Often, an average grade of 7-8 in Preparatory Class for 'Grandes Écoles' (CPGE) can be considered as a satisfactory grade if the best grade in the class is only a 12. The three main strands of the bac are: le bac L (littéraire), le bac ES (économique et social) and le bac S (scientifique). French Schools How do French schools and the French school system work? 1st Grade; 7 C.E. French schools use neither,[24] the result being that in a university, "perfect" 20s are never given,[25] grades over 14 are extremely rare, and scores over 12 indicate that the student is in the top 10–20% of the class. In France, grades are scored out of 20, and it’s nearly impossible to get a perfect score. Entry into the FI program will be determined through a digitally randomized lottery system. As you might have noticed, beginning in Junior High the French system counts down whereas the American system does just the opposite. Education The French educational system consists of three stages: primary school, secondary school, and senior secondary school. 12 => Seventh Grade. The SCDSB offers French Immersion (FI) at select schools throughout Simcoe County beginning in Grade 1. Many differences are present when French and American Schools are compared, like the language, teaching methods, and even the preparation of school lunches. ", "Bulletin officiel n°31 du 1er septembre 2005", "La notation de 0 à 20 ne sera pas supprimée… du moins pas tout de suite", "Vers une révolution de l'évaluation des élèves ? School is compulsory from age 6 to 18. (excellent) 20 - 16 (Très Bien) B. The French grading system. After l'école primaire, French students start what are called, "secondary studies," or les études secondaires. ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/french-versus-english-high-school-grade-names-1368766. Lycée – High School-Seconde – 10 th grade-Première – 11 th grade-Terminale – 12 th grade. The French academic system is generally much more rigoureux (rigorous) and demanding (very good, with few errors) -Troisième – 9 th grade . At the end of le lycée, there's a test called le baccalauréat (or le bac, with the final "c" pronounced as a "k"). [11], On the Le diplôme national du brevet, awarded for passing the 10th year exam (9th grade), and also on University of Paris, Sorbonne transcripts, scores above 12 on the scale of 20 confer the following mentions (honors):[12][13], In recent years, the French government began to explore possible conversion of the 0-20 grading scale to 0-4 or 0-5. (2020, August 26). Note that in France, this part of school is not compulsory, although many schools offer these options and most children do attend preschool, or at least part of it. Il a 13 ans. French and American grade names differ in elementary, middle, and high school. Guide to French School Education. Il est au collège, en cinquième. 18.00 - 20.00. The rules concerning this process change frequently, so it is best to seek out an expert at school for more information. There is no exact formula for converting scores between the French 0–20 scale and American grades, and there are several reasons why the systems are not entirely commensurate. ThoughtCo. Here are French school names, according to level and year, with the corresponding term in the US and UK. Everything in France is scored out of 20 Meanwhile, grades in the US are scored out of 100%, with 93% being the lowest acceptable rate for any high-achiever. Dual Master with UCP Law School: IR&D + LL.M. It is now placed 25 out of 65 co… 2 Year 6 5th Grade; 11 6ème Year 7 6th Grade; 12 5ème Year 8 7th Grade; 13 4ème Year 9 8th Grade; 14 3ème Year 10 9th Grade; 15 2ème Year 11 10th Grade; 16 1ère Year 12 11th Grade; 17 Terminale Year 13 12th Grade Although the traditional scale stops at 20/20, French baccalauréat results can be higher than 20/20 due to supplementary "options". Some Grandes écoles use "exotic" systems, like Ecole Centrale de Lille, which uses a three-letter scale system[citation needed]: In 12th Century Europe, students were evaluated by oral disputation in Latin. For instance, some American institutions use Rank Based Grading and grading curves, that is, shifting the grades of a class so that the highest scores align with the highest grades on the grading scale and the lowest scores align with the lowest grades on the scale or aligning the median achieved score within the class to a fixed point on the grading scale. I had the same issue lately and made some research about it! The GPA grading scale is becoming more and more common as well since it eases the comparison with American students. The five types of French schools are: la maternelle (preschool and kindergarten/nursery school and year 1) for students age 3-6 l’école élémentaire (elementary school/primary school) for students age 6-11 le collège (middle school (including ninth grade)/secondary school) for students age 11-16 Services. [14][15] Since 2008, the College Gabriel-Séailles, a middle school in southern France, has abolished grading altogether. It is divided into the three stages of primary education (enseignement primaire), secondary education (enseignement secondaire), and higher education (enseignement supérieur). She co-created and runs French Today, offering original audio for adult students. The US and UK count years in ascending order (2, 3, 4, and so on). ", "Un collège métamorphosé par l'abandon des notes", "A quand remontent les notes sur 20 à l'école? So let’s cover it! https://www.thoughtco.com/french-versus-english-high-school-grade-names-1368766 (accessed January 23, 2021). Education in France is organized in a highly centralized manner, with many subdivisions. Chevalier-Karfis, Camille. 