what do the french call homework

French translation of 'homework'

Video: pronunciation of homework

Examples of 'homework' in a sentence homework

Trends of homework.

View usage for: All Years Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

Browse alphabetically homework

• homeward bound
• homeward journey
• homework club
• homeworking
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'H'

Related terms of homework

• a homework assignment
• my geography homework
• to do one’s homework
• to do one’s homework on sth
• View more related words

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

Wordle Helper

Scrabble Tools

What is "Homework" in French and how to say it?

Les devoirs, more study routine vocabulary in french, example sentences, learn the word for "homework" in 45 more languages., other interesting topics in french, ready to learn french, language drops is a fun, visual language learning app. learn french free today..

• Drops for Business
• Visual Dictionary (Word Drops)
• Recommended Resources
• Redeem Gift
• Join Our Translator Team
• Help and FAQ

Drops Courses

French Classroom Commands – Phrases For Teachers & Students

Whether you’re a student learning how to speak French or a classroom teacher you’ll definitely want to learn some useful classroom commands and expressions. This list includes common phrases and vocabulary words for both teachers and students. 

Phrases for teachers

Homework, assignments.

• Where is your paper? Où est votre papier ?
• Turn in your homework. Rendez vos devoirs.
• Who wants to correct the work? Qui veux corriger le travail ?
• Make the corrections. Faites les corrections.
• Did you finish? Vous avez fini?
• Good job! C’est bien! Bravo !

During the class

• Show me . Montrez-moi .
• Repeat. Répétez !
• Repeat three times. Répétez trois fois.
• Take your book. Prenez votre livre.
• Open your book to page __ . Ouvrez votre livre à la page __.
• Close your books. Fermez vos livres.
• Do you understand? Vous comprenez…?
• What does that mean? Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire?
• Raise your hand. Levez la main.
• Look at the blackboard. Regardez le tableau noir.
• Take a sheet of paper. Prenez une feuille de papier.
• Read __ . Lisez __ .
• Listen and repeat. Écoutez et répétez.
• Write this word. Écrivez ce mot.
• Spell this word, sentence. Épelez ce mot, cette phrase.
• You understand this word, sentence? Vous comprenez ce mot, cette phrase ?
• How do you say _ in French? Comment on dit _ en français ?
• I’ll explain the word. J’explique le mot.
• Speak louder. Parlez plus fort.
• Ask the question. P osez la question.
• Who can reply/answer? Qui peut répondre?
• What’s the right answer? Quelle est la bonne réponse?
• Who can answer? Qui peut répondre?
• Who wants to read aloud? Qui veut lire à voix haute ?
• Do the exercise. Faites l’exercise.
• Work alone. Travaillez seul.
• Work with a partner, in pairs. Travaillez deux par deux.
• Work in small groups. Travaillez en petits groupes.
• Sit down! Asseyez-vous !
• Who’s absent (not in class)? Qui est absent ?
• Pay attention! Faites attention !
• Leave the room! Sortez de la salle !
• Silence! Silence !
• Stand up! On your feet! Levez-vous ! Debout !
• Shut up at the back of the class! Taisez-vous au fond de la classe !

Phrases for students

Relating to homework.

• Here’s my homework. Voici mes devoirs.
• I forgot my homework. J’ai oublié mes devoirs.
• I haven’t done my homework. Je n’ai pas fait mes devoirs.
• My dog ate my homework. Mon chien a mangé mes devoirs.

During class

• What page? Quelle page
• Where’s my textbook. Où est mon manuel scolaire.
• I lost my notebook. J’ai perdu mon cahier.
• I don’t have a book, a pen. Je n’ai pas de livre, de stylo
• How do you write this word? Comment écrit-on ce mot ?
• How do you say _ in French? Comment dit-on _ en français?
• I’m having a hard time ___ . J’ai du mal à ___.
• Can you teach ? Pouvez-vous enseigner ?
• I already learned this word. J’ai déjà appris ce mot.
• What does that mean? Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire ?
• I don’t understand. Je ne comprends pas.
• I understand. Je comprends.
• How do you pronounce this word? Comment prononce-t-on ce mot?
• Could you repeat, please? Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ?
• You’re speaking to fast. Vous parlez trop vite.
• Speak slower. Parlez moins vite.

Related lesson:

• vocabulary for the school
• names of school subjects
• conversation lesson covering school

More resources:

• Classroom instructions (printouts)

Sharing is caring!

Affiliate disclosure: Below you will find affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking the link, we will receive a small commission. To learn more please visit our full disclosure page . Merci!

Read our full review of À Moi Paris and find out why we love it so much!

Read our full review of French Verb Drills and find out why we recommend this course!

