Mathematics will become a compulsory test for all French students in the Baccalaureate exam. It is the announcement of the Minister of Education, Anne Genetet, who believes that this discipline will bring children an extra general culture and will help them in the future to be educated citizens in the true sense of the word.
All French students must know mathematics, it is the decision of the Ministry of Education. Archive
This test, which will be introduced in 2026, will be taken at the end of the 11th grade and will be taken into account when calculating the final average. For now, details regarding the duration and specific content of the new test have not yet been revealed by the French Ministry of Education.
“How can we form free citizens in the 21st century without providing them with a common scientific and mathematical culture, as we do for the French language?”, asks Anne Genetet, emphasizing the essential role of mathematics in the training of students. This new exam will start in June 2026, and the grade obtained will contribute to the final Baccalaureate exam starting in the 2027 session.
The exam will be different depending on the profile of the students. Thus, there will continue to be a test intended for those who choose Mathematics as a specialized subject and another test intended for those who study this discipline only as part of the common core.
Minister of Education: “A test with important symbolic value”
The decision comes amid efforts to increase the level of mathematical skills of French students, after a decline was noted in recent years, especially following the reform of “specialities” from 2021. Anne Genetet explained that this test has “an important symbolic value ” and is essential to reconnect all students with mathematics, regardless of their educational trajectory.
Currently, students in France who do not choose mathematics as a specialized subject have the opportunity to complete a simplified mathematics course. This is 1.5 hours per week, which are part of the common core and include elements such as statistics, probability and data analysis. The material designed in this way aims to provide a basis that will be useful to children in the future, in professional and social life.
