The 2026 patent calendar is now set. Third college students know the days selected for written and oral tests. Here is what awaits them, with the new rules in force.
In June 2026, third students will once again pass the national patent diplomaexamination which marks the end of college and entry to high school. Since 2025, several developments have changed its organization: the terminal events have gained more weight in the final note, and the history-geography is now evaluated separately from moral and civic education. On the other hand, contrary to what had been mentioned for a time, the patent did not become a compulsory condition to access in the second: the decision continues to depend on the class council at the end of the third.
What are the dates of the 2026 patent?
For the 2026 session, the written tests of the national patent diploma will take place Friday 26, Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 June 2026. College students absent for valid reasons will have a Replacement session on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September 2026.
As for the individual candidates, they will also have to compose the lively foreign language test, scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, 2026 for the normal session and Friday September 11, 2026 for the catch -up session.
What is the average to be admitted to the patent?
For candidates under school status, The average to obtain the college certificate is 400 points. Indeed, the national patent diploma is evaluated on a total of 800 points : 400 points are granted to continuous control for the assessment of the base and 400 points in the final tests. For students in international or Franco-German sections, the patent diploma is evaluated on 900 points. As for individual candidates, the evaluation is made over 400 points.
The various patent tests and continuous control are evaluated in a certain number of points. Here is the details of the points by teaching:
Evaluation of the base in continuous monitoring
- 10 points if the candidate obtains the level “insufficient mastery”
- 25 points if it obtains the level “fragile mastery”
- 40 points if it obtains the “satisfactory control” level
- 50 points if it obtains the “very good mastery” level.
The assessment of the final tests
- French test on 100 points
- Mathematical test on 100 points
- History-geography test, moral and civic teaching on 50 points
- Science test (average of the averages of the first two quarters of the three disciplines) on 50 points.
- Oral patent test (100 points)
What is the new mention of the patent?
As with the baccalaureate, the college student can have a Mention to the patent. And since 2025, a whole new mention has been introduced. This is the Mention “very good with congratulations from the jury” With a final average equivalent to 18 out of 20. Remember that students who get the average (400 points out of 800 or just a little more), have the patent, but without mention.
- Mention quite well: at least equal to 480 points out of 800.
- Mention well: at least equal to 560 points out of 800.
- Mention very well: if you have more than 640 points out of 800.
- Mention very well with mention of the jury: if you have at least 720 points out of 800 (or 360 points out of 400 for free candidates).