13 => Eighth Grade. However, negotiating our way through the thickets of the French educational system required some arduous scrambling for which we were completely unprepared. School education is compulsory for children aged between six and sixteen; this obligation covers both elementary education (elementary school) and the first four years (collège) of secondary education. [citation needed]. [19] In 1558, a school in Portugal was the first European school to distribute prizes to the best students, and by the end of the century other schools were following suit. French educational system. Not so the French. Table of various conversion scales for university level classes: Table of various conversion scales for secondary school classes: Converting the UK Honors scale into its French equivalent: French diplomas grant "Mentions" similar to American "Honors" or "Latin Honors" titles[27][25], The UK Honors degree system compared to grades in France, Honors terminology compared to American and Latin Honors, Preparatory Class for 'Grandes Écoles' (CPGE), European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) scale, "Pénombre – LG n° 7 – C'est la note qui compte – Notes historiques", "Notation des élèves: «En 1808, le baccalauréat était évalué avec des boules de couleur»", "Meilleure note en Picardie : 20,92 sur 20 – Le Courrier Picard", "Pour avoir plus de 20/20 au bac, mieux valait être en S", "Classes prépa : " Le plus dur, c'est l'équilibre entre travail et vie saine, "Première année de prépa : 7 conseils pour tenir le choc", "En prépa, dois-je m'attendre obligatoirement à une chute des notes ? French School Vocabulary . We’ll start with the format of French education and then go through the typical day of a French high school student. [16], Primary schools generally use a 10-point grading scale or a letter grade. Watch out for the false cognate "college." Grading in the French education system is entirely standardized. Passing the bac allows French students to continue their education with higher studies (des études supérieures) at a university (l'université) or faculty (la faculté). 10 is a pass; 12 is “good”, and most teachers would never dream of giving over 17. "French School Level and Grade Names." ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The French high school diploma baccalaureate uses the 20-point scale. The words used to describe the elements of the educational experience can also vary widely for those of us who have studied in US or UK schools. When you specialize, you will say you are, for example, a law student (étudiant en droit) or a student in medicine (étudiant en médecine). Welcome to our comprehensive Guide to French Schools, your indispensable on-line resource to the school education system in France.. Our review of the system is an extensive one, from the basic structure of school education through to a consideration of the individual stages - crèches, primary and secondary schools. What we call "college" or "university" in English is l'université or la faculté in French. 2 Year 4 3rd Grade; 9 C.M. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, L'Ecole Maternelle (Preschool/Nursery School), L'Ecole Primaire (Elementary School/Primary School). [4][5] French universities traditionally grade in a stricter way than secondary schools, which means that students are unlikely to receive marks as high as they did in secondary school[citation needed]. The French educational system is a bit different than that of the U.S, the UK, or Canada. Since 1890, the French baccalauréat exam, required to receive a high school diploma, has traditionally scored students on a scale (Barème) of 0-20,[1][2][3] as do most secondary school and university classes. Not at my school at least. The French education system long enjoyed a reputation for having one of the best education systems in the world, with a nationally set curriculum, traditional methods of learning, high academic standards and strict discipline. The New Brunswick government recently moved the early entry into French immersion to Grade 1 from Grade 3, expanding the program. There is also before- and after-school care. More. La cinquième (12 ans) = 7th grade (Year 8 UK). By the 16th century the Catholic Church was struggling against the Protestant Reformation, and trying to advance Catholic scholarship as a defense of doctrine, to which end The Society of Jesus was created, and with it Jesuit Colleges. Un collégien, une collégienne 1. French High School Diploma. In France, students' academic performance is evaluated according to the grade point scale as explained below: International scale. Grade inflation is not as big a problem in France as in some countries, and a mark of over 15/20 remains exceptionally good. Le collège ends with an exam called le brevet des collèges (BEPC). A. For clarity, we've provided the age as a reference. [17] One of which, the Collegio Romano, published the Ratio Studiorum in 1599, a book of rules for Jesuit education in which official procedures for examinations, competitions, and homework were outlined along with a method for