Physics-Chemistry Speciality of the French Baccalaureate, in Montreal

What the Physics-Chemistry speciality is

The Physics-Chemistry speciality is one of the speciality subjects of the French general Baccalaureate, chosen at the end of Seconde and followed through Premiere and Terminale. It is most often paired with the Mathematics speciality, whose tools it uses constantly, or with SVT for students heading toward health and biology.

In Terminale it is examined by a written paper with a coefficient of 16 sat in June, completed by the practical examination carried out in a laboratory. That makes it one of the few specialities to assess laboratory practice as well as written work.

In Montreal I have worked with students on this speciality for more than 10 years, on both halves, the written and the experimental, with a precise sense of what AEFE Baccalaureate markers reward.

The examination: written paper and practical

The written speciality paper runs several hours and covers the whole syllabus through exercises that mix physics and chemistry. It requires analysing a situation, choosing the right model, carrying the calculation carefully and writing up a clear line of reasoning. The mathematical tools of Terminale, derivatives and antiderivatives especially, are called on throughout.

The practical examination takes place in a laboratory: the student runs a protocol, takes measurements, exploits the results and writes their conclusions. It has to be prepared specifically, because time management and method decide the mark far more than knowledge does.

I prepare both: past paper practice for the written exam, and experimental method for the practical.

Frequently asked questions