Internationally recognized exams worldwide

The Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB) is the first national exam in the French education system. It marks the end of collège (Year 10 / Grade 9) and certifies mastery of the core knowledge framework. Organised by the French Ministry of Education, it is the first official academic milestone in a student's career.

Abroad, approximately 27,000 students sit the Brevet each year in over 120 countries, through French schools abroad and accredited exam centres.

The Brevet consists of five exams:

• French (3h) — grammar, comprehension, dictation, essay
• Mathematics (2h) — exercises and problem-solving
• History-Geography & Civic Education (2h) — document analysis and structured paragraph
• Sciences (1h) — two subjects from Biology, Physics-Chemistry and Technology
• Oral presentation (15 min) — defence of a project completed during collège

Continuous assessment accounts for 400 points and final exams for 400 points, totalling 800 points.

The DNB is recognised as the basic education certificate of the French system. It is not mandatory for entry to lycée, but remains an important academic milestone. Abroad, it may be required for apprenticeship or vocational pathways from age 16.

In practice, the vast majority of students continue after the Brevet towards a general, technological or vocational Baccalauréat.

The Baccalauréat (or "Bac") is the French secondary-leaving diploma, the gateway to higher education. Established in 1808 and reformed in 2021, it assesses Terminale students through a balance of continuous assessment (40%) and final exams (60%).

Three tracks are available — general, technological and vocational — each tailored to different profiles and academic pathways.

Students follow a core curriculum and choose 2 to 3 specialisation subjects. Final exams include:

• Specialisation exams — written in spring of Terminale
• Philosophy — written exam in Terminale
• Grand oral — 20-minute presentation before a panel
• French — written and oral at the end of Première

The French Bac enjoys strong international recognition. It is accepted as equivalent to a High School Diploma in most countries. English-speaking universities often require a Mention Bien or Très Bien (Honours or High Honours) for competitive programmes.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) is a two-year programme founded in 1968 in Geneva, offered in over 6,000 schools worldwide. It is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous and prestigious secondary programmes, fostering critical thinking, intercultural awareness and independence.

Students study 6 subjects: 3 at Higher Level (HL) and 3 at Standard Level (SL). Three core elements complete the programme:

• Extended Essay — 4,000-word research paper
• Theory of Knowledge (TOK) — reflection on the nature of knowledge
• CAS — Creativity, Activity, Service

Total: 45 points. Pass threshold: 24 points. Global average: approximately 30 points.

The IB DP is recognised by over 4,500 universities in 110+ countries. University credits may be awarded for HL scores of 6 or 7. The IB alumni community exceeds 2.4 million people across 159 countries.

The GCSE is the national British exam for students aged 14–16, taken at the end of Year 11. Its international equivalent, the IGCSE, is developed by Cambridge Assessment and offered in over 150 countries.

Students choose from a wide range of subjects — sciences, mathematics, languages, arts, social sciences — and sit a mix of written, oral and practical exams.

• GCSE — national UK exam, graded 9 to 1 (9 being the highest) since the 2017 reform. Administered by AQA, OCR and Pearson Edexcel.
• IGCSE — international version, graded A* to G, administered by Cambridge (CAIE). Greater flexibility in subject choice.

Both are widely recognised by universities and employers worldwide. The IGCSE is particularly popular in international schools outside the UK.

GCSEs and IGCSEs are recognised by higher education institutions and employers worldwide. They provide the foundation for progression to A-Levels or the IB DP. Many international schools use the IGCSE as an intermediate step in their academic pathway.

A-Levels are the British secondary-leaving qualification, studied over two years (Year 12 and Year 13). Unlike the French Bac, A-Levels are based on deep specialisation: students choose 3 to 4 subjects which they study intensively.

This format makes A-Levels a strong preparation for higher education, where students stand out through deep mastery of their chosen fields.

• AS-Levels (Advanced Subsidiary) — cover the first year. Can serve as a standalone qualification, but no longer count towards the A-Level grade since the 2015 reform in England.
• A-Levels — full two-year course. Final exams in Year 13, results from A* to E determine university admission.

British universities issue conditional offers based on predicted A-Level grades — for example "AAB" for a competitive programme.

A-Levels are recognised by universities worldwide — not just in the UK. US, European, Australian and Asian universities accept them as an entry qualification. Cambridge International A-Levels, alongside the IB DP, are one of the two main pathways to higher education globally.

The SAT is a standardised test administered by the College Board, primarily used for US university admissions. Since 2024, the SAT has been fully digital and adaptive.

Although many US universities have adopted "test-optional" policies since 2020, a strong SAT score remains a significant advantage — particularly for scholarships and the most selective institutions.

The digital SAT consists of two sections:

• Reading & Writing — reading comprehension, grammar, text analysis
• Math — algebra, problem-solving, data analysis, geometry and trigonometry

Adaptive format: the difficulty of the second module adjusts based on first module performance. Total score: 400 to 1,600 points. Median score: approximately 1,050.

The SAT is offered in over 180 countries and accepted by thousands of universities in the US, Canada, the UK and beyond. For expat families targeting English-speaking higher education, targeted preparation can make all the difference in application competitiveness.

Advanced Placement (AP) exams are university-level courses offered in high school by the College Board. They enable students to earn university credits before entering university and send a strong signal of academic rigour to admissions teams.

Over 38 subjects available, covering sciences, mathematics, humanities, languages and arts. Exams in May, scored 1 to 5:

• 5 — Extremely well qualified
• 4 — Very well qualified
• 3 — Qualified (typical credit threshold)
• 2 — Possibly qualified
• 1 — No recommendation

The most selective universities typically require a 4 or 5.

AP exams are offered in over 100 countries and recognised by universities worldwide — not just in the US. In Canada, the UK and Australia, many universities grant exemptions or advanced credits for strong AP scores. For an expat student targeting a US university, APs are a strategic addition to the application.

The IELTS is the world's most widely recognised English language test, co-developed by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge. Two versions: IELTS Academic (higher education and regulated professions) and IELTS General Training (immigration and general employment).

Four skills assessed:

• Listening (30 min) — comprehension from recordings
• Reading (60 min) — academic or general text comprehension
• Writing (60 min) — two writing tasks
• Speaking (11–14 min) — face-to-face interview with an examiner

Each skill scored 1 to 9 (9 = expert user). Overall score is the average. Universities typically require between 6.0 and 7.5. Results valid for 2 years.

IELTS is accepted by over 11,000 organisations in 140+ countries — universities, employers, immigration bodies and professional regulators. It is the benchmark test for admissions in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. For francophone expat families, IELTS preparation often becomes a key priority from Year 11 onwards.

The DELF is an official diploma issued by the French Ministry of Education, certifying French language proficiency for non-native speakers. It covers levels A1 to B2 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). For C1 and C2 levels, the corresponding diploma is the DALF.

Unlike IELTS, the DELF is valid for life.

Four skills assessed:

• Listening comprehension
• Reading comprehension
• Written production
• Oral production — interview with an examiner

Total score out of 100 points (25 per section). Minimum required: 50/100 with at least 5/25 per section. A DELF Scolaire/Junior version is specifically designed for teenagers.

The DELF is recognised in over 175 countries, administered through more than 1,200 exam centres worldwide. It is often required for enrolment at francophone universities, immigration procedures to France, Belgium, Canada or Switzerland, and certain professional contexts. For expat children schooled in non-French curricula, the DELF is a valuable way to certify their French proficiency.