French Ministry of Education framework · 2024
How French BAC scores are built
The general BAC totals 60% final exams and 40% continuous assessment—think of it as national exams plus two years of transcripts. Like a standardized test and portfolio combined, it values both exam-day performance and consistent classroom results in Première and Terminale.
Final exams
60%
Première anticipated exams + Terminale national papers
Continuous assessment
40%
Transcripts and in-school checks
Grade mapping
Seconde = grade 10, Première = grade 11, Terminale = grade 12. Anticipated French and math exams happen in Première—plan prep early.
Key difference vs. other systems
Beyond national papers, 40% comes from classwork and teacher feedback across two years. Stable output keeps the 20-point average secure.
Scores are still on a 20-point scale; higher coefficients weigh more toward the final average.
Épreuves terminales
Final exams · 60%
Final exams include anticipated tests in Première and core subjects in Terminale, similar to standardized national papers. All grades follow national written/oral rubrics to ensure consistency.
Première (grade 11) anticipated exams
| Subject | Format | Coefficient |
|---|---|---|
| French written | Written | 5 |
| French oral | Oral | 5 |
| Math anticipated exam | Written | 2 |
Terminale (grade 12) national exams
| Subject | Format | Coefficient |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty 1 | Written + oral | 16 |
| Specialty 2 | Written + oral | 16 |
| Philosophy | Written | 8 |
| Grand Oral | Oral | 8 |
Coefficient insight
Higher coefficients mean heavier weight on the 20-point average. Two specialties total 32 coefficients—about 53% of final-exam weight—so selection and prep should align with Parcoursup goals.
Timing reminders
Première French exams happen in June and count toward the final average; Terminale specialties and philosophy run March–June, followed by the Grand Oral. Map revision cycles early.
Contrôle continu
Continuous assessment · 40%
Continuous assessment comes from daily grades, periodic tests, and teacher remarks across Première and Terminale—essentially two years of transcripts. All core subjects except French and philosophy flow into this portion, stressing steady participation.
*Physical education averages three Terminale assessments and counts for six coefficients.
Transcripts feed the total
Continuous-assessment grades come directly from school reports uploaded to the national platform. Changing schools or cities does not reset scores—consistency from the start of Première is key.
Classroom presence matters
Participation, periodic tests, and homework completion shape teacher appreciations and scores. Families can watch for “appréciations” on the report card.
What is Parcoursup?
Parcoursup is France’s national college application system. Universities review two years of continuous assessment to gauge reliability.
Need a tailored plan?
Sanai advisors provide end-to-end French high school support
We align BAC scoring rules with your schedule—courses, Parcoursup strategy, visa timing, and homestay prep—so the 60/40 split stays stable.