What a « compléter les phrases » question is: A gap-fill (compléter les phrases) listening question gives you a sentence or a note with a blank, and you complete it with the exact word(s) you HEAR. The IB instruction is « Complétez les phrases suivantes avec un maximum de trois mots » — so write at most three words. Spelling and accents count — « a » and « à » are different words — and your answer must fit grammatically into the sentence.
The exam instruction you'll see: In the French Paper 2 Listening, this question type is introduced by an instruction like:
«Complétez les blancs avec les informations manquantes.» → Complete the gaps with the missing information.
What you have to do: Write the missing word(s) you hear into each gap — listen for the exact detail (a number, name, time, place). Spelling slips are tolerated if the word is recognisable, but write what was actually said, not a paraphrase.
- compléter les phrases
- to complete the sentences (fill the gaps)
- le trou / le blanc
- the gap — the blank you fill
- un maximum de trois mots
- a maximum of three words (don't write more)
- l'orthographe (f.)
- spelling
- l'accent (m.) / l'accent aigu
- the accent mark — e.g. é, à, the difference between « a » and « à »
- s'accorder / convenir grammaticalement
- to agree / fit grammatically in the sentence
Spelling and accents are part of the answer: In gap-fill, the exact word is the answer — so spelling and accents matter. A right word spelled wrong, or missing its accent (« ou » vs « où »), can lose the mark. Write only what's needed: « un maximum de trois mots » — usually one word or a short phrase.
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The mechanics on one card: Here is how a compléter les phrases item is built and marked. English explains the mechanics; the key rule is that the word you write must fit grammatically in the sentence and be spelled correctly — and you may write « un maximum de trois mots ».
| Aspect | Compléter les phrases (gap-fill) |
|---|---|
| Ce qu'on te donne | une phrase ou une note avec un trou (______) |
| Ce que tu écris | le ou les mots exacts que tu ENTENDS |
| Combien de mots ? | un maximum de trois mots — souvent un seul |
| Doit s'accorder | grammaticalement dans la phrase (genre, nombre) |
| Orthographe | compte : accents et lettres corrects |
| N'écris pas plus | seulement ce que le trou demande |
Make it fit: The gap is part of a real sentence, so your word must agree (gender, number) and make grammatical sense. If your word doesn't fit the sentence, it's almost certainly wrong — even if you heard it somewhere in the audio.
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A method for every gap: You don't need every word — you need a method. Run the same five steps on each gap and you'll write the right word, spelled right, that fits the sentence. Remember: in the real exam you hear the audio twice.
Fill the gap
Read the gapped sentence
Read the whole sentence with the blank so you understand what the missing word does. Look at the words just before and after the gap.
Predict the word type
Predict what kind of word fits — a number? a time? a place? a noun? — so you know what to listen for.
Listen for it
Listen for that word in the recording. Knowing its type makes it jump out. You hear the audio twice.
Write it correctly
Write the exact word(s) with correct spelling and accents (max three words) — accuracy is part of the answer.
Check it fits grammatically
Re-read the sentence with your word in it. If it doesn't fit (wrong gender, number or sense), it's probably wrong.
Read → Predict type → Listen → Write → Check fit
Predict the type first: Knowing what kind of word you need — a number, a time, a noun — turns listening into targeted hunting. You hear the clip twice, so use the second play to confirm the spelling and the accents before you write it down.
This is exactly how it feels: This is exactly how a gap-fill item feels — you hear it, you don't see the words. Read the gapped sentence first, predict the word type, play the clip, write the word (max three words), then reveal the transcript to check spelling and accents. Remember: in the real exam you'd hear it twice.
Compléter les phrases — le festival de cinéma de Lola
You're listening to a short podcast in which Lola announces her town's film festival. Complete the gap with the exact word(s) — « un maximum de trois mots » — BEFORE you reveal the transcript. That's exactly how a Paper 2 gap-fill works.
- Complétez avec un maximum de trois mots : « Le festival commence le samedi _____. »
Bonjour à tous ! Je vous présente le festival de cinéma de notre ville. Il commence le samedi quinze juin, à dix-neuf heures, sur la place du marché. L'entrée est gratuite pour les étudiants ; les adultes paient cinq euros. N'oubliez pas votre carte d'étudiant. À très bientôt !
Hello everyone! I'm presenting our town's film festival. It starts on Saturday the fifteenth of June, at seven in the evening, on the market square. Admission is free for students; adults pay five euros. Don't forget your student card. See you very soon!
- quinze juin (le 15 juin).
Predict the type, then catch it: The words « le samedi ______ » tell you the gap needs a date — so you're listening for a day-and-month. You hear the clip twice, so use the second play to make sure you've spelled it right and stayed within « un maximum de trois mots ».
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Where marks are lost: Most gap-fill marks are lost on accuracy, not on understanding. Compare what good candidates do with the traps everyone else falls into.
Bonnes pratiques
- Predict the word type (number, time, noun) before listening.
- Write the exact word with correct spelling and accents.
- Check the word fits grammatically in the sentence.
- Write only what the gap needs — « un maximum de trois mots ».
Erreurs fréquentes
- Misspell the word or drop the accent and lose the mark.
- Write a word that doesn't fit the sentence grammatically.
- Write more than three words and bury the answer.
- Answer in English instead of the French word heard.
Right word, wrong spelling = lost mark: Hearing the word is only half the job — you must write it accurately. A dropped accent (« a » for « à », « ou » for « où ») or a misspelling can cost the mark, so use the second listen to check the spelling. And never go over « un maximum de trois mots ».