Like every year, high school students will take the written philosophy test first. Here are the topics covered last year, and all the information on this dreaded stage of the baccalaureate.
Like every year, French high school students will take the philosophy exam first, paving the way for a week of intense stress for the baccalaureate exam. The four-hour test takes the form of a written text and students have the choice between two essay topics and a text commentary. It’s one of the most feared by candidates, but here is all the information you need to know to prepare for it.
When will the philosophy test for the 2026 baccalaureate take place?
The philosophy test, the very first to be taken during the bac exam (if we put aside the anticipated tests planned in first class), will take place Monday June 15, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. This is the case for candidates for the general and technological baccalaureate. The professional baccalaureate does not provide for a philosophy test.
What is the coefficient for the philosophy test?
The general philosophy test has a coefficient of 8. In the technological way, the coefficient is 4.
What is the student assessed on during the philosophy baccalaureate?
What were the philosophy subjects for the general baccalaureate last year?
For the general baccalaureate, the dissertation subjects in 2025 were: “Does our future depend on technology? or, for the second subject: “Is the truth always convincing?“. The explanation of the text focused on an extract from John Rawls, Theory of justice (1971).
What were the philosophy subjects for the technological baccalaureate last year?
The 2025 baccalaureate candidates worked on the following two essay topics: “Are we free in all circumstances?” Or “Do we need art?“. The text commentary was on a text by Adam Smith, Theory of moral sentiments (1759).
If you choose philosophy for baccalaureate resits, the resit test consists of an explanation of the text presented orally by the candidate, followed by an interview with the examiner. The chosen text is part of the philosophical works studied in class during the year. The high school student has 20 minutes to prepare their text explanation, then presents their presentation to the examiner for 10 minutes, with a 10-minute interview to complete and develop the initial explanation.
