Cover of higher education & research in France, facts and figures

📄 Sources:MENESR-DEPP
MAAF.

 Coverage:Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM) excluding Mayotte for 1995, including Mayotte from 2012.

Proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation: this is the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a hypothetical generation of individuals who, at each age, have the candidate rate and pass rate observed in the year under consideration. This number is obtained by calculating, for each age, the share of baccalauréat holders in the total population for this age, and obtaining the sum of these rates by age. Calculations are made using Insee's demographic data series. Using the base applicable in March 2014, provisional values can be calculated for the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 sessions. The values for earlier sessions are definitive.

Pass rate: this is calculated as the ratio of the number of successful candidates to the number of candidates present. A candidate is considered present if he or she has sat at least one of the constituent exam papers.

Age: age is defined as the difference between the year of observation and the birth year, whenever the birthday may fall.

Quick access

Share


 
 
 
 

For a better experience of this site, take the time to update your browser.
 

07 the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders

This page has been updated. Read 07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders in Higher education & research in France, facts and figures 10th edition - June 2017

At the 2014 session, 625,700 of the 710,800 candidates obtained their baccalauréat (88.0%), bringing the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation to 77.4%. Over half of these candidates obtained a technological or vocational baccalauréat.

At the 2014 baccalauréat session, 710,718 candidates sat the exam in France and 625,650 obtained their diploma. The pass rate increased in all three branches (chart 07.01). Overall, the pass rate rose by 1.1 points compared with 2013 and reached a historic high of 88.0%.

At this session, 305,700 candidates obtained a general baccalauréat, 129,200 a technological baccalauréat and 190,800 a vocational baccalauréat. Almost 30,000 more candidates took this third option than in 2013. The inclusion in the 2014 session of candidates from the 'Support, care and services for individuals' speciality, in addition to the improved pass rate of pupils taking the vocational path (+3.3 points), were the main reasons for this latest increase in numbers. The vocational path has returned to its historic high level of 2012. Numbers in the general path were stable compared with 2013: the increase in successful candidates in the scientific (S) series made up for the fall in the arts & humanities (L) series. For the first time since 2000, the number of candidates taking the technological path increased significantly.

Between 1995 and 2014, the distribution of baccalaureat holders (table 07.02) shifted in favour of the vocational specialities. The proportion of vocational candidates increased sharply (almost 8 points) between 2010 and 2014 when the vocational path was reformed, or almost 17 points more than in 1995. The vast majority of pupils in their 4th year of secondary education ('troisième') who choose the vocational path now opt for a course leading to the baccalauréat. In turn, the proportion of pupils taking the general baccalauréat has fallen by almost 10 points and for those taking the technological baccalauréat by almost 7 points.

In 2014, 77.4% of the generation of young people (excluding Mayotte) obtained the baccalauréat: 37.7% obtained a general baccalauréat, 16.0% a technological baccalauréat and 23.8% a vocational baccalauréat (table 07.03). Since 1985, the number of baccalauréat diplomas awarded annually has more than doubled and the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation has increased from 29.4% to 77.4%. This sharp rise is mainly due to the increase in the numbers taking the general baccalauréat and the rapid development in the vocational baccalauréat, introduced in 1987. Between 1995 and 2008, in contrast to the long period of growth that had gone before, the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation reached a plateau and hovered around 62%; it then increased by 3 points in 2009 when resit sessions were introduced for the vocational baccalauréat. It remained stable in 2010, then fluctuated during the transition phase that followed the reform of the vocational path (baccalauréat in 3 years rather than 4) and increased by more than 12 points in 4 years.

Almost one baccalauréat holder in four comes from a background of managers and higher intellectual professions, the socio-occupational category that is most represented (chart 07.04). This is particularly true for the general path, with more than one in three coming from this background. Children of employees are proportionally most numerous among holders of a technological baccalauréat, and children of manual workers in the vocational path.

📄 Sources:MENESR-DEPP
MAAF.
 Coverage:Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM) excluding Mayotte for 1995, including Mayotte from 2012.

How to cite this paper :

THOMAS Fanny. The baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders. In: Higher education & research in France, facts and figures - 49 indicators [online]. KABLA-LANGLOIS Isabelle (dir.). Paris: Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, 2015. 8th ed. Chapter 07, 24-25 [Accessed 03/28/2024]. ISBN 978-2-11-139433-9. https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/EESR8EN_ES_07-the_baccalaureat_examination_and_baccalaureat_holders-ILL_04.php

close

Cite :   Share:          

Proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation: this is the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a hypothetical generation of individuals who, at each age, have the candidate rate and pass rate observed in the year under consideration. This number is obtained by calculating, for each age, the share of baccalauréat holders in the total population for this age, and obtaining the sum of these rates by age. Calculations are made using Insee's demographic data series. Using the base applicable in March 2014, provisional values can be calculated for the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 sessions. The values for earlier sessions are definitive.

Pass rate: this is calculated as the ratio of the number of successful candidates to the number of candidates present. A candidate is considered present if he or she has sat at least one of the constituent exam papers.

