French system of studies

During my studies at university, I met several foreign students. Many of them were lost because they didn't understand the french system of studies. So read this lines carefully and you will understand because it's a little bit complicated.

In France, there are 5 cycles:
- La maternelle (infant school): for children of 3 years old to 5 years old, composed by 4 levels,
- Le primaire (first school): for children of 6 to 10 years old, composed by 5 levels,
- Le collège (junior high): for teenagers of 11 to 15 year old, composed by 4 levels,
- Le lycée (high school): for young of 16 to 18 years old, composed by 3 levels,
- L'université (college): for young adult aged of 18 years old and more.
There are blocks for every cycle. So Junior Hight and High School are not mixed for example.

To pass one level you have to manage your exam or you risk to repeat your schoolyear.

Contrary to our american friends, in France, we use numbers to grade homeworks. The high grade is 20. So if you have 10/20 you have managed your level! Félicitation!

For many french students, the most important exam is Baccalauréat. It's the final exam of High School. So if you manage the 3 levels of High School but you don't have 10/20 to Baccalauréat, you cannot go to College!