The French Baccalauréat 2026 — Complete Guide

The baccalauréat général is the French national diploma awarded at the end of upper secondary school. Since the 2019 reform, the grade is split between continuous assessment (40%) and final exams (60%). This guide covers the structure, calendar, Grand Oral, specialities and revision strategies.

1. Structure

Continuous Assessment (40%)

Continuous assessment is based on report card averages from Première (Year 12) and Terminale (Year 13) for all common-core subjects and the speciality dropped at the end of Première.

Subjects: History-Geography (coeff. 6), Language A (6), Language B (6), Scientific Culture (6), PE (6), Civic Education (2), dropped speciality (8).

Final Exams (60%)

Total: 100 coefficients (40 continuous + 60 final).

2. Anticipated French Exams

Taken at the end of Première (June 2025), coefficient 10 total.

Written (4h): choose between a literary commentary or a dissertation on a set text. Oral (20 min): linear explanation of an excerpt chosen by the examiner from texts studied in class, followed by a presentation of a work chosen by the candidate.

3. Philosophy

June 2026, 4 hours, coefficient 8. Three choices: two dissertation subjects on programme concepts (happiness, freedom, truth, justice, art, the state, consciousness...) or one text commentary. Build a structured argument with a clear thesis, antithesis, synthesis and precise references to philosophers (Plato, Descartes, Kant, Sartre, Arendt...).

4. Speciality Exams

Each student keeps two specialities in Terminale (coefficient 16 each — 32 total). The exams take place in June 2026 and cover the full Terminale syllabus.

Most popular specialities: Mathematics, SES (Economics & Social Sciences), Physics-Chemistry, Biology (SVT), HGGSP (History-Geography-Geopolitics), Computer Science (NSI), English LLCE.

Choose specialities that align with your higher-education goals: Maths + Physics for engineering, SES + HGGSP for political science, Maths + NSI for computer science.

5. The Grand Oral

20 minutes, coefficient 10. The candidate presents two prepared questions linked to their specialities. The jury picks one.

Three phases:

1. Presentation (5 min): the candidate stands and speaks without notes.
2. Discussion (10 min): the jury probes and challenges the candidate's reasoning.
3. Career project (5 min): the candidate explains their higher-education plans and how the question relates to their goals.

Tips: choose a question you are passionate about, practise aloud, structure your answer (introduction, 2–3 arguments, conclusion), and prepare for follow-up questions.

6. Calendar 2026

• June 2025: anticipated French exams (Première).
• Jan–Mar 2026: Parcoursup applications.
• June 2026: speciality exams, Philosophy, Grand Oral.
• July 2026: results and resit exams (oral, 20 min in 2 subjects) for averages between 8 and 10/20.

7. Honours (Mentions)

Honours appear on the diploma and influence competitive admission (prépa, Sciences Po, merit scholarships).

8. Revision Tips

• Plan ahead: make summary sheets throughout the year, start intensive revision in March.
• Use past papers: practise under timed conditions to familiarise yourself with exam format.
• Spaced repetition: review material at increasing intervals for long-term retention.
• Sleep: 7–8 hours per night consolidates memory.
• Manage stress: take regular breaks (Pomodoro method), exercise, avoid last-minute cramming.
• Focus on high-coefficient exams: specialities (32) and Grand Oral (10) account for nearly half the final grade.