France's 2026 Baccalauréat Philosophy Exam Draws Over 530,000 Candidates

On 15 June 2026, more than 530 000 French terminal‑year students sat the philosophy portion of the national baccalauréat. Candidates chose between two dissertation topics – “Avons‑nous la maîtrise de nos paroles ?” and “Peut‑on être heureux quand les autres ne le sont pas ?” – and could also opt for a text‑commentary, either Friedrich Nietzsche’s excerpt from *Humain, trop humain* (general track) or Paul Ricœur’s passage from *Le Juste* (technological track). The Ministry of Education, represented by Minister Édouard Geffray, reiterated the exam’s symbolic role, stressing the need for clear language and rigorous expression. Schools reported ordinary conditions, with one lycée noting a warm but manageable 27 °C classroom, while the exam proceeded without incident across metropolitan France and overseas departments such as Mayotte.

The same set of subjects was published on several media sites, each providing the full prompt and a provisional correction guide. The topics reflect contemporary concerns about speech, happiness, truth, and the impact of technology, echoing broader debates in French public discourse.