The French Baccalauréat: How Does it Compare to A-levels in the UK?

If you have teenagers in France attending a French lycée (high school or secondary school), you have probably heard of the Baccalauréat or ‘bac’. The bac is France’s state school-leaving diploma, taken at the end of lycée, typically at around 18 years old. It is often compared to A-levels in the UK because both are qualifications taken at the end of secondary education and both are used for entry to higher education, but they are not structured in the same way.

What is the Baccalauréat in France?

The Baccalauréat is a state diploma awarded to pupils in their final lycée year. Today, pupils work towards it through one of three main pathways: général, technologique or professionnel. In the general route, there is a common core of subjects for all pupils, alongside specialities chosen according to their interests and future study plans. In première, pupils choose three speciality subjects, then continue with two of them in terminale.

In the general bac, the common core includes subjects such as French in première, philosophy in terminale, history-geography, two modern languages, physical education and civic education. Pupils are therefore still studying a broad range of subjects, even while beginning to specialise. Weightings, or coefficients, vary according to the subjects followed and the type of bac being taken.

The Baccalauréat is a state diploma awarded to pupils in their final lycée year. To obtain it they must pass a multi-subject examination which will include certain obligatory core subjects French, philosophy, maths, two foreign languages but which will vary according to the sections (series) they have chosen in première (with an accent on science, economics, humanities or technology). The weighting (coéfficient) applied to different subjects will also vary from one series to another.

Pupils sitting the Baccalauréat are no longer assessed only through a final bank of written papers. In the general and technological routes, 40% of the final mark comes from continuous assessment over the two years of the cycle terminal, while 60% comes from anticipatory and terminal exams. The old idea that continuous assessment is used only in borderline cases is no longer correct.

Differences Between the Baccalauréat and UK A Levels

The very fact that baccalauréat is in the singular points to the major difference. A-levels are separate qualifications, and in England most students take three subjects, although they can take more or fewer. The bac, by contrast, is a single diploma made up of a broader programme of study, with common subjects plus specialisation.

That means the French system still tends to produce a more all-round final school qualification. Even in the general bac, pupils do not narrow down to only two or three subjects in the same way as many A-level students do. Instead, they keep a broad academic base while also developing expertise through their chosen speciality subjects.

Applying for University: Bac vs A Levels

In France, compulsory schooling ends at 16, but there is a legal obligation to remain in education, training or another recognised pathway until 18. In England, pupils can also leave school at 16, but must stay in education or training until 18. So in both systems, the final two years are post-16 education, even if the structure differs.

For most pupils in France, the bac is the standard qualification used to apply for higher education. Applications are generally made through Parcoursup, the national admissions platform. Holding the bac opens the door to higher education, but entry is not simply automatic in every case, since some courses are selective and others are not.

Find out more about applying for university in France here.

Types of Baccalauréat: Général, Technologique or Professionnel

There are three main Baccalauréat pathways, or voies:

Général

The bac général is designed primarily for pupils who plan to continue into higher education. Unlike the old system, there are no longer Bac L, Bac ES and Bac S streams. Instead, pupils follow a common core and choose speciality subjects in première, keeping two in terminale. Which combination is best depends on the student’s strengths and future plans, since higher education routes now look closely at the subjects studied rather than at an old series label.

Technologique

The bac technologique combines general education with a stronger technological and applied focus. It is prepared over two years after seconde, and it is aimed more at further study than at immediate entry into work. Pupils often continue on to BTS or BUT courses, although other routes are possible. There are eight technological series, covering fields including management, laboratory sciences, design, health and social care, and hospitality.

Professionnel

The bac professionnel is designed for pupils who want a more vocational route. It combines general study with professional training, practical assessment and periods in the workplace. These work placements are an integral and assessed part of the course, and depending on the speciality they are spread over the three years of the vocational lycée. The bac pro can lead directly into work, but it can also lead on to further study.

Baccalauréat Français International

A final option that may be of interest to international families or pupils considering study abroad is the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI). This replaces the old Option internationale du baccalauréat (OIB). The BFI is available in certain international sections within the general route and allows pupils to study some elements in greater linguistic and cultural depth. Sections internationales exist in a range of languages, and not every lycée offers them.

Baccalauréat Syllabus and Exams 

Studying for the Baccalauréat still takes place over two years, known as première and terminale. In the general and technological routes, assessment is split between continuous assessment and final examinations. There are anticipatory exams taken in première and terminal exams taken in terminale.

In première (year one):

One part of the Baccalauréat is taken at the end of première, the first of the two final lycée years. Pupils sit written and oral French exams at this stage, and the marks are carried forward into their final bac result the following year. From the June 2026 exam session, pupils in the general and technological routes also take an anticipatory mathematics exam in première.

In terminale (year two)

In terminale, the final year of lycée, pupils in the general route take their two speciality exams, philosophy and the Grand oral. Their overall bac result is then calculated using these exam marks together with continuous assessment in the relevant subjects.

Baccalauréat Grades and Results

After the first group of exams has been marked, pupils learn whether they have passed and whether they have earned a distinction, or mention. Mentions are awarded at the end of the first group only: assez bien for an average of 12 to under 14, bien for 14 to under 16, très bien for 16 to 18, and très bien avec les félicitations du jury above 18. A pass mark remains 10 out of 20.

For those whose overall mark falls between 8 and under 10, there is still an opportunity to gain extra marks through the rattrapage, or second-group oral exams. In the general and technological bac, candidates take two oral tests chosen from French, philosophy and their terminale speciality subjects, and the new mark replaces the old one only if it is higher.

Those who do not pass can retake the bac, and the rules allow some candidates to keep certain marks when they sit the examination again, rather than having to begin all over again.

Can Bilingual or Non-French Students Take the Baccalauréat? 

The high level of written French required still makes this a demanding examination for anyone entering the French school system at a late stage. Not only is an excellent level of French needed, but pupils also have to become familiar with the expectations of French written argument, textual analysis and oral presentation. For that reason, bilingual and non-French pupils can certainly take the bac, but they usually do best when they have had time to adapt to the French system well before the exam years. The BFI and international sections can also offer a more suitable framework for some families.