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Montreal — French AEFE curriculum

French Baccalaureate & AEFE tutoring in Montreal

Tutoring for students in the French curriculum (AEFE) in Montreal, in English or French. I cover mathematics, physics-chemistry, biology and earth science (SVT) and computer science (NSI) from Grade 6 through the Baccalaureate, for students at Lycée Marie de France, Collège Stanislas and other French-program schools.

French AEFE program Marie de France & Stanislas Brevet & Baccalaureate English or French ⭐ 5.0 · 10 Google reviews

The French curriculum in Montreal, explained

The AEFE (Agence pour l'Enseignement Français à l'Étranger) is the worldwide network of French schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education. In Montreal, two schools belong to it: Lycée Marie de France in Côte-des-Neiges and Collège Stanislas in Outremont. Students there follow the exact same program as in France and sit the same national exams: the Brevet at the end of collège and the Baccalaureate at the end of the lycée.

For English-speaking families, this system can feel unfamiliar. The grade names are different (Sixième through Terminale rather than Grade 6 through Grade 12), the assessment is exam-driven, and the sciences demand carefully written, justified solutions rather than multiple-choice answers. A correct result with no reasoning earns almost nothing.

I bridge both worlds. I am a graduate of the French system and of two Montreal universities, so I can explain the French program in English when that helps, while preparing students for exactly what French examiners expect.

French grade levels and their North American equivalents

French level Approx. grade Key milestone
Sixième → QuatrièmeGrade 6 → 8Collège, foundations
TroisièmeGrade 9Brevet exam (DNB)
SecondeGrade 10Choosing specialities
PremièreGrade 11Specialities, French exam
TerminaleGrade 12Baccalaureate, Grand oral

Subjects I cover in the French program

Brevet and Baccalaureate preparation

The two national exams of the French system are high-stakes and very format-specific. The Brevet (DNB), taken in Troisième (Grade 9), includes a mathematics paper and a science paper. The Baccalaureate, taken in Terminale (Grade 12), is built around two speciality exams in the spring, plus philosophy and the Grand oral. The speciality results also feed directly into Parcoursup, the French higher-education application platform.

I prepare students for both: consolidating the program through the year, then training intensively on past papers under exam conditions, with close attention to the written method and time management that examiners reward. For the Grand oral, I help build and rehearse a science topic from the student's specialities.

About your tutor

I am Ahmed Squalli Houssaini. I have tutored students in the French program in Montreal for over 10 years, with a foot in both education systems. I can teach in English or French, which is ideal for families whose child attends a French school but thinks more naturally in English.

French Baccalaureate, specialization in Mathematics
B.Sc. Computer Science, Finance and Mathematics — McGill University
M.Sc. Applied Computer Science — Concordia University
10+ years tutoring Marie de France and Stanislas students

What families say

★★★★★

Google reviews (left in French by families of the French program).

★★★★★

Ahmed s'est occupé de plusieurs de mes enfants pour des cours particuliers de maths en 1ère et Terminale, et nous avons toujours été ravis de son aide. Il connaît parfaitement le système français et ses attentes, ce qui fait toute la différence.

Aude de Beaulieu

Google review

★★★★★

Je recommande vivement Ahmed pour son expertise. Sa connaissance parfaite du programme français (AEFE) a fait une vraie différence dans les résultats de mes enfants. Il sait préparer les élèves aux attentes du Brevet et du Baccalauréat avec sérieux et rigueur.

Fouad Benzina

Google review · Local Guide

Frequently asked questions

What is the French curriculum (AEFE) in Montreal?

The AEFE network is the system of French schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education. In Montreal, Lycée Marie de France and Collège Stanislas follow it. Students study the same program as in France and sit the same exams: the Brevet in Grade 9 and the Baccalaureate in Grade 12.

Do you tutor for the French Baccalaureate in English?

Yes. I tutor the scientific subjects of the French program — mathematics, physics-chemistry, SVT and NSI — and I can work in English or French. This helps English-speaking families whose child attends a French AEFE school but is more comfortable studying in English.

Which subjects and levels of the French program do you cover?

I cover the full French curriculum from Grade 6 (Sixième) to Grade 12 (Terminale): mathematics, physics-chemistry, SVT and NSI. This includes homework support in collège, Brevet preparation, the science specialities in the lycée and full Baccalaureate preparation, including the Maths Expertes and Maths Complémentaires options.

How is the French system different from the Quebec system?

The French program is more formal and exam-driven. Written justification and method matter as much as the final answer, there are no multiple-choice questions in the sciences, and the year ends with high-stakes terminal exams. A tutor who only knows the Quebec system can miss what French examiners expect.

Are lessons in person or online?

Both. In-person lessons take place in Montreal, and online lessons run on Microsoft Teams and OneNote, the same tools used at Lycée Marie de France and Collège Stanislas. Support between sessions by message is included.

See also

Looking for a French-program tutor in Montreal?

Get in touch to discuss your child's level and goals, in English or French, and schedule a first session.