OIB - The French Baccalauréat
The OIB is an integral part of the French baccalauréat général, the academic
university entrance examination taken at the end of secondary studies in France.
Each of the three versions of the baccalauréat (L, ES and S) involves a wide range of
subjects and some specialization. Within the OIB two subjects are studied and examined: English Language and
Literature and History-Geography. Both involve a four-hour written paper and an oral examination.
Study for the OIB English Language and Literature papers replaces the first foreign language (LV1), which
is a compulsory part of the 'normal' baccalauréat. History-geography
(examined entirely in English for most candidates) replaces the subject of
Histoire-Géographie, which is also compulsory in all versions of the 'normal'
baccalauréat.
High weightings (coefficients), applying to the two oral and written papers taken in both
OIB subjects, ensure that these two subjects together contribute significantly to the candidate's final
examination score.
This is calculated mathematically by applying weightings (coefficients) to the scores
obtained in each subject. The coefficients determine the importance of subjects in the
various versions of the baccalauréat. The importance of OIB subjects is high in all
three versions.
The coefficients applying to OIB subjects in the three versions of the academic baccalauréat are:
English Lang/Lit
History-Geography
Approx. % of overall marks
Written / Oral
Written / Oral
Baccalauréat L
6 / 4
5 / 3
40%
Baccalauréat S
5 / 4
4 / 3
30%
Baccalauréat ES
5 / 4
5 / 4
40%
The web site of the French Ministry of Education explains the structure of the three versions of the
baccalauréat general,
and the
coefficients applying to other subjects.