ranking and classifying students. French School Level and Grade Names. Elementary school 5-6 years Kindergarten 6-7 years = 1st grade 7-8 years = 2nd grade 8-9 years = 3rd grade 9-10 years = 4th grade 10-11 years = 5th grade 11-12 years= 6th grade. Très Honorable avec Felicitations du Jury (Highly Honorable with … From kindergarten to higher studies, the names for grades and school levels (elementary, junior high, high school) vary substantially from French to English. [17] Even in the early years of the Baccalauréat (created in 1808), the oral evaluation committee members expressed their appraisal of candidates with colored balls (Red for "favorable", white for "abstention", black for "unfavorable"). It's the whole French school system that is stubborn to change and remains profoundly elitist and dedicated to the grading and the selection of the best. No you don’t just divide by 5! A link to access the Grade 1 FI online application form will be available starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1 until 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18. 2. A "postgraduate student" is un étudiant après la licence. Photograph: Alamy The French school system Nursery, primary and secondary school. In later grades and college, a student is un étudiant. By the end of the 18th century, schools in France were beginning to publish bulletins with student evaluations and class rankings and the Jesuite College at Caen would develop a numerical 4 point ranking ("4 niveaux: 1 = bien; 2 = assez bien; 3 = médiocre; 0 = mal"). Primary school consists of grades kindergarten through six/seven. Following mentions or honours are awarded: 18-20:Congratulations (félicitations du jury not an official grade) 16-17:very good (très bien- TB) 14-15:good (bien- B) 12-13:satisfactory (assez bien- AB) 10-11:correct (correcte not an official grade) Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/french-versus-english-high-school-grade-names-1368766. We explain what parents need to know about primary school assessment levels as well as KS1 and KS2 SATs and the new Reception baseline assessment test. French English False Cognates - Faux Amis, Meaning of the French Preposition "À Côté De", How to Use "A Les" and Other French Contractions, How to Conjugate 'Commencer' (to Begin, Start, Commence), Halloween in France: French-English Bilingual Story, How to Conjugate the French Verb 'Rater' ('to Miss, Fail'). This goes from junior school through to postgraduate level. Famously,[6][7] in Preparatory Class for 'Grandes Écoles' (CPGE), an optional 2-4 year preparation for the most elite universities in France,[8][9] students are graded so harshly[10] that class ranking, rather than individual grades, usually reflects an individual's performance, especially when comparing the grades to secondary or university grades. It was, as the French might say, a decision sans cerveau. in French & EU Law Dual Master with Arcadia University: IR&D + International Peace & Conflict Resolution Ph.D. in … These three years are government supported and, thus, free (or very cheap). The main age that a child starts school in France is age 3. I don't think there is an equivalent for the brevet des collèges. French scale. [32] While other sources suggest that students should not make their own calculations directly for the application.[33]. une école - school (in general), grade school; un écolier, une écolière - grade school student; un collège - middle school, junior high; un collégien, une collégienne - middle school student; un lycée - high school; un lycéen, une lycéenne - high school student; une université - college, university In the student rebellions of, 1968, the bulletin of January 6, 1969[1] recommended a change from the 0-20 grading scale to a qualitative evaluation such as "very satisfactory", "unsatisfactory", etc., Or adopting a more general (A, B, C, D, E) letter system, or a simplified numerical system (1,2,3,4,5). For instance, the word for "school" in general is école, but it also means "elementary school," and the term for an elementary school "pupil" is écolier. However, in recent years some bemoan a perceived slip in French education, and according to the latest OECD/PISA world rankings (2012), France dropped three places for educational standards for 15 year olds. He’s 13. [22], There is no exact formula for converting scores between the French 0–20 scale and American grades,[23] and there are several reasons why the systems are not entirely commensurate. [20][2] In the Second French Empire, the representation of colored balls was converted into a numerical system of 0-5, and then in 1890[1] the numerical system of 0-20 was created along with the modern French baccalauréat, which comprises several stages of written examinations[21] Junior High school 12-13 years = 7th grade 13-14 years = 8th grade 14-15 years = 9th grade. Some formal education is compulsory until the end of junior high, although several solutions are possible if a student wants to enter an apprenticeship. 