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

📄 Sources:MENESR-DEPP
MAAF.

 Coverage:Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM) excluding Mayotte until 2010, including Mayotte from 2011.

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 2015, provisional values can be calculated for the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 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.

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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 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.

At the 2015 session of the Baccalaureate, 703,949 candidates sat the exam in France and 618,844 obtained their diploma. The pass rate of 87.9% is generally stable (-0.1 point) compared to 2014 (chart 07.01). The fall in the pass rate for the vocational Baccalaureat (-1.7 points) is compensated for by the rise in the general Baccalaureat (+0.5 points).

At this session, 317,100 candidates obtained a general Baccalaureat, 125,100 a technological Baccalaureat and 176,600 a vocational Baccalaureat. Over 11,000 Bac holders more than in 2014 were included in the general path, specifically due to the fact that Bac holders in the bi-national sections, of which there were 2,700, were taken into account for the first time in 2015.

In 2015, 13,000 Bac holders fewer than in 2014 were included in the vocational path, including 11,000 in services specialisms. Numbers in the technological path lost the benefit of the increase noted in 2014, with the STMG (management sciences and technology) and ST2S (health and social sciences and technology) series having 5,700 fewer graduates.

Between 1995 and 2014, the distribution of Baccalaureat holders (table 07.02)shifted in favour of vocational specialities. The proportion of vocational Bac holders increased sharply between 2010 and 2014 (nearly 8 points), i.e. nearly 17 points higher than in 1995 when the vocational path was reformed. 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 general Bac holders has fallen by nearly 10 points and technological Bac holders by nearly 7 points. In 2015, the vocational path fell by 2 points, with a decline in services specialities. At the same time, the general path grew in importance (+2.3 points), especially due to scientific (S) series. The technological path remained stable.

In 2015, 77.2% of young people in a generation (excluding Mayotte) obtained the Baccalaureat: 39.5% a general Baccalaureat, 15.6% a technological Baccalaureat and 22.2% a vocational Baccalaureat (chart 07.03). Since 1985, the annual number of Baccalaureat diplomas awarded has more than doubled and the proportion of Baccalaureat holders in a generation has increased from 29.4% to 77.2%. This sharp increase is mainly due to the growth in the number of general Bac holders and the rapid development of the vocational Baccalaureat, introduced in 1987. Between 1995 and 2008, in contrast to the long period of growth that had gone before, the proportion of Bac holders in a generation reached a ceiling and stabilised at around 62%, then it increased by 3 points in 2009 following the introduction of the vocational Baccalaureat resit session. Stable in 2010, it fluctuated during the transition phase following the reform of the vocational Baccalaureat (Bac in 3 years ratherthan 4), and increased by over 12 points between 2010 and 2015.

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

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

How to cite this paper :

THOMAS Fanny. The baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders. In: Higher education & research in France, facts and figures - 50 indicators [online]. KABLA-LANGLOIS Isabelle (dir.). Paris: Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, 2016. 9th ed. Chapter 07 [Accessed 03/28/2024]. ISBN 978-2-11-151572-7. https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/9EN/EESR9EN_ES_07-the_baccalaureat_examination_and_baccalaureat_holders-ILL_02.php

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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 2015, provisional values can be calculated for the proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 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
618,844
 baccalauréat holders
2015 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Number of candidates for the baccalauréat exam
703,949
 candidates
2015 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Number of general baccalauréat holders
317,054
 general baccalauréat holders
2015 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Number of technological baccalauréat holders
125,144
 general baccalauréat holders
2015 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
  See more key figures  
Number of vocational baccalauréat holders
176,646
 general baccalauréat holders
2014 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Share of baccalauréat holders in a generation
77.2%
 
2015
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Share of general baccalauréat holders in a generation
39.5%
 
2015
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Share of technological baccalauréat holders in a generation
15.6%
 
2015
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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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
22.2%
 
2015
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Baccalauréat pass rate
87.9%
 
2015 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
General baccalauréat pass rate
91.5%
 
2015 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
Technological baccalauréat pass rate
90.7%
 
2015 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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Extract from the chapter "07. the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders".

Source: MENESR-DEPP
  See one more key figure  
Vocational baccalauréat pass rate
80.5%
 
2015 session
Metropolitan France + overseas departments
 
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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 Baccalaureat
Technological Baccalaureat
Vocational Baccalaureat
Total Baccalaureat
 
 
📄 Sources:MENESR-DEPP
MAAF
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM) excluding Mayotte until 2010, including Mayotte from 2011.

