Updated July 2016
- France
From age 15 students enter the Lycée period of education (upper secondary) for three years:
- seconde (15 –16)
- premiere (16 –17)
- terminale (17 –18)
There are three types of Lycée – the Général, Technologique and Professionnel (vocational). Général and Technologique courses are provided in standard high schools, whereas the vocational courses are provided in professional high schools.
Baccalauréats are available to students achieving in all three courses. In 2013, 38% of French students took the Baccalauréat Général, 15.6% took the Baccalauréat Technologique and 20.1% took the Baccalauréat Professionnel.
Around 95% of French students passing the Baccalauréat Général, 85% of those passing the Baccalauréat Technologique and 25% of those passing the Baccalauréat Professionnel will go on to higher education. The third course is primarily designed for students going on to further education.
The Baccalauréat Général is examined over two years (premiere and terminale). All students choose one of three ‘pathways’ (séries) within the Baccalaureate – ES (Economics & Social Sciences), S (Scientific) or L (Humanities), which determines the focus of study, particularly in the final year.
There are two stages of compulsory examination – initial exams in French language and literature and either history / geography (for students in the Science pathway) or science (for those in the Economics & Social Sciences and Humanities pathways).
There are seven compulsory final examinations, plus the students’ choice of specialisation (see additional information below for detail).
All students take philosophy in the final year. There is a required option for further specialisation within the chosen pathway which includes an additional two hour class in the chosen area and increases the weight of these subjects within the final Baccalauréat – see additional information below.
Results are based on the candidate’s average score across all examinations.
All students study French language and literature and philosophy in the first year of examinations and complete a small-group interdisciplinary project. Those students choosing the ES and L pathways will study science in their first year, and those opting for the S pathway must study history / geography in the first year. In the final year PE / sport is compulsory for all students.
The focus of each of the pathways is described below, details of subject options are provided in the section for 'further information’.
Scientific (S):
- emphasis on mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and geology – focus on abstraction, rigor, reasoning and experimentation.
Economics & Social Sciences (ES):
-
emphasis on socio- economic environment – history, geography & maths – focus on analysis & exploration.
Humanities (L):
- emphasis on language and literature, history, geography & arts – focus on analysis & synthesis, critical thinking.
Level 3 – acceptable as group qualification satisfying HE general entrance requirements.
For further information on the qualification level you may wish to refer to UK NARIC, which is the UK body responsible for providing comparability of overseas qualifications.
All students achieve an overall score out of 20 for their Baccalauréat – this includes fractions.
In addition, students who pass each stage of the Baccalauréat examinations first time are eligible for the honours grades. These are awarded on the basis of the average point score achieved.
- Tres bien (very good) = average of 16 or more points.
- Bien (good) = average of 14 points or more but fewer than 16.
- Assez bien (Good enough) = average of 12 points or more but fewer than 14.
Exceptional marks (usually above 18) can receive unofficial félicitations du jury (jury’s congratulations). There are no fixed criteria for obtaining this accolade; it is rewarded at the marking panel’s discretion.
Sans mention are those students who have achieved a pass, but without the honours grades – either because of a lower score or because they did not pass the component examinations at their first attempt.
There are two rounds of external examinations within the Baccalauréat programme, a round at the end of the première (penultimate) year, and final tests at the end of the terminale year.
The examinations are either written or oral, or a combination, with the emphasis on written. These are centrally organised and administered by the French Ministry of Education.
All assessed subjects are marked out of 20, and the Baccalauréat score is the student’s overall average score (out of 20). Scores include fractions.
There is an average of 960 hours per year, making a total of 1,920 for the two examined years of the Baccalauréat. (32 weeks, with between 27 – 32 hours a week).
For UK HE admissions purposes, the Baccalauréat is regarded as comparable in programme size with three A levels hence given a combined multiplier of 12.
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| Grade | Points |
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Some HEPs may wish to set subject requirements in addition to an overall Diploma result.
Baccalauréat exam dates in 2016 were 15-22 June. Results are
published from 5 July.
Students receive official results in mid-July, when they are made
available online and on school notice boards. Official certificates
are available from school offices.
The Baccalauréat was created in 1808. Since 1995 the Baccalauréat Général has been organised into three pathways (series).
