If you’re an expatriate parent in France, you may have already heard the word “bac” whispered nervously in school corridors or around the dinner table.
The baccalauréat — or bac — is the final exam that students take at the end of high school (lycée), usually around 17 or 18 years old. It’s a major milestone in the French academic system and a true rite of passage.
Here’s what you need to know:
📚 The lycée lasts 3 years:
• Seconde (10th grade) – general orientation
• Première (11th grade) – choice of majors (spécialités)
• Terminale (12th grade) – final year leading to the bac
đź“ť Since 2021, the bac includes:
• Continuous assessment (contrôle continu)
• Specialty exams (EDS – enseignements de spécialité) in chosen subjects
• A major oral exam known as the Grand Oral, where students defend a topic they’ve worked on all year.
It’s a demanding process — both for students and their families — especially when navigating it in a second language and unfamiliar system.
đź’ˇIf your teenager is enrolled in a French lycĂ©e, now is the time to support them — and maybe learn a few acronyms along the way: EDS (enseignements de spĂ©cialitĂ©), CCF (contrĂ´le en cours de formation), Grand Oral, Parcoursup…
Our job at Expat Services In Paris, is also to help parents understand the system and feel equipped to support their children through these key transitions.
📞 Moving to France with school-aged children? We’re here to help you navigate both the logistics and the cultural curve.