What is the Mathematics speciality in the French Baccalaureate?

It is one of the enseignements de specialite of the French general Baccalaureate. Chosen at the end of Seconde, it is studied through Premiere and Terminale. In Terminale it is examined by a written paper with a coefficient of 16, one of the two speciality papers sat in June.

What is on the Mathematics speciality syllabus?

In Premiere: sequences, the quadratic, differentiation, the exponential function, trigonometry, the dot product and conditional probability. In Terminale: limits and continuity, the logarithm function, antiderivatives and integration, sequences and proof by induction, geometry in space, counting and probability including the binomial law.

Is the Mathematics speciality required for science degrees?

In most cases yes. It is expected, and often required, for French scientific classes preparatoires, engineering schools, and degrees in mathematics, physics, computer science and economics. North American engineering and science faculties read the speciality grade the same way. Very mathematical profiles usually add the Maths Expertes option.

French Baccalaureate, Montreal

Mathematics Speciality of the French Baccalaureate, in Montreal

Q: How do you prepare for the Mathematics speciality paper?

By consolidating each chapter as the year goes, because they build on one another, then training intensively on past papers under exam conditions before the spring. We work on written presentation, the rigour of justifications and time management, which is what the markers actually reward.

Tutor for the Mathematics speciality of the French Baccalaureate in Montreal, in Premiere and Terminale. I know the syllabus, the format of the written paper and what the markers reward, for students at Lycee Marie de France, College Stanislas and the other schools of the AEFE network. Sessions in English or in French.

Mathematics speciality Premiere & Terminale Coefficient 16 paper ★ 5.0 · 11 Google reviews

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What a "speciality" is, in plain terms

The closest English-speaking analogue is A-Levels, not electives. At the end of Seconde (Grade 10), students choose three specialites; at the end of Premiere they drop one and carry two into Terminale. Those two are examined by heavy written papers in June, and the Mathematics paper carries a coefficient of 16, which makes it one of the largest single components of the diploma.

The other thing to know is how it is marked. This paper does not reward the right final answer. It rewards the argument that gets there. A correct number with no justification earns very few marks, which regularly catches out strong students who have been trained in a system that grades the answer.

What the Mathematics speciality is

In the French general Baccalaureate, students choose three speciality subjects at the end of Seconde, then keep two in Terminale. The Mathematics speciality is the one scientific profiles choose most. It runs over two years, Premiere then Terminale, and it is among the most demanding courses of lycee.

In Terminale it is examined by a written paper with a coefficient of 16, sat in June, which weighs heavily on the final Baccalaureat grade. Since the paper moved to June, its mark no longer appears in the Parcoursup application: what French universities read there are the Premiere and Terminale report cards, which makes steady work through the year even more decisive than the exam sprint.

In Montreal I have been working with students on this speciality for more than 10 years. The goal is not to learn recipes but to understand the reasoning, because the paper is built precisely to test whether a student can reason about a situation they have not seen before.

The Mathematics speciality syllabus

Premiere (Grade 11)

Numerical sequences
The quadratic, equations and inequalities
Differentiation and study of functions
The exponential function
Trigonometry and the dot product
Conditional probability, random variables
Algorithmics and Python programming

Terminale (Grade 12)

Limits, continuity, chain rule
The natural logarithm function
Antiderivatives and integration
Sequences and proof by induction
Geometry in space (vectors, lines, planes)
Counting and combinatorics
Probability: binomial law, concentration

Each chapter leans on the one before. A shaky base in differentiation or sequences makes the whole of Terminale harder, which is why regular follow-up beats a last-minute rescue every time.

In French

Free corrected exercises for the Mathematics speciality

One exercise set per chapter of the Premiere and Terminale syllabus, in the format of a class test: 10 questions marked out of 100, a first part on the fundamentals and a second at Baccalaureat level, with a full worked solution for every question. A complete mock Baccalaureat paper in the real format completes the set, and each chapter has a revision sheet showing the write-up the marker expects. Free, no sign-up, written in French.

Corrected exercise sets → Revision sheets → English exercises →

The speciality paper: what to know

The written Mathematics speciality paper is sat in June of Terminale. It runs four hours and covers the whole year's syllabus through several exercises that are usually independent of one another. A calculator is permitted according to the instructions for the paper.

What the paper genuinely assesses is not memory but reasoning: proving, justifying each step, writing a clear and complete solution. A correct result with no justification earns few marks. This is often what surprises students used to a system focused on the final answer, and it is the single most common source of avoidable loss.

My preparation has two phases: command of the syllabus across the year, then intensive practice on past papers under real conditions in the weeks before the exam.

Who takes it, and which options go with it

The Mathematics speciality is expected for French scientific classes preparatoires (MPSI, PCSI), engineering schools, and degrees in mathematics, physics and computer science, as well as many economics courses. Students aiming at those paths keep it in Terminale almost without exception. North American faculties read it the same way when a Baccalaureate holder applies.

In Terminale it can be topped up with the Maths Expertes option for very mathematical profiles, or replaced, for students who drop it, by the Maths Complementaires option. I cover both options as well as the speciality itself.

How I work on the Mathematics speciality

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Understanding before memorising

We build the meaning of each idea so it can be applied to an unfamiliar problem, which is what the paper asks for every single time.

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Writing and proving

We work on rigorous justification and on the presentation of the script, which is where most students lose avoidable marks.

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Past paper practice

Before the exam we work complete papers against the clock, to build fluency and to make time management a habit rather than a hope.

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Support between sessions, included

A question before a test, a problem they are stuck on: the student can message me between sessions, at no extra charge.

I hold a French Baccalaureat with the Mathematics speciality, a B.Sc. from McGill and an M.Sc. from Concordia, and have taught this speciality in Montreal for more than 10 years. More about the tutor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Mathematics speciality in the Baccalaureate?

One of the speciality subjects of the French general Baccalaureate, chosen at the end of Seconde and studied through Premiere and Terminale. In Terminale it is examined by a written paper with a coefficient of 16, sat in June.

What is on the syllabus?

In Premiere: sequences, the quadratic, differentiation, the exponential, trigonometry, the dot product, conditional probability. In Terminale: limits and continuity, the logarithm, integration, proof by induction, geometry in space, counting and probability.

Is it required for science degrees?

In most cases yes: expected for scientific classes preparatoires, engineering schools and degrees in mathematics, physics, computer science or economics. Very mathematical profiles usually add the Maths Expertes option.

How should a student prepare for the paper?

Consolidate each chapter as the year goes, then train on past papers under exam conditions before the spring. We work on written presentation, rigour of justification and time management.