France's Baccalauréat Grand Oral Under Fire Five Years After Launch

Around 530,000 French terminale students sat the grand oral of the baccalauréat this week, the high‑stakes oral exam introduced in 2021 as a cornerstone of the Blanquer reform. Teachers and unions say the format prioritises style over substance, with many describing it as a “recited presentation” rather than a genuine dialogue.

Educators warn that the growing use of artificial‑intelligence tools to draft plans and verify information undermines the exam’s credibility, labeling it a “form of cheating”. The exam’s weight was reduced this year, from a coefficient of 10 to 8 for general streams and from 14 to 12 for technological streams, but unions continue to call for a full overhaul or outright abolition, calling the test a “false good idea”. Social inequality concerns are also raised, as the oral favours pupils already comfortable with public speaking and from more advantaged backgrounds.

"On peut comprendre l'intérêt qu'il peut y avoir à évaluer un oral, mais le format de l'épreuve n'est pas du tout opérant," said history‑geography teacher Servane Marzin, reflecting the broader dissatisfaction among educators.