Report

The report: The report (le rapport) is a testable Paper 1 text type. You write it to present information objectively — usually the findings of a survey, an investigation or an activity — and then to recommend what should be done.

The whole point is a neutral, factual, impersonal tone: you give data, not feelings. That objective tone — plus a title, clear section headings and recommendations at the end — is exactly what Criterion C (conceptual understanding) rewards.

Don't confuse it with a BLOG or a diary: A blog or a diary tells your personal experience with je and feelings (« J'ai adoré… »). A report presents facts with the impersonal on (« On observe que… ») and ends with recommendations. Choosing the personal register is the fastest way to lose Criterion C — decide your purpose before you start writing.

Stay neutral, stay impersonal: Everything in a report points to one register: neutral and impersonal. Use the on form and impersonal constructions (« il est recommandé de… »); present facts, not opinions. A single « je pense que… » or an exclamation breaks the objective tone — and the marks.

Objectivity is the test: Examiners look for a consistent objective register. Replace « je pense que c'est nul » with « on observe que le service est insuffisant ». A report that slips into personal opinion or « Salut ! » loses Criterion C even if the French is otherwise correct.

Title → Introduction → Constats → Recommandations → Conclusion: A report follows a fixed, reliable shape with headings. Hit each part and you secure the conventions marks (Criterion C); the title, the section headings and the recommendations are the parts examiners check first.

Headings are part of the form: Unlike a letter, a report is organised under headings (Constats, Recommandations). Use them — they make your structure obvious and score easy Criterion C marks. Even when you run short on time, keep the title and a clear recommendation at the end.

See it all in one short report: Here is a complete report — short, but with every part in place. Read it once (tap Voir la traduction if you get stuck), then notice the labelled features below: that's exactly what an examiner ticks off.

Un rapport — modèle: « Rapport sur la cantine du lycée. Introduction. Ce rapport a pour but d'analyser la qualité du service de la cantine et de proposer des améliorations. Constats. D'après les données d'un sondage, on observe que la majorité des élèves jugent l'offre de plats végétariens insuffisante. On constate également des files d'attente trop longues à l'heure du déjeuner. Recommandations. Il est recommandé d'élargir le menu et de mieux organiser le service afin de réduire l'attente. Conclusion. En somme, la cantine rend un bon service, mais son appréciation s'améliorerait avec ces changements. »

How to analyse a model: To analyse any report, look at three things: the title + headings (Constats, Recommandations), the impersonal phrasing (on observe, il est recommandé), and the presence of recommendations at the end. Those three reveal the register instantly — and they're the parts you must reproduce in your own answer.

A toolkit for each part: Keep a small bank of phrases for each part of the report. Reusing them accurately is straight Criterion A (Language) — and it stops you freezing on the introduction or the recommendations.

Impersonal, not personal: Use the impersonal on and the passive to stay objective: « On observe que… », « Il est recommandé de… » sound far more like a report than « Je pense que… ». A couple of analytical connectors lift you from a list into a real, objective report — and that's rewarded in Criterion A.