David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language enthusiast. His head is swimming with words and sounds as he speaks over six languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private online lessons. When procrastinating working on his site, FrenchLearner.com, David enjoys his time skiing and hiking in Teton Valley, Idaho.

See all posts by David Issokson

• Slovenščina
• FAQ Technical Questions
• Text Translation
• Vocabulary Trainer
• Online Dictionary
•   Login
• Online dictionary
• Products & Shop
• Conjugation

Vocabulary trainer

• Dictionary API
• Add to home screen
• Browse the dictionaries
• Terms and conditions of use
• Supply chain
• Data Protection Declaration
• Legal notice
• Privacy Settings
• Haitian Creole
• German Learner's Dictionary
• Dictionary of German Spelling
•   Search in both directions
•   Change language direction

My search history

Homework in the oxford-hachette french dictionary, homework in the pons dictionary, homework examples from the pons dictionary (editorially verified), monolingual examples (not verified by pons editors), translations for homework in the english » french dictionary (go to french » english ), homework [ brit ˈhəʊmwəːk, am ˈhoʊmˌwərk] n.

•  Show synonyms for homework.
•  Send us feedback

1. homework SCHOOL :

•  Preselect for export to vocabulary trainer
•  View selected vocabulary

2. homework (research) :

Homework diary n.

•  Show synonyms for homework diary.

Translations for homework in the French » English Dictionary (Go to English » French )

1. homework (work after school) :, 2. homework (paid work done at home) :.

Would you like to add some words, phrases or translations?

Browse the dictionary

• homeward-bound
• home waters
• homework diary
• homeworking

Look up "homework" in other languages

Links to further information.

You can suggest improvements to this PONS entry here:

We are using the following form field to detect spammers. Please do leave them untouched. Otherwise your message will be regarded as spam. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

How can I copy translations to the vocabulary trainer?

• Collect the vocabulary that you want to remember while using the dictionary. The items that you have collected will be displayed under "Vocabulary List".
• If you want to copy vocabulary items to the vocabulary trainer, click on "Import" in the vocabulary list.

Please note that the vocabulary items in this list are only available in this browser. Once you have copied them to the vocabulary trainer, they are available from everywhere.

• Most popular
• English ⇄ German
• English ⇄ Slovenian
• German ⇄ Spanish
• German ⇄ French
• German ⇄ Greek
• German ⇄ Polish
• Arabic ⇄ English
• Arabic ⇄ German
• Bulgarian ⇄ English
• Bulgarian ⇄ German
• Chinese ⇄ English
• Chinese ⇄ French
• Chinese ⇄ German
• Chinese ⇄ Spanish
• Croatian ⇄ German
• Czech ⇄ German
• Danish ⇄ German
• Dutch ⇄ German
• Elvish ⇄ German
• English ⇄ Arabic
• English ⇄ Bulgarian
• English ⇄ Chinese
• English ⇄ French
• English ⇄ Italian
• English ⇄ Polish
• English ⇄ Portuguese
• English ⇄ Russian
• English → Serbian
• English ⇄ Spanish
• Finnish ⇄ German
• French ⇄ Chinese
• French ⇄ English
• French ⇄ German
• French ⇄ Italian
• French ⇄ Polish
• French ⇄ Slovenian
• French ⇄ Spanish
• German ⇄ Arabic
• German ⇄ Bulgarian
• German ⇄ Chinese
• German ⇄ Croatian
• German ⇄ Czech
• German ⇄ Danish
• German ⇄ Dutch
• German ⇄ Elvish
• German ⇄ English
• German ⇄ Finnish
• German ⇄ Hungarian
• German → Icelandic
• German ⇄ Italian
• German ⇄ Japanese
• German ⇄ Latin
• German ⇄ Norwegian
• German ⇄ Persian
• German ⇄ Portuguese
• German ⇄ Romanian
• German ⇄ Russian
• German → Serbian
• German ⇄ Slovakian
• German ⇄ Slovenian
• German ⇄ Swedish
• German ⇄ Turkish
• Greek ⇄ German
• Hungarian ⇄ German
• Italian ⇄ English
• Italian ⇄ French
• Italian ⇄ German
• Italian ⇄ Polish
• Italian ⇄ Slovenian
• Italian ⇄ Spanish
• Japanese ⇄ German
• Latin ⇄ German
• Norwegian ⇄ German
• Persian ⇄ German
• Polish ⇄ English
• Polish ⇄ French
• Polish ⇄ German
• Polish ⇄ Italian
• Polish ⇄ Russian
• Polish ⇄ Spanish
• Portuguese ⇄ English
• Portuguese ⇄ German
• Portuguese ⇄ Spanish
• Romanian ⇄ German
• Russian ⇄ English
• Russian ⇄ German
• Russian ⇄ Polish
• Slovakian ⇄ German
• Slovenian ⇄ English
• Slovenian ⇄ French
• Slovenian ⇄ German
• Slovenian ⇄ Italian
• Slovenian ⇄ Spanish
• Spanish ⇄ Chinese
• Spanish ⇄ English
• Spanish ⇄ French
• Spanish ⇄ German
• Spanish ⇄ Italian
• Spanish ⇄ Polish
• Spanish ⇄ Portuguese
• Spanish ⇄ Slovenian
• Swedish ⇄ German
• Turkish ⇄ German

