Bac’s Grand Oral Exam Date and Scoring Criteria Revealed!

The Grand Oral of the Baccalaureate is a pivotal test for senior students. Feared by many, it offers a chance not only to showcase their knowledge but also their proficiency in articulate expression. Since last year, after the exam, students are no longer required to discuss their post-baccalaureate orientation choices with the jury for five minutes. Now, this time is dedicated to the knowledge gained during the school year. Here’s a breakdown of how the Grand Oral is conducted in 2025.

When does the Grand Oral take place in 2025?

This year, the general Baccalaureate Grand Oral exams are scheduled from Monday, June 23, to Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the latest.

How is the Grand Oral conducted?

The Grand Oral is structured in several stages. Two questions are prepared during the year with the teachers. For the general track, these questions are based on one or two specialty subjects, and for the technological track, they are based on the specialties of that particular track. The jury selects one of the questions to quiz the student. Specifically, there are:

• Preparation for 20 minutes: the student prepares their oral presentation, possibly creating a supporting document (map, diagram), and outlines their plan and argument.
• Presentation for 10 minutes, standing: the student explains their choice of topic by developing their answer.
• Discussion with the candidate for 10 minutes: the jury questions the candidate to help deepen the topic, thus assessing the robustness of their knowledge and argumentative skills.

The Grand Oral jury consists of a teacher from one of your specialties (or a teacher from your track’s specialty for the technological path) and a teacher from the other specialty or one of the common teachings, or a teacher-librarian.

How long does the Grand Oral last?

In total, the Grand Oral lasts 40 minutes: 20 minutes for preparation and 20 minutes for the actual presentation in front of the jury.

What is the evaluation criteria for the Grand Oral?

The Grand Oral of the Baccalaureate aims to evaluate skills such as public speaking, in a structured and reasoned manner, and the ability to develop a thoughtful argument. Introduced in 2021, the Grand Oral also assesses the students’ oratorical potential. During the test, the student is evaluated on several criteria, including:

• The candidate’s depth of knowledge
• The clarity of their presentation
• Their ability to argue and connect knowledge
• Their critical thinking
• Their engagement

During the Grand Oral exam, candidates are evaluated using a detailed evaluation grid provided by the Ministry of National Education.

What is the weight of the Grand Oral exam?

In the general track, the Grand Oral carries a coefficient of 10, and for the technological track, it’s 14. As a reminder, the Grand Oral is scored out of 20 points and accounts for 60% of the final Baccalaureate grade.