What are the Baccalaureate papers and their coefficients?

From the 2027 session, out of 100: at the end of Premiere, the anticipated French examinations, written (coefficient 5) and oral (coefficient 5), and the anticipated mathematics examination (coefficient 2); then in Terminale philosophy (coefficient 8), the two speciality papers (coefficient 16 each) and the Grand oral (coefficient 8, down from 10). Continuous assessment, including the common core subjects and options such as Maths Expertes or Maths Complementaires, makes up the remaining 40.

Does the French Baccalaureate allow study in Quebec and North America?

Yes. The French Baccalaureate is recognised for admission to CEGEP and to university in Quebec, and Baccalaureate holders normally enter Quebec universities without going through CEGEP. McGill, Concordia and most North American universities admit holders directly, often with advanced standing. It also opens French higher education through Parcoursup, so families in Montreal keep both doors open.

French AEFE curriculum, Montreal

The French Baccalaureate in Montreal: how it actually works

Q: How does the French Baccalaureate work?

The general Baccalaureate rests on two components. Continuous assessment, built from the Premiere and Terminale report cards, accounts for roughly 40 percent of the final grade. Terminal examinations account for roughly 60 percent: French and, since 2026, an anticipated mathematics examination at the end of Premiere, then philosophy, the Grand oral and two speciality papers in Terminale.

Q: When are the Baccalaureate examinations sat?

The anticipated French and mathematics examinations are sat at the end of Premiere. In Terminale, the two speciality papers, philosophy and the Grand oral all take place at the end of the year, according to the exam centre's calendar. Since the speciality papers moved to the end of the year, Parcoursup relies on the Premiere and Terminale report cards.

A clear explanation of the French Baccalaureate for families in Montreal: its structure, the examinations and their weights, the calendar, the specialities and how it connects to both Parcoursup and North American admissions. Written for parents who did not go through this system themselves.

General Baccalaureate Continuous assessment & exams Specialities & Parcoursup ★ 5.0 · 11 Google reviews

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The short version, for a parent from the English-speaking system

The Baccalaureate is a national diploma with real external examinations, closer to A-Levels or the IB than to a North American high school diploma. Roughly 40 percent comes from the Premiere and Terminale report cards, and roughly 60 percent from papers set and marked outside the school. There is no GPA and no SAT in this system; the diploma is the credential.

Practically, it travels well. In Quebec a Baccalaureate holder normally enters university without going through CEGEP, which saves two years. McGill, Concordia and most North American universities admit holders directly, often with advanced standing. The same diploma opens French higher education through Parcoursup. That dual recognition is the main reason families choose an AEFE school in Montreal.

The structure of the general Baccalaureate

Since the reform of the lycee, the general Baccalaureate rests on two components. Continuous assessment, based on the Premiere and Terminale averages, represents about 40 percent of the final grade. The terminal examinations, sat at the end, count for about 60 percent.

This has an important consequence for students and parents: not everything is decided at the final examinations. The Premiere marks already count, Premiere ends with two anticipated examinations, and the Parcoursup application is built on the Premiere and Terminale report cards, well before the two speciality papers, the heaviest of all, are sat at the end of Terminale.

In Montreal, students at Lycée Marie de France and Collège Stanislas sit exactly the same Baccalaureate as in France, with the same examinations and the same standards. Nothing is adapted for being abroad.

The examinations and their weights

French, anticipated examinations, end of Premiere

A written paper (coefficient 5) and an oral (coefficient 5) sat at the end of Premiere, a full year before the Terminale papers.

Mathematics, anticipated examination, end of Premiere, coefficient 2

Sat by every student in the general track since June 2026, speciality or not: 2 hours, no calculator, automatic skills worth 6 points, then two or three exercises worth 14.

Two speciality papers, coefficient 16 each

Sat at the end of Terminale, these are the heaviest components. For scientific profiles, usually Mathematics and Physics-Chemistry.

Philosophy, coefficient 8

A written paper sat at the end of Terminale, taken by every student in the general stream whatever their specialities. There is no North American equivalent, and it surprises many families.

Grand oral, coefficient 8

An oral examination at the end of Terminale on a question connected to the specialities: 20 minutes of preparation, then a 10 minute presentation and 10 minutes of discussion with the jury. Its coefficient drops from 10 to 8 from the 2027 session.

Continuous assessment and options

The averages from common core subjects and from options such as Maths Expertes or Maths Complementaires count toward the final grade.

The calendar of the final two years

In Premiere, the student follows three specialities and sits the anticipated French and mathematics examinations at the end of the year. They then drop one speciality and keep two for Terminale. In Terminale, the two speciality papers, philosophy and the Grand oral all take place at the end of the year, according to the exam centre's calendar.

That calendar has a practical consequence: speciality preparation has to start early, because the papers cover the whole year's syllabus and the report cards that feed Parcoursup are built in the meantime. Preparation spread across the year, then intensified in the final weeks, works far better than a last-minute rescue.

Baccalaureate, Parcoursup and studying in Quebec

The Baccalaureate opens two routes. In France, admission to higher education goes through Parcoursup, where the Premiere and Terminale report cards and the student's file are decisive. In Quebec, the Baccalaureate is recognised for admission to CEGEP and to university, and holders usually skip CEGEP entirely, which lets Montreal families keep both options open.

That is one of the real advantages of Montreal's AEFE schools: a diploma recognised on both sides of the Atlantic. I know both perspectives and take them into account, in orientation advice as much as in exam preparation.

Preparing the Baccalaureate in Montreal

I have worked with students of the French curriculum in Montreal on Baccalaureate preparation for more than 10 years, in the scientific subjects: the Mathematics and Physics-Chemistry specialities, the mathematics options, and the Grand oral. I went through the French system myself and hold a B.Sc. from McGill and an M.Sc. from Concordia.

See the dedicated Baccalaureate preparation page →

Frequently asked questions

How does the French Baccalaureate work?

It rests on continuous assessment, about 40 percent of the grade from the Premiere and Terminale report cards, and terminal examinations, about 60 percent: French and, since 2026, an anticipated mathematics examination at the end of Premiere, then philosophy, the Grand oral and two speciality papers in Terminale.

What are the papers and their coefficients?

From the 2027 session, out of 100: at the end of Premiere, French written (5) and oral (5) and the anticipated mathematics examination (2); then in Terminale philosophy (8), the two speciality papers (16 each) and the Grand oral (8, down from 10). Continuous assessment, including options, makes up the remaining 40.

When are the examinations sat?

French and mathematics at the end of Premiere. In Terminale, the speciality papers, philosophy and the Grand oral at the end of the year, according to the exam centre's calendar. Parcoursup relies on the Premiere and Terminale report cards.

Does it allow study in Quebec and North America?

Yes. It is recognised for admission to CEGEP and university in Quebec, and holders normally skip CEGEP. McGill, Concordia and most North American universities admit holders directly, often with advanced standing. It also opens French higher education through Parcoursup.