Age: age is defined as the difference between the year of observation and the birth year, whenever the birthday may fall.

 

Key figures


Number of baccalauréat holders
625,650
 baccalauréat holders
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-629-number_of_baccalaureat_holders.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Number of candidates for the baccalauréat exam
710,718
 candidates
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-630-number_of_candidates_for_the_baccalaureat_exam.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Number of general baccalauréat holders
305,667
 general baccalauréat holders
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-631-number_of_general_baccalaureat_holders.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Number of technological baccalauréat holders
129,210
 general baccalauréat holders
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-632-number_of_technological_baccalaureat_holders.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
  See more key figures  
Number of vocational baccalauréat holders
190,773
 general baccalauréat holders
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-633-number_of_vocational_baccalaureat_holders.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Share of baccalauréat holders in a generation
77.4%
 
2014
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-634-share_of_baccalaureat_holders_in_a_generation.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Share of general baccalauréat holders in a generation
37.7%
 
2014
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-635-share_of_general_baccalaureat_holders_in_a_generation.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Share of technological baccalauréat holders in a generation
16%
 
2014
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-636-share_of_technological_baccalaureat_holders_in_a_generation.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
  See more key figures  
Share of vocational baccalauréat holders in a generation
23.8%
 
2014
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-637-share_of_vocational_baccalaureat_holders_in_a_generation.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Baccalauréat pass rate
88%
 
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-1022-baccalaureat_pass_rate.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
General baccalauréat pass rate
91%
 
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-1023-general_baccalaureat_pass_rate.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Technological baccalauréat pass rate
90.7%
 
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-1024-technological_baccalaureat_pass_rate.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
  See one more key figure  
Vocational baccalauréat pass rate
82.2%
 
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
See:   Embed:    Share:    
You can embeded this tile to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:
<iframe src='https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/CC-1025-vocational_baccalaureat_pass_rate.php' width='100%' height='155 px' frameborder='0' id='GC' scrolling='no' style='min-width:240px; max-width:490px'></iframe>
Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP

07.01 Change in baccalauréat pass rate according to study path since 1995 (%)

  
General baccalauréat
Technological baccalauréat
Vocational baccalauréat
Total baccalauréats
 
 
📄 Sources:MENESR-DEPP
MAAF
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM) excluding Mayotte until 2010, including Mayotte from 2011.

You can embed this chart to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

<iframe src="https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/illustration-EESR8EN_ES_07-0-change_in_baccalaureat_pass_rate_according_to_study_path_since_1995.php" width="500px" height="700px" frameborder="0" id="EESR8EN_ES_07-0" scrolling="auto"></iframe>

close

Download:     Embed: <\>   Share:            

07.02 Change in and distribution of baccalauréat candidates between sessions 1995, 2013 and 2014

 
Session 1995 1 Session 2013 Session 2014
Passes Distribution (%) Passes Distribution (%) Passes Distribution (%)
General baccalauréat
ES 76,555 15.6 97,729 16.6 97,000 15.5
L 71,460 14.5 50,358 8.5 47,991 7.7
S 139,031 28.2 157,229 26.7 160,676 25.7
Total general series 287,046 58.3 305,316 51.8 305,667 48.9
Technological baccalauréat
STI2D-STD2A (formerly STI) 35,217 7.2 27,320 4.6 28,240 4.5
STMG (formerly STT and STG) 78,894 16.0 61,124 10.4 62,634 10.0
ST2S (formerly SMS) 13,337 2.7 22,400 3.8 23,767 3.8
Other technological series 10,819 2.2 14,009 2.4 14,569 2.3
Total technological series 138,267 28.1 124,853 21.2 129,210 20.7
Vocational baccalauréat
Production 26,218 5.3 74,500 12.6 81,479 13.0
Services 40,878 8.3 84,741 14.4 109,294 17.5
Total vocational series 67,096 13.6 159,241 27.0 190,773 30.5
Total 492,409 100 589,410 100.0 625,650 100.0
 

1 excluding Mayotte.

📄 Sources:MENESR-DEPP
MAAF
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM) excluding Mayotte for 1995, including Mayotte from 2012.

You can embed this table to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

<iframe src="https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/illustration-EESR8EN_ES_07-1-change_in_and_distribution_of_baccalaureat_candidates_between_sessions_1995_2013_and_2014.php" width="500px" height="700px" frameborder="0" id="EESR8EN_ES_07-1" scrolling="auto"></iframe>

close

Download:     Embed: <\>   Share:            

07.03 Distribution of successful candidates (excluding agricultural technological and vocational specialities) in 2014 by social background (%)

 
General Bac Technological Bac Vocational Bac All
Social background provided, of which: 97.1 92.0 72.3 88.5
Farmers 2.0 1.7 2.0 1.9
Craftsmen, tradesmen, business leaders 9.8 10.3 13.1 10.7
Managers, higher intellectual professions 35.9 16.4 9.8 25.2
Technicians and associated professions 16.0 15.5 11.6 14.8
Employees 16.4 21.4 16.2 17.5
Manual workers 11.4 20.5 33.7 18.9
Retired 1.7 2.2 3.6 2.3
Others with no professional activity 6.8 12.0 9.9 8.7
All 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

