The French Grading System for the Baccalauréat
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France’s main school scale, including the baccalauréat scale, runs from 0 to 20, with 16.00–20.00 as the top band. A pass starts at 10.00, and there is no percent key.
Grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of National Education; the main school-leaving exam is the baccalauréat.
This page explains how to read French grades and how grading works in France. It also helps teachers interpret grades when teaching students from France and compare related grading systems.
Reading the French scale
French grading includes mastery scales as well as marks out of 20, and there is no percent key. End-of-cycle assessments show mastery of the common core of knowledge, skills and culture, from very good command to insufficient mastery.
| Grade | Native label | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16.00 - 20.00 | Mention très bien | Very good | Yes |
| 14.00 - 15.99 | Mention bien | Good | Yes |
| 12.00 - 13.99 | Mention assez bien | Satisfactory | Yes |
| 10.00 - 11.99 | Passable | Pass | Yes |
| < 10.00 | Ajourné | Fail | No |
A grade of < 10.00 is classified as "Ajourné" and means Fail.
Individual benchmark results are provided to teachers through a positioning tool based on three proficiency levels. A student passes if they obtain a final average of 10 out of 20 or higher (Eurydice).
For the baccalaureate, candidates pass with an average of 10/20 or higher across all examinations after the second-group oral examinations (Eurydice).
Compared with related systems
France
4 of 5 grades pass
Netherlands
5 of 10 grades pass
How grading works in France
France sets grading rules nationally through the Ministry of National Education.
The baccalaureate is organised by the Ministry’s central administration and the National Education Inspectorate together with decentralised services, particularly local education authorities.
From Year 1 to Year 9, pupils receive a standardised school report card that regularly reports results and tracks progress against the core curriculum (Eurydice).
Teaching students from France
Students from France may bring a relevé de notes (transcript) or an attestation de réussite (diploma extract). Check which document they provide, and ask the student to clarify any grades or markings you cannot interpret.
Record the grades and their key in your gradebook. Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
Sources and verification
- [1]education.gouv.fr. Les indicateurs de résultats des collèges et des lycées | Ministère de l'Education nationale. Accessed Sep 17, 2026. Official source
- [2]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Sep 17, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [3]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in general lower secondary education. Accessed Sep 17, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in general upper secondary education. Accessed Sep 17, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Sep 25, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in France?
For the baccalauréat, 10.00 out of 20 is the minimum passing grade; 10.00–11.99 is classified as “Passable.” Grades below 10.00 are “Ajourné,” meaning fail.
Do schools in France use percentages for grades?
No. French grades use marks out of 20 as well as mastery scales, and there is no percentage key.
Is a 12.00 - 13.99 a good grade in France?
Yes. In the baccalauréat scale, 12.00–13.99 is “Mention assez bien,” meaning satisfactory.
