Does McGill University accept French A: Literature HL?

💡Expert's Take

“McGill grants 6 generic credits (FREN 1XX) for French A: Language and Literature HL, but this credit carries a hidden 'native speaker' classification that affects your options.

THE TRAP: French A is classified as native/near-native fluency. McGill's system assumes you are a Francophone or heritage speaker. This blocks you from the 'easy' French as a Second Language (FRSL) electives that many students use as GPA boosters.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS: If you want to take more French, you WON'T be in the French Language Centre (FRSL 211, 321). You will likely be directed to the Département des littératures de langue française (DLLF) to take native-level courses like FREN 201 (Composition) or FREN literature seminars.

THE DANGER ZONE: DLLF courses are taught entirely in French and graded on the same standard as native Francophone students. If you're an immersion student who took French A but struggle with perfect academic French, these courses can devastate your GPA.

THE REALITY CHECK: While IB French A focuses on literature, DLLF courses expect native cultural fluency. You might be able to analyze Camus, but if your grammar isn't perfect, you will lose marks on every assignment against native speakers.

YOUR MOVE: If you are NOT a native speaker but took French A, you MUST petition the French Language Centre (FLC) for a placement test BEFORE registering for courses. Do NOT assume the system correctly classified you. Many immersion students successfully argue their way into FRSL courses where they can earn better grades and actually build proficiency.

BEST CASE: You get FLC placement → Take FRSL 321 → Reasonable GPA + actual fluency gain. WORST CASE: You're locked into DLLF → Compete with native speakers → GPA takes a hit.”