French Baccalauréat Calculator (0–20 scale)
Works on the 0–20 scale (minimum passing grade 10). Honors bands: Mention Assez Bien (12–13.99), Mention Bien (14–15.99), Mention Très Bien (16–17.99). You can customize thresholds below.
Customize honors thresholds (optional)
Notes: Bands are inclusive at the lower bound. Values >= 18 are still counted as “Très Bien” here.
| Subject | Grade (0–20) | Coeff | Weighted | Note |
|---|
Disclaimer: Coefficients and options vary by series and year. This tool computes a weighted average from your inputs and labels honors using the bands above.
Frequently Asked Questions (2025)
1) What’s the pass mark for the French Baccalauréat?
An overall 10/20 is the pass threshold. Students between about 8 and 10 may be offered rattrapage (two oral resits) to reach 10.
2) What are the honours (“mentions”)?
Assez bien: 12–13.99
Bien: 14–15.99
Très bien: 16–17.99
Félicitations du jury: typically ≥18 (where awarded)
These are attached to the overall average.
3) How do I convert 0–20 to a 4.0 GPA?
Use a linear map: GPA = (average/20) × 4.0. Add a note explaining this. If your reader understands the French scale, they’ll also read the original 0–20 figure.
4) My portal wants 4.3 or a weighted 5.0.
Apply the same proportional idea with the requested maximum (4.3 or 5.0) and disclose: “Linear conversion from 0–20.”
5) Is there a more nuanced conversion that respects how rare 16–20 is?
Yes—some evaluators use tiered tables aligned to mentions or internal distribution data. If you have an official grade distribution table (ECTS style) from your school, that’s the gold standard for nuanced conversion.
6) Do universities accept my self-computed GPA?
They usually recalculate themselves or evaluate the Bac average and subject coefficients directly. Your GPA is mainly for form compatibility; the 0–20 average and “mention” remain the core signal.
7) Should I convert each subject or just the overall average?
Unless asked, convert the overall average. If a program wants subject-by-subject conversion (e.g., for scholarships), you can apply the same linear mapping to each mark.
8) How does the 2021 reform affect what I say on forms?
You can note that the Bac combines continuous assessment and final exams with coefficients by subject; many explainers summarize it as ~40% continuous and ~60% finals.
9) Can I claim that my 16/20 equals a US 4.0?
That depends on the institution. Some may consider 16+ comparable to top A/A+ performance; others will stick to the linear math ~3.2 on a 4.0 scale. To avoid over-claiming, report both: 16/20 (Très bien) and the converted GPA with a note.
10) Does France use ECTS grades A–E for the Bac?
ECTS is a higher-education framework. Modern guidance replaces fixed A–E percentages with grade distribution tables to interpret local grades. For Bac conversions used by universities, the distribution idea is still useful context, but the Bac itself remains on 0–20.
11) I see sites giving rigid 0–20 → letter grade cutoffs. Should I copy them?
Treat external tables as heuristics. They’re helpful to communicate level, but they’re not authoritative for every university. When in doubt, keep the original 0–20 and your method note front and center.
12) Is 18–20 really that uncommon?
Yes—French marking culture is conservative at the top; 16+ is genuinely excellent. That’s why mentions carry weight.
13) What if my school report shows coefficients and a weighted average?
Use the final weighted average as issued on your transcript. Convert that number. If a portal wants detail, attach the transcript and mention the coefficient system briefly.
14) I sat the rattrapage and passed. Do I need to declare that?
If a question asks whether you took resits, answer honestly. Otherwise, most forms care about the final average and mention; you can add “passed after rattrapage” when there’s a free-text context field.
15) Should I also list my “mention” on the application?
Yes—especially outside France. Write “Mention Bien” or “Mention Très bien” alongside the 0–20 average; it communicates level quickly to readers who understand the French system.