answers and the points for the 8 questions of the French A2 test on imparfait childhood memories, from regular imparfait to compare Théo’s life, with the equivalent answers to accept.

Use these model answers and scoring guides to mark the test. Accept any correct alternative, and give partial credit when only one ending or one accent is wrong in an otherwise correct answer.

Level: French A2 (CEFR elementary) · Standards: CEFR A2, Spoken production

Question 1 Regular imparfait (2 points)

a. chantais · b. finissais · c. prenions · d. faisaient

Scoring: 0.5 per correct form; 0.25 if the stem is right but the ending is wrong.

Question 2 Être and avoir (2 points)

a. étais / avais · b. étiez / aviez

Scoring: 0.5 per correct form.

Question 3 Spelling (2 points)

a. mangeais · b. mangions · c. commençait · d. commenciez

Scoring: 0.5 per correct form.

Question 4 Then and now (2 points)

a. habitions · b. habitons · c. allait · d. reste

Scoring: 0.5 per correct form.

Question 5 Correct the mistakes (3 points)

a. Quand j’étais petit, je jouais dehors tous les jours. · b. Elle habitait à Dakar. · c. Nous mangions du riz chaque dimanche quand nous étions petits.

Scoring: 1 point per fully corrected sentence.

Question 6 Translate into French (3 points)

a. Quand j’étais petit, j’habitais à Montréal. · b. Nous mangions toujours chez ma grand-mère. · c. Il n’avait pas de vélo.

Scoring: 1 point per sentence; 0.5 if only one form or the negation has a mistake.

Question 7 Reading: Samira’s Fridays (3 points)

a. In Rabat, near the sea. · b. Couscous, at her grandmother’s. · c. In Montréal.

Scoring: 1 point per correct answer (half if one detail is missing).

Question 8 Compare Théo’s life (3 points)

Model answer: Quand Théo était petit, il habitait à Lille ; aujourd’hui, il habite à Bordeaux. Avant, il allait à l’école à pied ; maintenant, il va au travail en tram. Avant, il jouait au basket ; aujourd’hui, il joue au tennis.

Scoring: per sentence, 0.5 for the correct imparfait, 0.5 for the correct présent.

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