Results of Baccalauréat 2012 (2011) (source Note d’information 13.02 – National Ministry of Education)
| Pathway | Total students | Pass rate | Tres bien | Bien | Assez bien | Sans mention |
| ES | 96,496 | 89.1 | 5.1 | 13.8 | 28.8 | 52.3 |
| L | 46,457 | 86.9 | 5 | 12 | 26.3 | 56.7 |
| S | 150,884 | 90.8 | 12.5 | 20.5 | 28.6 | 38.4 |
| All 2012 | 293,837 | 89.6 | 8.9 | 17 | 28.3 | 45.8 |
| All 2011 | 283,821 | 88.3 | 7.5 | 15.4 | 27.6 | 49.5 |
In theory the Baccalauréat admits to all faculties in French universities, but in practice, the specialisation can be important and thus a Science pathway Baccalauréat is almost essential for medicine.
Examination subjects by pathway
L (Humanities) pathway Compulsory exams: Initial exams
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| French language and literature | Written | 4 hours |
| French language and literature | Oral | 20 minutes |
| Science | Written | 1.5 hours |
| Interdisciplinary project (TPE) – group work | Oral | 30 mins for group of three candidates |
Compulsory exams: Final exams
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| Literature | Written | 2 hours |
| History & geography | Written | 4 hours |
| Modern language 1 | Written and oral | 3 hours and 20 mins |
| Modern language 2 | Written and oral | 3 hours and 20 mins |
| Foreign language and literature | Oral | 10 mins |
| Philosophy | Written | 4 hours |
| PE / Sport | Controlled assessment | n/a |
Specialisation exam – candidate choice (one subject)
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| Classics – Latin | Written | 3 hours |
| Classics - Greek | Written | 3 hours |
| Modern language 1 or 2 in more depth | Oral | 30 mins |
| Modern language 3 | Oral | 20 mins |
| Mathematics | Written | 3 hours |
| Key contemporary rights and issues | Oral | 20 mins |
| Fine arts | Written & practical | 3.5 hrs and 30mins |
| Cinema | Written & oral | 3.5 hrs and 30mins |
| Art history | Written & oral | 3.5 hrs and 30mins |
| Music | Written & oral | 3.5 hrs and 30mins |
| Theatre | Written & oral | 3.5 hrs and 30mins |
| Dance | Written & oral | 3.5 hrs and 30mins |
| Circus skills | Written & oral | 3.5 hrs and 30mins |
Other exam type
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| PE / Sport (2) | Controlled assessment | n/a |
ES (Economics & Social Sciences) pathway. Compulsory exams: Initial exams
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| French language and literature | Written | 4 hours |
| French language and literature | Oral | 20 minutes |
| Science | Written | 1.5 hours |
| Interdisciplinary project (TPE) – group work | Oral | 30 mins for group of three candidates |
Compulsory exams: Final exams
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| History & geography | Written | 4 hours |
| Mathematics | Written | 3 hours |
| Economics & social science | Written | 4 hours (or 4 hours +1 hour) |
| Modern language 1 | Written and oral | 3 hours (written) |
| Modern language 2 | Written and oral | 2 hours (written) |
| Philosophy | Written | 4 hours |
| PE & Sport | Controlled assessment | n/a |
Specialisation exam – candidate choice (one subject)
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| Economics in depth | Written | 1 hour |
| Mathematics | Written | Integrated into final mathematics exam above |
| Social science and politics | Written | 1 hour |
Other exam type
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| PE / Sport (2) | Controlled assessment | n/a |
S (Science) pathway. Compulsory exams: Initial exams
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| French | Written | 4 hours |
| French | Oral | 20 minutes |
| History and geography | Written | 4 hours |
Final exams
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| History and geography (from 2015) | Written | 3 hours |
| Mathematics | Written | 4 hours |
| Physics & chemistry | Written & practical | 3.5 hours + 1 hour |
| Earth/life sciences | Written & practical | 3.5 hours + 1 hour |
| Or ecology/agronomy | Written & practical | 3.5 hours + 1 hour |
| Or engineering science | Written & practical | 4 hours + 20 mins |
| Modern language 1 | Written & oral | 3 hours (written) |
| Modern language 2 | Written & oral | 2 hours (written) |
| Philosophy | Written | 4 hours |
| PE/Sport | Controlled assessment | n/a |
Specialisation exam – candidate choice (one subject)
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| Mathematics | Written & practical | Integrated into final exam above |
| Or physics / chemistry | Written & practical | Integrated into final exam above |
| Earth/life sciences | Written & practical | Integrated into final exam above |
| Computer science | Oral | 20 mins |
| Ecology & agronomy | Oral | 30 mins |
Other exam type
| Title of exam | Type of exam | Length of exam |
| PE/Sport (2) | Controlled assessment | n/a |
http://www.education.gouv.fr/cid145/le-baccalaureat-general.html#un-bac…- par-serie