European Baccalaureate Language 1

Candidates sit five written examinations and three oral examinations at the end of year s7. L1, L2 and mathematics are compulsory written papers. L1, L2 or a subject taught through L2, namely history or geography, are compulsory oral examinations. You must therefore show written and oral proficiency in at least two languages.

Half comes from the preliminary mark awarded at the end of s7, reflecting formative assessment and Pre-Baccalaureate examinations during that year. The other half comes from the double-corrected written and oral examinations, within which the five written papers account for 35% and the three oral examinations for 15%. The overall pass mark is 5 out of 10, that is 50 out of 100.

Both written and oral examinations are marked by your own teachers and by external examiners, and the final mark is the average of the two. If the disagreement exceeds two points, a third external corrector is brought in and, after a thorough analysis of the previous corrections, sets a final mark between the highest and the lowest awarded.

The main risk is treating the preliminary mark as a safety net. It is half the result, so weak daily work and poor Pre-Baccalaureate performance cannot be repaired in the June session. Another common error is narrowing revision to s7 content: each paper covers the whole s7 syllabus but also assesses competences acquired earlier, especially in s6.

Start with s6. Examinations assess competences built over the whole cycle, and s7 teaching assumes that foundation. Consolidating s6 syllabuses early leaves the final year for deepening knowledge, practising examination formats under time constraints, and rehearsing oral performance in your examination languages.

The compulsory core includes at least two languages, mathematics at 3 or 5 periods, one scientific subject, history and geography at 2 or 4 periods taught in a language other than your dominant one, philosophy at 2 or 4 periods, physical education, and ethics or religion. Options and complementary subjects bring the total to between 31 and 35 periods per week.

The source material available to us does not state a retake policy or a validity period for the European Baccalaureate diploma. Treat both as unconfirmed and check the European Baccalaureate Regulations and the handbook published by the Office of the Secretary-General before making plans that depend on either point.

The diploma certifies completion of secondary studies in a European School or an accredited school. It is officially recognised as an entry qualification for higher education in all European Union countries and in a number of others, and holders enjoy the same rights as nationals with equivalent qualifications when seeking admission to universities and tertiary institutions.

Because orals carry 15% and are double-corrected, practise speaking about your subjects rather than reciting notes. Work in the language of each oral, whether L1, L2 or history and geography taught through L2. Ask teachers to run timed mock orals and to mark them against the published assessment criteria for oral examinations.