better than concorde?

Better than Concorde?

The International Version of the French Baccalaureate (OIB)

Who are we? Where do we come from?

St Germain-en-Laye, France

James CathcartJames CathcartCoordinator of University Coordinator of University Applications,Applications,History Teacher,History Teacher,OIB examinerOIB examiner

Nicholas BakerNicholas BakerDeputy Head,Deputy Head,National Subject Leader National Subject Leader OIB EnglishOIB English

The structure of today’s talk:

• Defining the OIB

• Background: the French Baccalaureate

• The OIB: the Cambridge A level component

• The OIB ‘student profile’

• The future of the OIB

• Making offers: recommendations

The OIB =

French Baccalaureate

Cambridge

A-Level standard components in– English Language

& Literature– History-

Geography

+

The French ‘Bac’: a broad educational philosophy

• Each stream of the Bac, despite its particular focus, includes:– French Literature (written & oral exams taken in Year 12)– An ‘Extended Project’ (independent research)– Mathematics– Science – History-Geography (taught as one subject)– At least one Modern Language– Philosophy (introduced in Year 13)– Sport

• Since entry to university is not selective, schools do not tend to be ‘results driven’

One Bac, three streams

S: Sciences– Physics-

Chemistry– Life & Earth

Sciences– Further

Mathematics

ES: Social & Economic Sciences– Social &

Economic Science

– Extra Mathematics (Statistics & Probability)

L: Languages & Literature– Advanced

French Literature

– Advanced Philosophy

– Written exams in at least two Modern Languages

Establishing a hierarchy of subjects: ‘Coefficients’S Co-

efficient ES Co-

efficient L Co-

efficient Mathematics 7 Social and

Economic Science

7 French Literature

9

Physics/Chemistry 6 Mathematics 5 Philosophy 7 Life and Earth Sciences

6 History-Geography

5

English Literature

4

French Literature 4 French Literature

4 History-Geography

4

English Literature 3

Philosophy 4 Modern Language II

4

History-Geography

3

English Literature

3

Modern Language III

4

Philosophy 3 Modern Language II

3 Extended Project

2

Modern Language II

2 Extended Project

2 Science 2

Extended Project 2 Science 2 Mathematics 2 Sport 2 Sport 2 Sport 2

Examination Results• The overall Baccalaureate result is an aggregate of all marks

awarded in all examinations taken• The overall result is calculated according to the subject

coefficients (weightings) for each stream • The ‘relevé de notes’ lists the marks awarded for each

subject and the overall mark• All results are published as a mark out of 20 (‘x/20’)• A hierarchy of ‘honours classes’ exists for overall results:

– 10-11.99/20 Passable – 12-13.99/20 Mention Assez Bien – 14-15.99/20 Mention Bien – 16-20/20 Mention Très Bien

National Baccalaureate Results (2006)

% Mention

Très Bien,

16-20

% Mention

Bien,

14-15.99

% Mention

Assez Bien,

12-13.99

%

Passable,

10-11.99

2,9 10 27,3 43.5

Comparison with A Level

15,36

2,9

12,9

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2006

% o

f can

did

ates

Candidates achieving 3 Asat A Level

Candidates achieving 16+in French bac

Candidates achieving 14+in French bac

The OIB: an Anglo-French Partnership

• French Ministry of Education

• University of Cambridge International Examinations, part of the Cambridge Assessment Group (UCLES)

The Cambridge ‘A-level’ component

• A-level-standard exams in:– English Language & Literature – History & Geography

• Written and Oral exams taken in English

• Taken by students in all three Baccalaureate streams

Origins & Purpose

• Launched at Lycée International de St Germain-en-Laye in 1985

• To give bilingual students an integrated matriculation qualification to allow them equal access to French & British higher education

• To respect and nurture bi-culturalism

Philosophy

• Bilingualism (English language): allows ease in anglophone environment (academic or professional)

• Biculturalism (English Literature & History-Geography): inside & in-depth knowledge of two cultures (& educational cultures)

Standards & Quality Control

• Cambridge Subject Inspectors ensure that A-Level standards are maintained in terms of both– Examinable content – Assessment

• French Bac + A-level: matriculation standard in UK and France assured by national authorities

• Negates need for ESL/EFL qualification

The OIB’s ‘co-efficients’S Co-

efficient ES Co-

efficient L Co-

efficient English Literature

9 (3 for non-OIB)

History-Geography

9 (5 for non-OIB)

English Literature

10 (4 for non-OIB)

Mathematics 7 English Literature

9 (3 for non-OIB)

French Literature

9

History-Geography

7 (3 for non-OIB)

Social and Economic Science

7 History-Geography

8 (4 for non-OIB)

Physics/Chemistry 6 Mathematics 5 Philosophy 7 Life and Earth Sciences

6 French Literature

4 Modern Language II

4

French Literature 4 Philosophy 4 Modern Language III

4

Philosophy 3 Modern 3 Extended 2

Practical consequences for students taking the OIB

• 4 hours extra lessons per week (+ significant extra homework)

• Up to 40 hours of lessons per week

OIB ‘student profile’• OIB students are

– Prepared for UK university education: educated to think, discuss, write & research in A-level style

– Equally prepared for French university

• They also tend to be:– Academically strong– Highly motivated & ambitious – Effective in managing heavy work load – Intellectually flexible– Multi-lingual– Independent (Extended Project)– Culturally mobile, international in outlook

– Busy: they have little time for extra-curricular activities

• Some have IGCSEs (but only English, History & possibly Maths)

• 100% go on to higher education

Typical OIB university destinations

• UK (often Russell group, but increasing variety)

• France: classes préparatoires, grandes écoles

• Canada (McGill)

• USA (Ivy league)

The OIB schools

• 23 schools in France & Belgium (21 entering students for examination in 2009)

• Predominantly French state international schools

Success & growth

• 2001 12 schools: 285 candidates

• 2009 21 schools: 686 candidates

• The future– French policy of continued growth for OIB

– Effective Anglo-French partnership

– Well-organised & dynamic community of schools

– Heavy demand for bilingual education in France

Making Offers: recommendations• OIB offers should be lower than those for the standard French

Baccalaureate to reflect

– Recognition of the demands of the OIB compared with the standard French Baccalaureate

– The particular suitability of OIB graduates for higher education in the UK

• A Mention Bien (14/20) is the rough equivalent of 3 As at A Level (OIB Handbook, Cambridge Assessment)

• English Language Proficiency tests are not required

Making Offers: possible approaches

1. Overall offer only

2. Overall offer & conditions in key subjects• Overall offer

• Conditions in relevant subjects

NB - Philosophy is an unreliable indicator

Making offers: equivalences

UK GCE Advanced

Level grades

French Baccalaureate

equivalence (overall average, plus this score in

specified subjects)

Option International

(overall average, plus this score in

specified subjects)

AAA 15 14 AAB 14 13 ABB 14 13 BBB 13 12 BBC 13 12 BCC 12 11 CCC 11 11

source: Bristol source: Bristol University web University web sitesite