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07.02 Change in and distribution of baccalauréat candidates between sessions 1995, 2014 and 2015

 
1995 Session 1 2014 Session 2015 Session
Passes Distribution (%) Passes Distribution (%) Passes Distribution (%)
General Baccalaureat
ES 76,555 15.6 97,000 15.5 100,360 16.2
L 71,460 14.5 47,991 7.7 49,870 8.1
S 139,031 28.2 160,676 25.7 166,824 27.0
Total general series 287,046 58.3 305,667 48.9 317,054 51.2
Technological Baccalaureat
STI2D-STD2A (formerly STI) 35,217 7.2 28,240 4.5 29,580 4.8
STMG (formerly STT and STG) 78,894 16.0 62,634 10.0 60,124 9.7
ST2S (formerly SMS) 13,337 2.7 23,767 3.8 20,608 3.3
Other technological series 10,819 2.2 14,569 2.3 14,832 2.4
Total technological series 138,267 28.1 129,210 20.7 125,144 20.2
Vocational Baccalaureat
Production 26,218 5.3 81,479 13.0 80,650 13.0
Services 40,878 8.3 109,294 17.5 95,996 15.5
Total vocational specialisms 67,096 13.6 190,773 30.5 176,646 28.5
Total 492,409 100 625,650 100.0 618,844 100.0
 

1 excluding Mayotte.

📄 Sources:MENESR-DEPP
MAAF
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM) excluding Mayotte for 1995, including Mayotte from 2014.

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07.03 Proportion of baccalauréat holders in a generation (sessions from 1950-2015p) (%)

  
General Baccalaureat
Technological Baccalaureat
Vocational Baccalaureat
Total Baccalaureat
 
 

The proportions of baccalauréat holders in a generation for the sessions from 2012 to 2015 have been updated based on the demographic review published by Insee in March 2015. 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.
1 1969: First session of the technological Baccalaureat.
2 1987: First session of the vocational Baccalaureat.
3 2009: Creation of the retake examination for the vocational Baccalaureat.
4 2011-2014: Reform of the vocational path.

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

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07.04 Distribution of successful candidates (excluding agricultural technological and vocational specialities) in 2015 by social background (%)

 
General Bac Technological Bac Vocational Bac All
Social origin recorded, of which: 97.0 95.1 84.7 93.4
Farmers 2.0 1.6 2.0 1.9
Craftsmen, tradesmen, business leaders 9.8 10.3 12.8 10.6
Managers, higher intellectual professions 35.8 17.2 9.9 25.8
Technicians and associated professions 15.7 15.7 11.6 14.7
Employees 16.8 21.6 15.8 17.5
Manual workers 11.1 19.5 34.0 18.2
Retired 1.6 2.0 3.5 2.2
Others with no professional activity 7.3 12.2 10.3 9.0
All 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

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

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Related statistical publications

 Note d'information DEPP 16.22 - Le baccalauréat 2016 - Fanny Thomas - July 2016
À la session du baccalauréat de juin 2016, avec 88,5 % d’admis en France entière, le taux de réussite global est légèrement plus élevé que celui de 2015 (87,8 %).

Le taux de réussite au baccalauréat général, de 91,4 %, est identique à celui de 2015. Celui du baccalauréat technologique, qui avait augmenté fortement de 2005 à 2014, est stable depuis à 90,7 %. Dans la voie professionnelle, le taux de réussite gagne 1,9 point et dépasse son niveau de 2014 avec 82,2 %. On compte ainsi 3 100 bacheliers professionnels de plus qu’en 2015. La part des bacheliers dans une génération augmente de 77,7 % en 2015 à 78,6 % en 2016 en raison du plus grand nombre de candidats dans la voie générale.
 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 15.24 - Le baccalauréat 2015 - Sylvie Le Laidier, Fanny Thomas - July 2015
À la session du baccalauréat de juin 2015, avec 87,8 % d’admis en France entière, le taux de réussite global est similaire à celui de 2014 (87,9 %).

Le taux de réussite au baccalauréat général remonte de 0,6 point, à 91,5 % et retrouve pratiquement son niveau de 2013. Celui du baccalauréat technologique, qui avait connu une forte augmentation en deux ans, plus de 7 points, est cette fois stable, à 90,6 %. Celui du baccalauréat professionnel, qui avait augmenté de façon spectaculaire en 2014 en gagnant 3,4 points, perd 1,6 point à 80,3 %. La part des bacheliers dans une génération recule à 77,2 % en 2015, contre 78,3 % en 2014 en raison du moins grand nombre de 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 8th edition - November 2015
07 - the baccalauréat examination and baccalauréat holders - Fanny Thomas
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 [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°9 - Juin 2016
07 - le baccalauréat et les bacheliers - Fanny Thomas
À la session 2015, 618 800 des 703 900 candidats ont obtenu le baccalauréat (87,9 %) ce qui porte à 77,2 % la part des bacheliers dans une génération. Pour plus de la moitié d'entre eux, il s'agit d'un baccalauréat général [Consult the following page in french]


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