Express Lack of Understanding — English Bac Sciences Humaines

Dans le programme du Bac Sciences Humaines

English carries a coefficient of 3 in the Bac Sciences Humaines stream — level with Arabic Language, just behind History-Geography, Philosophy and French (coefficient 4). It is a genuine average-mover, and the humanities focus of the stream makes its themes on society, citizenship, culture and development especially familiar territory.

À l'épreuve

Three parts: Reading Comprehension, Language, and Writing (a guided text of about 180 words, longer at the top of the mark range). Sciences Humaines candidates, used to handling ideas and social questions, can bring real substance to essay prompts on culture, citizenship and development — the discipline needed is to keep the writing in clear, accurate English.

Objectifs d'apprentissage

Produce this function at the right register in a dialogue-completion task on the Bac Sciences Humaines English paper (coefficient 3)
Use polite phrases to signal you do not understand (I'm sorry, I don't follow / I'm not quite sure I understand)
Ask for a repetition or a clarification (Could you repeat that, please? / What do you mean by…?)
Ask for a simpler rephrasing (Could you put it differently? / In other words…?)
Match the register to the situation (formal with a teacher, informal with friends)

Notions clés

Signalling that you do not understand

I'm sorry, I don't (quite) follow / I don't (quite) understand / I'm lost / I'm not sure I get what you mean. The register varies: “I'm lost” is informal, “I'm afraid I don't quite follow” is more formal.

Asking for a repetition or clarification

Could you repeat that, please? / Could you say that again? / What do you mean by…? / Could you explain what you mean by…?

Asking for a rephrasing

Could you put it differently? / Could you rephrase that? / In other words…? (also used to check your own understanding by restating what you heard).

Erreurs fréquentes

Using only “What?” in a formal written dialogue: it is too casual for most tested contexts (student–teacher, an interview).

Confusing repeat (say the same thing again) and rephrase (say the same thing in other, simpler words) — the exam often distinguishes the two.

Dropping the politeness marker (I'm sorry, I'm afraid) in a formal register before signalling a lack of understanding.

Exemple corrigé

Énoncé

Complete the dialogue in a way suited to the formal register: Teacher: “The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.” Student: “___ Could you explain that in simpler terms?”

Correction

Identify the register. A student–teacher dialogue calls for a polite, formal register.

Choose a suitable phrase. An apology followed by a signal of not understanding fits: “I'm sorry, I don't quite understand.”

Assemble the full turn. “I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. Could you explain that in simpler terms?”

Le cours, puis l'entraînement.

Orka génère des exercices illimités et des examens blancs corrigés sur tout le programme de Anglais du Bac Sciences Humaines, avec un suivi de ta progression chapitre par chapitre.

Continue gratuitement sur Orka

3 exercices pour t'entraîner

Exercice 1

Easy

Choose the most polite way to ask for a repetition: (What? / Could you repeat that, please? / Huh?)

Voir la correction

Could you repeat that, please? — the only polite phrase suited to formal writing.

Exercice 2

Medium

Distinguish: “Could you repeat that?” and “Could you put it differently?” — what is the difference in meaning?

Voir la correction

“Could you repeat that?” asks for exactly the same words again (you did not hear or catch it). “Could you put it differently?” asks for a rephrasing in other, often simpler words (you heard but did not follow the meaning).

Exercice 3

Hard

Write a full, polite turn in which a student asks their teacher to rephrase an overly technical physics explanation.

Voir la correction

“I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't quite follow. Could you put it in simpler terms, please?” — it combines a polite apology, a clear signal of not understanding, and a request for rephrasing (not just a repetition, since the problem is complexity, not volume).

Va plus loin sur ce chapitre

50+ exercices interactifs sur ce chapitre

Générés et corrigés étape par étape par l’IA, à ton niveau.

Connexion requise

Quiz IA adaptatif

Questions qui s’ajustent automatiquement à tes réussites et erreurs.

Connexion requise

Corrigés d’annales sur ce chapitre

Sujets d’examens nationaux et régionaux déjà tombés.

Connexion requise

Plan de révision personnalisé

Priorise ce chapitre selon ta progression réelle sur toute la filière.

Premium

Flashcards du chapitre

Formules et définitions clés en mode révision rapide.

Premium

Tuteur IA en Darija

Pose tes questions sur ce chapitre et obtiens une explication immédiate.

Premium

Questions fréquentes

Is this chapter really useful, when the Bac is a written exam?

These phrases are mainly for the written dialogue-completion tasks, but they also stay useful in real life (lessons, oral exams in other subjects, talking with English speakers) — one of the few chapters that transfers directly beyond the exam.

Which phrase is safest for all registers?

“I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. Could you explain that again?” works in almost every tested context, formal and semi-formal — polite without being over-formal.

Can I use “Pardon?” as in French?

Yes, but “Pardon?” (or “Sorry?”) in English is used on its own to signal you did not hear, a more informal register — for a fuller dialogue in the exam, a complete phrase (I'm sorry, could you repeat that?) is better.

How much English revision does a coefficient-3 subject deserve in my stream?

A regular slot, not an afterthought. Fix each chapter's rule or vocabulary with two examples, write a short essay every week, and use the society themes — where your stream gives you ideas — as your strongest material. Keep a reusable introduction and conclusion, and check accuracy as you go.

Why learn a spoken function for a written Bac Sciences Humaines exam?

Because it is tested in writing: dialogue-completion tasks ask for exactly these phrases at the right level of politeness. Keeping two or three set expressions per function, sorted by register, covers the task reliably.