Preliminary mark: formative A marks and summative B marks in s7
The preliminary mark is 50% of your final History mark. It is built from A marks (formative continuous assessment) and B marks (summative Pre-Baccalaureate examinations during s7). Unlike the written and oral papers, it is not a single event: it rewards consistent work across the year and gives you a chance to recover from a weak exam day.
What A and B marks mean
- A marks are formative. They come from classwork, participation, essays, projects, presentations, and homework. They measure historical skills, not just effort.
- B marks are summative. They come from timed Pre-Baccalaureate examinations in s7 that mirror the Bac paper's format and standards.
- Schools combine A and B marks under European Schools rules; the preliminary mark is not simply the last test you took.
- The preliminary mark can lift a final grade or cap it. A strong exam cannot fully rescue a poor preliminary profile.
How to build the mark
- Treat every essay and source exercise as practice for the written paper.
- Ask for the criteria and use them to self-assess before submitting.
- Keep a log of feedback and check that the next piece fixes the same weakness.
- Revise for B exams as you would for the Bac: timed conditions, source analysis, essay planning.
Worked example
A student's A marks average 7/10 and B marks average 8/10. The school's combination gives a preliminary mark of 7.5/10. On the final History mark, that preliminary mark is half. If the written paper scores 6/10, the final mark is 6.75/10. The lesson: a half-mark gain in the preliminary profile is as valuable as a half-mark gain in the exam, and it is usually easier to secure through consistent coursework. The student should target the B exam format because it is the closest predictor of the written paper.
Traps
- Treating A marks as optional because they feel informal.
- Skipping B exam revision because 'it is only preliminary'.
- Ignoring written feedback and repeating the same error.
- Missing deadlines for projects or presentations.
- Assuming the preliminary mark is only effort; it is assessed against historical criteria.