Preliminary mark: A marks, B marks and the Pre-Baccalaureate examination
Domain 3 - Preliminary mark: A marks, B marks and the Pre-Baccalaureate examination
The preliminary mark is the school-based component of the final Baccalaureate mark. It is built from two sources in S7: A marks, which come from formative assessment across the year, and B marks, which come from the Pre-Baccalaureate examination. A marks are not a single test score; they reflect sustained performance in classwork, homework, short assessments, practical or oral contributions, and the teacher's professional judgement against the learning outcomes. B marks are awarded in a formal pre-Bac examination held under controlled conditions, normally in the second half of S7. The B paper is designed to mirror the style and demand of the final written paper, so it is both a rehearsal and a source of evidence.
Core rules and concepts
- A and B marks are recorded on the school's scale (commonly 0–10) and combined into the preliminary mark used in the Bac.
- The preliminary mark is fixed before the written Bac; it cannot be retaken or improved after the final paper.
- For 3-period Mathematics, the B examination should cover the same syllabus strands as the written paper: algebra, functions, trigonometry, vectors/geometry, probability/statistics and calculus.
- A marks reward consistency, not one lucky test. Keep all marked work and correct errors; teachers may use later evidence to confirm a level.
- The B examination is not optional. Absence must be handled under the school's procedures; an unauthorised absence can lead to a zero or a reduced mark.
Worked example
A student has A = 7.5/10 and B = 6.0/10. With an illustrative 60:40 A:B weighting, the preliminary mark is 0.6 × 7.5 + 0.4 × 6.0 = 4.5 + 2.4 = 6.9/10, i.e. 69/100. With a 50:50 weighting it would be 6.75/10 (67.5/100). The exact weighting is set by the current Bac regulations; the arithmetic shows why the B paper matters even when coursework is strong. If the B paper exposes a weak topic, the preliminary mark falls before the final written paper is even sat.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating A marks as “only tests” and neglecting homework, corrections and participation.
- Revising for the B exam as if it were a minor class test.
- Assuming a good A mark guarantees a good preliminary mark.
- Missing the B examination or coursework deadlines without official justification.
- Confusing the preliminary mark with the final Bac mark; the written paper still contributes separately.