Baccalaureate 2026: Mathematics makes a grand return with a new early exam

The 2026 baccalaureate marks a significant turning point in French secondary education with the introduction of an early mathematics exam for all students in their first year of general and technological studies. After several years of debate about the place of mathematics in the curriculum, nearly 530,000 high school students will take this unprecedented exam this week, which will now count towards their university application. This major development reflects the government's commitment to reaffirming the central role of mathematics in the education of future students.

This new assessment comes amid growing concerns about the performance of French students in mathematics. Since the 2019 high school reform, mathematics had been removed from the compulsory core curriculum for general education students, sparking widespread criticism from the education sector, scientists, businesses, and policymakers. The results of the international PISA survey, published in 2023, which revealed a historic decline in the performance of French students in this subject, have significantly accelerated discussions on its reintegration into the curriculum.

A test adapted to the different profiles of students

On Friday morning, candidates will have two hours to answer a series of questions designed to assess their fundamental knowledge and reasoning skills. A notable feature: the use of calculators will not be permitted, in order to emphasize the mastery of automatic calculations and methods. The exam, which has a weighting of 2, will be marked out of 20 points and will consist of a multiple-choice questionnaire followed by a set of independent exercises covering various concepts from the syllabus.

To accommodate the diverse educational paths followed in high school, three distinct exams have been developed. Students who have chosen mathematics as their specialization will take a specific exam corresponding to their level of study. Students in the general track who have not chosen this specialization will take an exam based on mathematics integrated into the science curriculum, while students in the technological track will take an exam on core curriculum concepts adapted to their specific program.

A grade now taken into account for Parcoursup

One of the main changes lies in the use of this grade for access to higher education. Like the early French exam, mathematics results will now be included in the applications reviewed by institutions via Parcoursup. The Ministry of National Education believes this measure will allow institutions to have a more accurate indicator of candidates' true level in a subject that is often crucial for success in many programs.

For students who will continue with the mathematics specialization in their final year of high school, this preliminary assessment will not replace the final exam in the subject scheduled for the following year. Rather, it will serve as an initial national assessment, allowing students to recognize the skills acquired in their penultimate year and providing higher education institutions with greater visibility during the application review process.

A debate that remains lively in the educational community

While the government presents this reform as a way to restore mathematics to its traditional place in the general education of high school students, some unions see it primarily as an additional selection tool for higher education. Several teachers denounce the increased pressure placed on students from the first year of high school onward, arguing that this assessment serves the needs of Parcoursup (the French university admissions platform) more than educational objectives.

The 2026 session also has a regional peculiarity. In several schools in the Basque Country, some candidates are considering writing their mathematics papers in Basque, even though this option was not officially scheduled to be available until the 2028 session. This initiative could reignite the debate on the place of regional languages ​​in national exams and on the implementation of this future measure.