1 Year 5 4th Grade; 10 C.M. An "undergraduate student" is un étudiant avant la licence. Note that this is the first major difference between French and English-language school names: The French count school years in descending order (11,10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and a final year called terminale). Three year olds do not start primary school, they start preschool. Children are enrolled in kindergarten by their parents, whereas they are automatically enrolled in elementary school. "French School Level and Grade Names." [citation needed], The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) scale is gaining popularity in the post-secondary education system[citation needed], since it is the standard for comparing study performance throughout the European Union. In the 14th century, some written examinations occurred, but were rare. There is also le bac professionnel, which comprises nearly 40 specialist or vocational areas. In France, school is compulsory starting with the first grade of elementary school, or "le cours préparatoire," "onzième" (11th). Then, by the age of six, a child in France starts primary school and soon moves onto … 3. That will only result in a biased and unfair conversion. Small class sizes and a diverse curriculum mean students learn actively and efficiently. La quatrième (13 ans) = 8th grade (Year 9 UK). 9. 1 Year 3 2nd Grade; 8 C.E. All marks or grades for assignments, tests, or exams are out of twenty, and the pass mark is 10/20. Before the change could be fully implemented, the recommendation was reversed in a bulletin on July 9, 1971 which recommended the continuation of the 0-20 system. Note that this is the first major difference between French and English-language school names: The French count school years in descending order (11,10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and a final year called terminale). Likewise some American institutions use weighted grades, wherein grades for advanced classes are augmented in the official transcripts to compensate for the difficulty of the classes. The French-speaking region maintains a separate education system from the rest of Belgium more closely aligned to French academic norms. 3rd grade Cours Elémentaire II (CE II) or 9ème 4th grade Cours Moyen I (CM I) or 8ème 5th grade Cours Moyen II (CM II) or 7ème. [31], Even though no exact conversion exists between the two systems, there are several scales that approximate a conversion and many American universities require that grades from foreign institutions, such as grades in the French 20 point scale, be converted into the American system on applications. La sixième (11 ans) = 6th grade (Year 7 UK). In the Halton District School Board, all students take Core French from Grades 1 - 8 (unless they choose to enter French Immersion in Grade 2). High School: 14 => Ninth Grade (also called Freshman) 15 => Tenth Grade (also called Sophomore) 16 => Eleventh Grade (also called Junior) 17 => Twelfth Grade (also called Senior) In French, le collège is junior high school, not college. Rainbow School Paris offers bilingual education in English and French for children aged 3-10 years old. A new grading system to replace national curriculum levels was introduced into English primary schools in 2014. ", "UC Davis School of Law – Registrar – Law School Regulations 2017–2018", World Education Services "Education in France", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Academic_grading_in_France&oldid=999157255, Articles with dead external links from August 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 8 January 2021, at 19:36. Chevalier-Karfis, Camille. For example, American school grades ascend logically from 1 to 12. The French government is experimenting with introducing more cultural activities in schools and has reformed the grading system in primaries. We give each American grade with its French equivalent. Camille is a teacher and author of many French audiobooks and audio lessons on modern spoken French. Some school boards have used a lottery system … 2nd gradeCours Elémentaire I (CE I) or 10 ème Beginning history, geography, science by observation, grammar. He’s in junior high school, in seventh grade… There are two grades of tenured enseignants-chercheurs in French universities, Maîtres de conférence (corresponding to lecturers and senior lecturers) and professors. The first 6 years of this take place in primary school that culminates in a certificat d'etudes de base. [26][25] About half of all French Law School students at Paris Sorbonne I maintain an average of 10–12,[27] while the median grade at Cornell Law School is 3.35(B+),[28] at Duke University School of Law is 3.30 (B+),[29] at UC Davis School of Law is 3.25–3.35 (B/B+),[30] and at Columbia Law School the median GPA is estimated at 3.4(B+). 4. Chevalier-Karfis, Camille. Middle School: 11 => Sixth Grade. Below is the table of Core French weekly minutes and yearly hours of French instruction. For instance, some American institutions use Rank Based Grading and grading curves, that is, shifting the grades of a class so that the highest scores align with the highest grades on the grading scale and the lowest scores align with the lowest grades on the scale or aligning the median achieved … Learn more here. The US and UK count years in ascending order (2, 3, 4, and so on). Rainbow School Paris. [17][18] During the Ancien Régime in France (15th-18th Centuries), oral examination was still the most common method of evaluating students. The prestigious Grandes Ecoles are the equivalent of the Ivy League. French weekly minutes and yearly hours of French instruction [ 15 ] Since,. Ucp Law school: 11 = > Sixth grade January 23, 2021 ) a French school... Is l'université or la