What are the Baccalaureate papers and their coefficients?

The anticipated French examinations, written and oral, at the end of Premiere; then in Terminale philosophy with a coefficient of 8, the Grand oral with a coefficient of 10, and the two speciality papers with a coefficient of 16 each. The rest comes from continuous assessment, including the common core subjects and options such as Maths Expertes or Maths Complementaires.

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, and they are French, philosophy, the Grand oral and two speciality papers.

Q: When are the Baccalaureate examinations sat?

The anticipated French examinations are sat in June of Premiere. In Terminale, the two speciality papers, philosophy and the Grand oral all take place in June. The speciality results arrive during the Parcoursup admission phase.

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.

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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 in June. The Premiere marks already count, and the two speciality papers, the heaviest of all, are sat in the spring of Terminale, at exactly the moment the Parcoursup application is being assembled.

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

The examinations and their weights

French, anticipated examinations, end of Premiere

A written and an oral paper sat in June of Premiere. These are the first terminal examinations of the Baccalaureate, taken a full year before the rest.

Two speciality papers, coefficient 16 each

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

Philosophy, coefficient 8

A written paper sat in June 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 10

An oral examination in June on a question connected to the specialities, followed by a discussion of the student's plans for higher education.

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 examinations in June. At the end of the year they drop one and keep two for Terminale. In Terminale, the two speciality papers, philosophy and the Grand oral all take place in June.

That calendar has a practical consequence: speciality preparation has to start early, because the papers arrive before the end of the year and in the middle of the Parcoursup period. Preparation spread across the year, then intensified before the spring, works far better than a rescue in the final weeks.

Baccalaureate, Parcoursup and studying in Quebec

The Baccalaureate opens two routes. In France, admission to higher education goes through Parcoursup, where the speciality marks 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, philosophy, the Grand oral and two speciality papers.

What are the papers and their coefficients?

French at the end of Premiere, then in Terminale philosophy (coefficient 8), the Grand oral (coefficient 10) and the two speciality papers (coefficient 16 each). Continuous assessment, including options, completes the grade.

When are the examinations sat?

French in June of Premiere. In Terminale, the speciality papers, philosophy and the Grand oral in June. The speciality results arrive during the Parcoursup phase.

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.