Tests in June, digitalization of copies, internships for high school students… What you need to know about the progress of the 2024 baccalaureate

The return of the tests in June brings several challenges for the 2024 edition of the baccalaureate. It will be necessary to digitize a record number of copies in a few days, but also to deal with the organization of the compulsory internship for second-year students.

This is the final stretch for thousands of high school students before the baccalaureate exams which will begin in a little over a week, on June 18, with the philosophy test. In total, nearly 730,000 candidates will fill the exam rooms this year, a figure up slightly compared to last year.

Among them, we will notably include the youngest candidate in history with a 9-year-old student registered as a free candidate in the Strasbourg academy. The oldest candidate this year will be 76 years old.

Three million copies to digitize

The main novelty this year is the return of the specialty tests in June. Last year, students took these tests in March. Result: many chose to end the year by playing truant. For 2024, therefore, return to the classic calendar with all the events which will take place at the same time.

This change entails a logistical challenge since for two years all of the students’ copies have been digitized to be transferred to an online platform intended to facilitate the work of correctors. However, this year, more than three million copies will be scanned in a few days, something new.

Internships to find… and high school students to supervise

While he was Minister of National Education, Gabriel Attal decided to establish a professional internship for second-year students. Announced in September 2023, this new compulsory internship of two weeks, from June 17 to 28, must be carried out in a company, in an association or in a public service. It was put in place so that second year students in general and technological streams do not go on vacation before the end of the school year. While he was Minister of Education, Gabriel Attal had indeed wanted to tackle a “true reconquest of the month of June”.

However, the unions have been warning for several days about the large number of high school students who have not yet managed to obtain such an internship. With all the bac exams taking place at the same time, there will not be many teachers left to supervise those who have not found an internship and will be forced to stay in high school.

The ministry, however, wants to be reassuring and assures that, according to the very first reports, 70% of second year students have already signed their internship agreement. He also specifies that there will be workshops for others to follow on an online platform dedicated to orientation or the possibility of going to the CDI of their establishment.