French Middle Schools Shine in National Exam Rankings

A new exclusive ranking reveals that certain middle schools, particularly private institutions, are excelling in France's national exams.

The 2026 "brevet" exams, taken by over 850,000 students from June 26 to June 30, mark a significant shift in how results are calculated. Written tests in French, history-geography-EMC, science, and mathematics will now account for 60% of the final grade, an increase from the previous 50/50 split with continuous assessment. This change means written performance will carry more weight in determining a student's overall success.

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We will perhaps have 75% success (compared to 85.5% last year) with many fewer distinctions.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray has cautioned that this adjustment could lead to a general decrease in average scores. He noted that students can no longer rely on prior assessments to secure a passing grade, predicting a potential drop in the pass rate from 85.5% last year to around 75% for 2026, with fewer students achieving honors.

The official results for the 2026 brevet exams are scheduled for release between July 8 and 10.

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Students can no longer come to the written exams 'having already passed it'.