Luxembourg Bac Général key terms

The national upper-secondary leaving qualification in Luxembourg, awarded after the final year of classical or general secondary education and granting access to higher education.

The academically oriented branch of Luxembourg secondary education, traditionally strong in Latin, languages and mathematics, leading to the classical baccalaureate diploma.

The second main branch of Luxembourg secondary education, offering more practical and diversified programmes across several sections and leading to the general baccalaureate.

The set of final examinations pupils sit at the end of the last secondary year; results, combined with continuous assessment, determine the award of the baccalaureate.

A specialised study track within the classical or general secondary programme, such as mathematics, languages, economics or sciences, with its own subject weighting.

A subject counted with a higher coefficient in the pupil's overall result, typically a core discipline of the chosen section.

A weighting factor applied to a subject's mark when computing averages and final results, giving core subjects more influence than optional ones.

An average in which each mark is multiplied by its coefficient before summing and dividing, so that heavier-weighted subjects shape the outcome more strongly.

The mark derived from regular coursework, tests and classwork during the year, which counts towards the final baccalaureate result alongside the final exams.

A written final examination sat under supervised conditions, marked by examiners according to a subject-specific grading scheme.

A spoken final examination in which the candidate presents or answers questions before one or more examiners, assessed on content and expression.

A defined examination period in which final tests are held, with separate sessions allowing candidates to resit failed components.

A second-chance examination session for candidates who narrowly fail, letting them improve a result and obtain the diploma.

A grade band attached to the final average, such as satisfactory, good or excellent, used to distinguish levels of achievement on the diploma.

The official curriculum document setting out the knowledge, skills and competences pupils must acquire in each subject and year.

The ability to mobilise knowledge, methods and attitudes to solve problems or complete tasks, a central organising concept of Luxembourg curricula.

Assessment used during learning to give feedback and guide improvement, rather than to produce a final mark.

Assessment carried out at the end of a unit or course to certify achievement and produce a mark that counts towards the final result.

A structured written essay developing an argued response to a question, with introduction, reasoned development and conclusion, common in humanities examinations.

An exercise analysing a given document or literary extract, explaining its meaning, structure and context in a structured written response.

An exercise in which a source such as a map, graph, statistics table or historical text is described, interpreted and related to course knowledge.

The capacity to question sources, weigh evidence and construct reasoned judgements, cultivated across subjects and assessed in essay and document tasks.

The language used for instruction and examination in a subject, which in Luxembourg may be French, German or Luxembourgish depending on the branch and year.

The final mathematics examination, testing algebraic, functional, geometric and probabilistic reasoning through problems requiring justified working.

Subjects such as biology, chemistry and physics in which pupils learn experimental method, data handling and the interpretation of results.

A supervised personal project or research assignment in which pupils investigate a topic and present findings in written and oral form.

Guidance helping pupils choose sections, subjects and post-secondary pathways in line with their interests, results and career plans.

A unit quantifying the workload and value of a course within a study programme, used in higher education and some upper-secondary arrangements.

A collected body of a pupil's work assembled over time, used to document progress and competences and sometimes to support assessment.

A criteria-based marking grid listing expected qualities and performance levels, used to make grading of written or oral work consistent and transparent.

The allocation of points across the parts of an examination, showing how marks are distributed and how the total is calculated.

Presenting another person's words, ideas or work as one's own without proper attribution, an academic offence penalised in written assignments and examinations.

A formatted list of the sources consulted or cited in a piece of work, required in research assignments to show evidence and acknowledge authorship.

The set of study and examination techniques, such as structuring an answer, managing time and analysing questions, that pupils are expected to master.

The practical skill of allocating examination time across reading, planning, writing and checking, essential in long written papers.

Past examination papers and their marking guidance, used by candidates to practise formats, timing and expected standards of response.

The body responsible for organising examinations, setting and moderating papers and validating results before the diploma is awarded.

The formal certificate awarded on successful completion of secondary studies, recognised for admission to universities and other institutions.