Preliminary mark: A marks and the Pre-Baccalaureate examination (B marks)
The preliminary mark is the part of the European Baccalaureate final mark that is earned before the final examinations. It has two components: A marks, awarded for formative assessment during the course, and B marks, awarded for the Pre-Baccalaureate examination (the 'prebac'). Philosophy, like other examined subjects, combines this preliminary mark with the final examination mark.
A marks: formative assessment
A marks reward sustained philosophical work across the course: participation in discussion, oral contributions, essays, class tests, projects and homework. The teacher sets the exact number and weighting within the school's rules. They measure progress and regularity as well as attainment, so a single weak essay can be compensated, but a pattern of weak work cannot. In Philosophy, strong A marks come from arguing in class, not from silent attendance.
B marks: the Pre-Baccalaureate examination
The prebac is a summative examination sat in S7, usually in the second trimester, in the same format as the final examination - a written dissertation or an oral, depending on your option. It is marked against the same criteria as the final paper, and its purpose is to give a realistic indication of your level. It is not a mock that can be ignored.
Weighting
Under the standard EB weighting, in a subject with a final examination the preliminary mark counts for 40% of the final mark and the final examination for 60%; within the preliminary mark, A and B each contribute 20%. Check the current regulations with your school, since transitional rules can apply to a given cohort.
Worked example
A candidate's A marks average 72/100; the B mark in the prebac is 68/100; the final written examination mark is 65/100. Final mark = 0.2 × 72 + 0.2 × 68 + 0.6 × 65 = 14.4 + 13.6 + 39 = 67/100. Raising the A average by ten points would raise the final mark by two points - small in isolation, decisive at a grade boundary. The prebac's greater value is diagnostic: its feedback should shape the final revision.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating A marks as negligible; they are the most controllable part of the final mark.
- Treating the prebac as low-stakes and revising for it carelessly.
- Ignoring written feedback instead of turning it into a revision plan.
- Inconsistency: strong essays but silence in class, or the reverse.