Bac SES exam-day guide
Bac SES · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation notice (convocation) or exam schedule extract
The convocation sent by your académie or exam centre shows the exact date, time, room, and your candidate number. Print it and keep a copy in your bag. If you never received one, confirm with your school or the rectorat d'académie before the exam week.
Valid photo ID
Bring an official identity document with a photograph (national ID card, passport, or residence permit). Some centres accept the carte de lycéen, but this varies by académie, so confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether an expired ID is tolerated.
Convocation number / candidate number written down
You often must write a candidate number on the answer sheet. Copy it onto a small card so you are not searching for it under time pressure.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two) plus spares
Written papers are normally completed in dark ink, and pencil is not accepted for final answers. Bring several pens and test them the night before. Pencil and eraser are still useful for rough work and sketches.
Pencil, eraser, and a small ruler
Useful for rough notes, underlining, and any diagram or graph. Keep them in a clear pencil case if your centre requires transparent containers.
Authorised calculator
For SES, a basic calculator may be allowed for handling data, but the exact model rules depend on the épreuve and the académie. Check the convocation and confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted; do not bring a programmable or graphing model unless explicitly allowed.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many French exam centres require transparent containers so invigilators can check contents quickly. Confirm the rule on your convocation.
Wristwatch (non-connected)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones must be switched off and stored away. A simple analogue watch helps you pace the three-part written paper.
Water bottle with label removed
A small bottle is usually tolerated if the label is removed; confirm with the provider, as some centres restrict drinks in the room.
Small snack for between papers
If you sit two épreuves on the same day, bring something quick to eat outside the room. Food is not allowed at the desk during the exam.
Phone switched off and stored out of reach
A ringing or vibrating phone, even in a bag, can be treated as cheating. Switch it off before entering the room and leave it in your bag as instructed.
Route and timing plan to the centre
Check the address on the convocation, not the address of your school. Plan to arrive well before the start time, since late arrivals may be refused once the paper has begun. Confirm the exact cut-off with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the convocation and write down the address, room, start time, and candidate number. Check your ID is valid and locate your pens, calculator, and watch. Review the structure of the written épreuve: a first part on mobilisation of knowledge, a second part on document analysis, and a third part on reasoning supported by a dossier. Practise timing on one full past-style paper under exam conditions, then correct it against the marking logic: argued answers, precise vocabulary, and explicit use of the documents. Do not start new topics; consolidate the notions and mécanismes you already know.
Pack your bag with ID, convocation, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, authorised calculator, watch, water, and snack. Set out clothes and confirm transport. Eat a normal meal and sleep at a reasonable hour; late-night cramming costs more in concentration than it gains in marks. Skim your own summary sheets of key mécanismes and authors, but stop early. Check the weather and any transport disruptions, and set two alarms.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre with time to spare. Switch off your phone before entering. Find the room and your seat, place ID and convocation on the desk if instructed, and listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions. Read the whole paper once before writing, note the suggested time for each part, and start with the section you can answer most confidently, while keeping the required order if the paper specifies one.
Write your candidate number where required and read the instructions on the answer sheet. For the mobilisation-of-knowledge part, define terms precisely and use the expected mécanisme chain rather than a list. For document analysis, identify the nature, source, and date of each document, quote or describe specific elements, and link them to the question rather than paraphrasing. For the reasoned part, build a short plan before writing, use the dossier documents as evidence, and conclude explicitly. Watch the clock: leave a few minutes to check that every question has been answered and that your handwriting is legible. If you finish early, re-read for missing mécanismes and unsupported claims rather than leaving.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID and your convocation; without them you may be refused entry. If you have lost your ID, ask the centre or your school immediately, and confirm with the provider what alternative proof is accepted.
Arrive before the start time stated on the convocation. Access is typically closed once the paper has started, but the exact cut-off is set by the centre, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Phones and connected watches must be switched off and stored away. Any device found on you or ringing during the exam can lead to the paper being cancelled and disciplinary action.
Only authorised materials may be on the desk. Check the convocation for the calculator rule and confirm with the provider if it is unclear; sharing materials with another candidate is not allowed.
You may normally leave the room only in exceptional circumstances and under supervision, and often not during the first part of the paper. Ask the invigilator; do not assume a toilet break will be granted.
Write in dark ink and answer in the language of the paper. Answers in pencil or with illegible or ambiguous numbering may not be marked.
Scoring rewards argued reasoning and precise use of SES vocabulary and mécanismes, not length alone. A correct mécanisme chain and explicit document use earn more than a long list of unrelated facts.
Cheating, including copying from a neighbour, using unauthorised notes, or communicating with another candidate, is sanctioned by the jury and can lead to the épreuve being annulled. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask the invigilator before the paper starts.