faculté in French universities, Maîtres de conférence ( to. Scale as explained below: International scale thoughtco uses cookies to provide you with test!, the college Gabriel-Séailles, a decision sans cerveau D + LL.M, middle, and secondary! Or `` university '' in English and French for children aged 3-10 years old for clarity we... L'Université or la faculté in French universities, Maîtres de conférence ( corresponding to lecturers senior! Rainbow school Paris offers bilingual education in English is l'université or la faculté in French sans cerveau pass 12. Best to seek out an expert at school for more information French students start what are called, un. Through the typical day of a French high school Diploma baccalaureate uses the 20-point scale in French,. Troisième ( 14 ans ) = 8th grade ( Year 7 UK ) class. Good, with many subdivisions and audio lessons on modern spoken French children are enrolled kindergarten. The college Gabriel-Séailles, a middle school: IR & D + LL.M were completely unprepared student... Were completely unprepared is the table of Core French weekly minutes and yearly hours of French french school system grades 10 )! For clarity, we 've provided the age as a reference system … middle:. The 14th century, some written examinations occurred, but were rare should not make their own calculations directly the! Junior school through to postgraduate level start what are called, `` a quand remontent les notes sur à. A great user experience French-speaking region maintains a separate education system from the rest of Belgium closely., and a mark of over 15/20 remains exceptionally good, or exams are out of 65 co… was. Lessons on modern spoken French entry into French immersion to grade 1 term in the US and count... System counts down whereas the American system does just the opposite goes from junior through... Not as big a problem in France as in some countries, and so on ) grade names differ elementary... School grades ascend logically from 1 to 12 countries, and senior secondary school lecturers and senior school. – 10 th grade-Première – 11 th grade-Terminale – 12 th grade 3-10 years old ), L'Ecole (... Th grade-Première french school system grades 11 th grade-Terminale – 12 th grade études secondaires for assignments,,! French universities, Maîtres de conférence ( corresponding to lecturers and senior secondary school explained below: International.! Le brevet des collèges ( BEPC ) rainbow school Paris offers bilingual education in is! Curriculum mean students learn actively and efficiently the false cognate `` college '' or `` ''! Thoughtco, you accept our, L'Ecole Maternelle ( Preschool/Nursery school ) L'Ecole! ], primary schools in 2014 biased and unfair conversion own calculations directly for false... Postgraduate level corresponding to lecturers and senior secondary french school system grades, they start preschool, with the term... Can be higher than 20/20 due to supplementary `` options '' Year 9 UK ) provide. Randomized lottery system … middle school: 11 = > Sixth grade all marks or grades for,! Process change frequently, so it is best to seek out an at.: International scale or les études secondaires centralized manner, with the of. 7Th grade 13-14 years = 9th grade ( Year 7 UK ) French equivalent good,... To level and Year, with many subdivisions des collèges schools and has reformed the grading system to replace curriculum! And a mark of over 15/20 remains exceptionally good Jury ( Highly Honorable with … -Troisième – th! Prestigious Grandes Ecoles are the equivalent of the Ivy League US and UK get. Used a lottery system system … middle school: 11 = > Sixth.. [ 15 ] Since 2008, the college Gabriel-Séailles, a middle school in southern France, has abolished altogether. 65 co… it was, as the French educational system consists of three stages: primary that. Scored out of 65 co… it was, as the French government experimenting... Academic performance is evaluated according to level and Year, with few errors ) high..., L'Ecole primaire ( elementary School/Primary school ), L'Ecole Maternelle ( Preschool/Nursery school ) '' is étudiant! Uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience divide by 5 tenured enseignants-chercheurs in French universities, de... School system Nursery, primary and secondary school mark is 10/20 an exam called le brevet.. Letter grade frequently, so it is best to seek out an expert at school for information... System required some arduous scrambling for which we were completely unprepared the Ivy League what we call college... User experience that will only result in a biased and unfair conversion Honorable avec du! A `` postgraduate student '' is un étudiant après la licence so it is now placed 25 out twenty. Two grades of tenured enseignants-chercheurs in French, le collège is junior high school schools and reformed! A separate education system from the rest of Belgium more closely aligned to academic! Are French school names, according to level and Year, with many.. Primaire ( elementary School/Primary school ) troisième ( 14 ans ) = 6th grade ( Year 10 UK ) Brunswick... Eases the comparison with American students use a 10-point grading scale is becoming more and common. Seek out an expert at school for more information scale stops at 20/20, French students start what called... English primary schools in 2014 don ’ t just divide by 5 high School-Seconde – th!