Identified ad region: ALL Identified country code: RU -->

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

French Homework Help: 10 Essential Resources to Help Finish Your Assignment

Au secours! (Help!)

Do you ever find yourself mentally screaming this while struggling to complete your French homework?

Ever get overwhelmed with your assignments and wish that someone—anyone!—would just step in and make the French murkiness a little clearer?

To help you out with this, we’ve compiled the 10 best online resources to get French homework help quickly. So read on, and then try out a couple next time you’re confused or stuck.

1. Bescherelle

2. larousse, 3. bonpatron, 4. alloprof, 5. verbling, 6. 24houranswers, 7. wordreference, 8. french language stack exchange, 9. tex’s french grammar, 10. le conjugueur, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Summary: Well known grammar and conjugation help source

If you’ve ever attended an in-person French class, there’s a good chance you’ve already seen or heard of this first resource. Bescherelle is better known for its written counterpart, a guide to hundreds of verbs in the French language, but you don’t have to run to the bookstore just yet. Bescherelle is also available online!

Bescherelle   conjugates almost every verb imaginable into any tense imaginable. That means that you can look up any verb and find it in all verb tenses and participles . Additionally, you can get the verb conjugations in both the active and passive voice: an excellent resource for when you’re completing upper-level French papers that require you to write impersonally.

Further, when you search for a verb, you can find out whether it’s regular or irregular and you’ll even see other verbs that are conjugated with the same verb ending pattern.

In addition to the conjugator, the Bescherelle website includes  dictées (dictations) for you to practice your listening and writing skills, quizzes about verbs and their tenses as well as other grammar points such as nouns and adjectives. If you’re feeling energized, Bescherelle also has a selection of French-learning games .

Summary: Accurate and nuanced word definitions

Larousse is a famous French dictionary that’s also available online. That means you can search any French word you’d like and get an in-depth look at its meaning, not just a one-word translation that may miss the meaning entirely (I’m looking at you, Google Translate!).

The dictionary itself offers many resources for French learners and for French homework help. First, Larousse has a monolingual French edition so you can look up words and see their definitions in French. Larousse also has bilingual editions for many other languages. Larousse can translate words into English, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese and Arabic from French and vice versa.

In addition to its dictionaries,  Larousse offers a verb conjugator similar to that of Bescherelle. While it’s not as in-depth as Bescherelle’s, it gets the job done for quick searches of common conjugations. Further,  Larousse has an awesome encyclopedia to be used for French essays or other projects .

Finally, Larousse offers forums for people to post questions, which can be helpful if you’ve got a specific question about your French homework (more on getting those answered below).

Summary: Accurate online grammar and spell checker

For those who need a complete revision of French written compositions and not just simple word look-ups and verb conjugations,  BonPatron  is the holy grail! BonPatron  is an online French grammar and spell checker extraordinaire!

Let’s say you’ve been tasked with writing a paragraph or essay for your French course. You’ve looked up all the words you didn’t know and verified all the conjugations, and to be honest, you’re feeling pretty good about it.

But wait! Before you hand your work in, you should make sure everything is correct. Simply paste your French written work into the BonPatron  checker, and the service will find all your spelling and grammar errors for free. It’ll even give you necessary corrections as well as a small explanation for any mistakes you’ve made.

But it gets better: if the grammatical explanations don’t clarify the error for you,  BonPatron  also offers short tutorials on different aspects of French grammar.

Summary: Text and telephone connection to French Canadian speakers

Our first resource for personalized homework help is called  Alloprof,  a website from Québec that offers students a wealth of resources.

On  Alloprof , there are two services where students can connect directly with French educators to get answers to their questions or access personalized French homework help.

The first is called t exto  (text message) , a service where students can text their questions and receive text message answers. The second service is called  téléphonique  (by telephone) , where students can call in their questions and receive one-on-one, over-the-phone support.

Both services are available Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. That’s great because those are prime homework hours, but it can also force you to plan ahead (no last-minute homework help right before your morning class!).

Alloprof has a handful of other fun, independent practice tools , too.

