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Writing · level All levels · 8 min

Proofreading your text in three passes

Many points are lost on slips you would have caught by proofreading: a missing item from the prompt, a word count over the limit, a forgotten agreement. Rereading the whole text in one go is not enough, because your eye corrects without seeing. The three-pass method means rereading three times, looking for only one type of problem each time.

TL;DR

  • Proofread each task three times, looking for one type of problem per pass: it is faster and catches more.
  • Pass 1 checks the prompt and the word count, pass 2 the structure and register, pass 3 the language.
  • To choose between « é » and « er », try « pris » or « prendre » in its place.

Goal: Proofread each writing task in three quick passes to check the prompt, the structure and then the language, without wasting time.

Why three passes

When you reread looking for everything at once, you focus on the meaning and let mistakes slip through. By looking for just one thing on each pass, you go faster and spot more. These three passes take a few minutes per text: build that time into your plan.

Pass 1: the prompt

  • Does every point asked for appear in the text? Tick them off one by one on your draft.
  • Is the type of text respected: message, story with a comment, comparison followed by an opinion?
  • Is the word count within the limits? Recount if it is close to a limit.
  • Is there no sentence copied from the prompt or the documents?

Pass 2: the structure

  • Does the text open and close with phrases suited to the reader?
  • Does the register stay the same from start to finish (« tu » or « vous »)?
  • Are the ideas linked by connectors (« d'abord », « ensuite », « parce que », « en revanche », « donc »)?
  • Does each paragraph have one clear main idea?

Pass 3: the language

Now reread sentence by sentence, focusing on the mistakes you make most often. Here are the most frequent ones in writing.

What to checkIncorrectCorrect
Past participle agreement with « être »Elle est arrivé hier.Elle est arrivée hier.
Adjective agreementUne ville très animé.Une ville très animée.
Plural nounsPlusieurs ami.Plusieurs amis.
Verb formsNous avons pris et nous sommes allé.Nous avons pris et nous sommes allés.
HomophonesIl a oublier son sac.Il a oublié son sac.

A trick for homophones

To choose between « é » and « er », mentally replace the verb with « prendre » or « pris »: if « prendre » fits, write « er »; if « pris » fits, write « é ».

  • « Il a (oublier / oublié) »: « il a pris » fits, so « oublié ».
  • « Je vais (acheter / acheté) »: « je vais prendre » fits, so « acheter ».

A common mistake

✗ I reread my whole text just once at the end, very quickly.

✓ I reread three times: first the prompt and the word count, then the structure and the register, finally the agreements and the verb forms.

A single quick reread lets both missed instructions and agreement mistakes slip through. Looking for just one type of problem on each pass is faster and more effective.

Frequently asked questions

How much time should I keep for proofreading?+
About 5 minutes at the end of the writing section, or one minute after each task. That time always pays off: a forgotten instruction or a word count outside the limits costs more than a few mistakes.
Do spelling mistakes cost points?+
Yes: spelling is part of the linguistic criterion, along with vocabulary and grammar. But a mistake that gets in the way of understanding weighs more than a small, isolated agreement mistake.
Which mistakes should I look for first?+
Subject and verb agreement, past participle agreement, and the most common homophones: « a » and « à », « et » and « est », « ou » and « où », « son » and « sont », « ces » and « ses ». Proofread looking for one category of mistake at a time.
Should I write a full rough draft?+
No, there isn't time, especially in the TCF IRN. Just jot down a few-word outline for each task, then write directly and keep time for proofreading.

Practice exercise with answers

1. What should you check first on the first pass?

2. « Elles sont (parti / parties) tôt. » Which form should you choose?

3. « Nous allons (visiter / visité) le musée. » Which form should you choose?

Next step

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