French Phrase
J'ai raté le contrôle de maths.
Meaning
Literally, "I missed the math test." It can indicate that you were absent, that you performed poorly, or that you simply did not succeed in the test.
When to use
Use this sentence after a math test when you want to explain that you didn’t pass it, didn’t attend it, or that the result was unsatisfactory. It’s common in informal conversation with classmates, teachers, or friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
J'airatélecontrôledemaths.
Je → J'
The subject pronoun "je" contracts to "j'" before a vowel or mute h.
Auxiliary "avoir"
"Ai" is the present tense of "avoir" used to form the passé composé.
Past participle agreement
With "avoir", the past participle "raté" agrees with the direct object only if it precedes the verb; here it does not, so no extra ending.
"raté" meaning
"Rater" can mean "to miss", "to fail" or "to not attend" depending on context.
"contrôle" in school
In French education, a "contrôle" is a short in‑class test, not a full exam.
"maths" abbreviation
"Maths" is the colloquial short form of "mathématiques".
🗨In Conversation
Tu as passé le contrôle de maths ?
Did you take the math test?
Non, j'ai raté le contrôle de maths.
No, I missed the math test.
✕Common Mistakes
J'ai raté le contrôle de math.
In French the subject is "maths" (plural) or the full word "mathématiques"; "math" is not used.
J'ai raté le contrôle de maths parce que je n'ai pas étudié.
If you want to say you simply didn’t attend, you can also say "je n'ai pas pu faire le contrôle"; "raté" can be interpreted as "failed".
J'ai raté le contrôle en maths.
The correct preposition is "de" after "contrôle" when naming the subject.
↔Alternatives
Je n'ai pas réussi le contrôle de maths.
I didn't pass the math test.
Je n'ai pas pu faire le contrôle de maths.
I couldn't take the math test.
J'ai échoué au contrôle de maths.
I failed the math test.
Cultural Tip
In France, a "contrôle" is usually a short, timed assessment (often 20‑30 minutes) rather than a major exam. Saying you "raté" a contrôle can be taken lightly among peers, but in a formal setting you might prefer "je n'ai pas réussi" to sound more neutral. Also, "maths" is the everyday spoken form; in written or formal contexts, use "mathématiques".