 
📄 Sources:MAAF
MENESR-DEPP
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

You can embed this table to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

<iframe src="https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/illustration-EESR8EN_ES_07-2-distribution_of_successful_candidates_excluding_agricultural_technological_and_vocational_specialities_in_2014_by_social_background.php" width="500px" height="700px" frameborder="0" id="EESR8EN_ES_07-2" scrolling="auto"></iframe>

close

Download:     Embed: <\>   Share:            

07.04 Proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation (sessions from 1950-2014p) (%)

  
General baccalauréat
Technological baccalauréat
Vocational baccalauréat
All baccalauréats
 
 

The proportions of baccalauréat holders in a generation for the sessions from 2011 to 2014 have been updated based on the demographic review published by Insee in March 2014. Values may therefore differ from those published last year.
This review provides provisional population estimates from 2012 onwards. The proportions of baccalauréat holders in a generation for sessions 2012 to 2014 are therefore provisional.
p: provisional.

📄 Sources:MENESR-DEPP
MAAF
 Coverage: Metropolitan France until 2000, Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM) excluding Mayotte since 2001.

You can embed this chart to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

<iframe src="https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/8EN/illustration-EESR8EN_ES_07-3-proportion_of_baccalaureat_holders_in_a_generation_sessions_from_1950_2014p.php" width="500px" height="700px" frameborder="0" id="EESR8EN_ES_07-3" scrolling="auto"></iframe>

close

Download:     Embed: <\>   Share:            

Related statistical publications

 Note d'information DEPP 16.07 - Résultats définitifs de la session 2015 du baccalauréat - Fanny Thomas - March 2016
Avec 703 900 candidats et 618 800 bacheliers, le taux de réussite est stable à la session

2015. Il atteint 87,9 % : 91,5 % en général, 90,7 % en technologique et 80,5 % en professionnel.

L’effectif de candidats a baissé de près de 50 000 dans la voie technologique depuis 2004, dont 4 500 depuis 2014. Sur la même période, la voie professionnelle a augmenté de 96 000 candidats et la voie générale de 29 000 dont 10 000 l’an dernier. Dans le même temps, la proportion de bacheliers dans une génération a gagné plus de 16 points et atteint 77,2 % en 2015.

L’espérance d’obtenir le baccalauréat en 2015 pour un élève de sixième sous statut scolaire est la plus forte dans les académies d’Île-de-France, de Limoges, de Lyon, de Rennes et de Toulouse.

Dans 9 % des cas, les candidats au baccalauréat ont suivi un parcours spécifi que en langue, beaucoup plus souvent dans la voie générale et la série Hôtellerie qu’ailleurs.
 Note d'information DEPP 15.08 - Résultats définitifs de la session 2014 du baccalauréat - Fanny Thomas - March 2015
Avec 710 700 candidats et 625 700 lauréats, le taux de réussite augmente à la session 2014 du baccalauréat. Il atteint 88 % : 91 % dans les voies générale et technologique, 82 % dans la voie professionnelle. Il dépasse 90 % dans presque toutes les séries technologiques.

Seul le taux de réussite de la voie générale est en recul, surtout du fait des séries ES et L.

La réforme de la voie professionnelle a considérablement augmenté le nombre de bacheliers : entre 2010 et 2014, la proportion de bacheliers dans une génération a augmenté de plus de 12 points pour atteindre 77,4 %. Un tiers des candidats sont désormais dans la voie professionnelle et la part de ses bacheliers dans une génération est de 23,8 %. Enfi n, en portant à trois ans la durée du cursus dans les trois voies, la réforme de la voie professionnelle a aussi fortement contribué au rajeunissement des candidats.
- -

Other editions

Etat de l'enseignement supérieur et de la rechercheHigher education & research in France, facts and figures 10th edition - June 2017
07 - the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders - Fanny Thomas
At the 2016 session, 633,500 of the 715,200 candidates obtained their baccalauréat (88.6%), bringing the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation to 78.6%. Over half of these baccalauréat graduates obtained a general baccalauréat [Consult the following page]
Etat de l'enseignement supérieur et de la rechercheHigher education & research in France, facts and figures 9th edition - November 2016
07 - the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders - Fanny Thomas
At the 2015 session, 618,800 of the 703,900 candidates obtained their baccalauréat (87.9%), bringing the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation to 77.2%. Over half of these candidates obtained a general baccalauréat [Consult the following page]

Translation

 Etat de l'enseignement supérieur et de la rechercheL'état de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche en France n°8 - juin 2015
07 - le baccalauréat et les bacheliers - Fanny Thomas
À la session 2014, 625 700 des 710 800 candidats ont obtenu le baccalauréat (88,0 %) ce qui porte à 77,4 % la part des bacheliers dans une génération. Pour plus de la moitié d’entre eux, il s’agit d’un baccalauréat technologique ou professionnel [Consult the following page in french]


Quick access

Share