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ThenewFrenchbaccalaureatein2021

1. Whythisreform?

Thereformofthegeneralbaccalaureateaimstoreinforcethebaccalaureate,nationaldiplomaofendofsecondarystudiesandfirstdegreeofhighereducation.The4mainobjectivesofthereformare:-simplifytheexam,whichhasbecometoocomplex.Studentsnowspendbetween12and16finalexamsaccordingthestream.From2021,theywillsitforthepreliminaryFrenchexaminationinPremiereandfor4finalexaminationsinTerminale.-givemeaningandstrengthtotheexamtoenablestudentstobetterprepareforsuccessinhighereducation.-bettervaluetheworkofstudents.TheexaminationwilltakeintoaccounttheworkofthestudentduringhisyearofPremiereandfinalyear,whiletoday,thestudentplayshisbaccalaureateonasingleweek.-bettersupporthighschoolstudentsintheirpostbacstudiesprojectwithhoursdedicatedtoguidanceandmorefreedominthechoiceofsubjectsthatfascinatethem.2. Aneworganization

Ø Nomoreseriesbutpathwayschosenbyeachstudentaccordingtohistastesandambitions.

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Ø Abroadcoreof commonculture,humanisticand scientific, open to the challengesof the

future. New lessonswill enable students to share a scientific culture, learn to code, andunderstandthegreatchallengesofthecontemporaryworld.Guidancetimethroughouttheschooltopreparecoursechoicesand,eventually,entryintohighereducation.

Ø SpecialtycourseschosenbythestudentandaccentuatedbetweenPremiereandTerminale(three specialty courses in Premiere then two in Terminale among the three followed inPremiere). These subjects have significant schedules to offer ambitious programs and to givestudentstimeforlearning.

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In Y11 and Y12, the time devoted to orientation will allow students to refine their project forfurthereducation.Specialtycoursesallowstudentstogainin-depthknowledgeinthelessonstheyhavechosen.Theteachingprogramsarerenovated,takingintoaccounttheworldoftoday(digital,humanities,energytransition...).Newlessonsemerge:asciencecoursecommontoallstudentsinPremiereandTerminale.3. AssessingthenewFrenchBacStarting in 2021, the French Baccalaureate will combine ongoing assessments and finalexaminations.• Ongoingassessments(“contrôlecontinu”):During Premiere and Terminale, students take different exams based on nationally designedexercises,focusedonHistoryandGeography,ForeignlanguagesAandB,Scienceculture,PEand1specialty subject they have chosen. These ongoing assessments contribute for 30%of the finalgrade.Throughout the two years, students also take different tests given by their teachers for eachmandatorysubject.Theseassessments(“livretscolaire”)contributefor10%ofthefinalgrade.• Finalexaminations(nationallydesignedwrittentest):At theendofPremiere,students takeaFrench languageandliterature finalexamin June,asthefirstpartoftheBaccalaureate.Theyaretestedontheirwrittenskillsandonanoralpresentationofatext.At the end of Terminale, students take 3written exams (Philosophy and two specialty subjectstheyhavechosenandstudiedduringPremiereandTerminale)andoneoralexamaboutapersonalprojectlinkedtoaspecialtysubject.Theseexamscontributefor60%ofthefinalgrade.

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Thecentrepieceofthereformsistheoralexam,inwhichstudentswillbeaskedtopresentbeforeajuryofthreeexaminersoveraperiodofhalfanhouraresearchprojectoftheirchoosing.Theproposed test -promptlynamedby theFrenchmediaas the "GrandOral" - isnecessary toencourageyoungsters'presentationalskillsandcreativity.

The reform of the high school makes the choice to bring the students to the best level in thesubjects of "specialties".With amuch greater number of hours of teaching in the specialties ofPremiereandTerminale,thereisnodoubtthatthelevelofstudentswillbestrengthened.

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Ø GraduationStandards

Astudent’ssuccessontheBaccalaureateexamisthesolecriterionforsatisfactorycompletionofhighschool.TheBaccalaureateexamisgradedona20-pointscale.A10/20orhigherisapassinggrade. Between 12 and 13.99 receive "Mention Assez Bien" (Honors), between 14 and 15.99receive "Mention Bien" (High Honors,) and above 16 receive "Mention Très Bien" (HighestHonors).Grades earned by French Baccalaureate students are converted for entry into Australianuniversities.

WhatarethemajoradvantagesoftheFrenchBacprogramme?•TheFrenchBaccalaureatepreparesstudentsextremelywell for therigoursofuniversitystudythroughtheskillsthataredeveloped.•Studentswilldevelopfirstandforemost,skillsofreasoning,analysisandsynthesis.Theywillberequired to demonstrate a critical mind, for example, during philosophy class discussions, andneedtoshowinitiativeandcreativeskills,especiallyfortheTPE(personalprojectwork).•TheFrenchBaccalaureatedevelopsstructuredargumentativerigourthroughwrittentasksandoralpresentation skillswhichwillbeassessedbyanexaminer fromanywhere inAsia-PacifiqueAEFE.• The choice of pathway allows students to study their chosen subjects in more depth whilstkeepingageneraldimension.• Globally, the French Bac is considered to be a programme par excellence in preparation forfurthereducation.TowhatextentistheFrenchBacrecognizedbyuniversities?TheFrenchBaciswidelyrecognizedaroundtheworld.English-speaking universities, particularly American ones, value the French Bac as it is oftenconsidereddifficulttoobtain.Itisrecognizedasbeingacomprehensiverigorousprogramwhichguaranteesin-depthknowledge.Some Uni in Australiamay require some additional evidence of English proficiency beyond thestudiescompletedfortheBaccalaureate.ThustheCambridgeexaminationisofferedatLCSduringthechildrenstudies.