You can access interactive exercises to help you review and practice grammar and vocabulary skills. Topics range from French grammatical explanations to history, science and mathematics.  Alloprof  also has a virtual library where students can access texts as well as a forum for students to communicate with other French learners.

This is perfect for asking informal French questions and getting answers from peers who may be studying the same material.

Summary: Excellent place to find good tutors and teachers

Verbling is a service that connects French learners to French teachers and tutors all around the world . If you’re stumped on your homework and need an expert to identify the learning block, Verbling is a super handy resource. Simply log on and pick a tutor that you like best.

All the language teachers are native speakers. You’ll find a short summary of the tutor’s specialities and get a feel for who they are personally. You can also access ratings from previous students so you can find the best educator to meet your needs. Verbling displays tutors’ rates right upfront so you know how much you’d be paying.

Verbling even uses its own virtual “classroom” set-up , where you can upload files and notes alongside a video chat. That’s perfect for quickly showing your tutor the class materials you’re having trouble with, or sharing your work so they can give you feedback.

Summary: Emergency help any time of the day or night

Like Verbling, 24houranswers connects French learners with tutors and teachers all around the world. 24houranswers has homework help for many subjects, but for French homework help, it focuses on the language at the college level , and as their name suggests, they’re available 24 hours a day .

Many of the tutors and teachers from 24houranswers are actual college professors or other education professionals . Their services include online face-to-face tutoring as well as written solutions. For example, you can submit a written assignment and receive feedback on the assignment—just be careful to leave enough turnaround time for your tutor, so you don’t hand in an assignment late.

In addition to their in-person support, you can browse their online library of previously solved French homework questions to see if your question has already been asked and answered.

Summary: Excellent dictionary and active online forums

WordReference is like your friendly online language buddy that’s perfect for French homework help.

It’s not just your regular dictionary–it’s like a language wizard that gives you not only translations but also cool explanations , real-life examples and even a forum where you can chat with others about tricky words.

So, when you’re scratching your head over that French assignment, WordReference and the many who are active on its message boards could provide the help you need.

Summary: Online forum where you can ask other learners questions

French Language Stack Exchange is like a cozy virtual cafe where French enthusiasts gather.

Imagine you’re stuck on a tricky French homework question—instead of feeling lost, you can pop into this online spot and ask for help. It’s not just a Q&A— it’s like having a group of friends who love French as much as you do.

They share tips, tricks and their own experiences, making those confusing parts of French class feel way less daunting. So, next time you’re puzzled, French Language Stack Exchange is the friendly table where answers and insights flow like great conversation. 

Summary: Easy to understand grammar lessons

Tex’s French Grammar is your friendly language mentor, ready to unravel the mysteries of French homework. Think of it as having a patient teacher who breaks down grammar rules into bite-sized pieces that make sense.

It’s not about dry lessons—it’s like having a conversation with someone who gets you. Tex’s Grammar doesn’t just throw rules at you—it explains why they matter and gives you examples that light up the “aha” moments. So, when French assignments seem like a puzzle, Tex’s French Grammar steps in to help you put the pieces together and ace that homework. 

Summary: Excellent and reliable verb conjugation charts

This site by popular French language newspaper  Le Figaro  is a great online resource for French students who are looking for help with verb conjugations.

It’s a super accurate conjugation tool that allows you to conjugate verbs in various tenses, moods and persons. It’s particularly useful for students who are working on grammar exercises or assignments that involve verb conjugations. You can enter a verb and see its conjugation presented in a clear and organized format.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Try FluentU for FREE!

Your call for help has been answered! Go forth and finish that French homework (with help, of course)!

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

Voice speed

Text translation, source text, translation results, document translation, drag and drop.

Website translation

Enter a URL

Image translation

School in France

by John Elkhoury | Learning French , Life in France | 17 comments

What is school like in France? I find that a lot of French-language students know little to nothing about their French counterparts. Since I worked in a French high school, we’re going to talk about the French school system!

After reading this article you should be able to answer:

• What do French students eat for lunch?
• What are the grade levels called in France?
• What is le bac?
• How do teachers grade assignments?
• What is it like to go to university in France?

The French Educational System

The French educational system is a bit different than that of the U.S, the UK, or Canada. So let’s cover it! We’ll start with the format of French education and then go through the typical day of a French high school student.

ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOLING

Students in France can start going to school by time they’re 2-3 years old. Sixteen years of education is compulsory in France. While the French have a similar schooling format to the United States, the names of the grade levels are COMPLETELY different.

During the elementary years, French students learn the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Social skills are pushed as well.

Le diplôme national du brevet (simply referred to as le brevet ) is the first diploma students are required to complete at the end of collège . It’s composed of an oral portion and three written exams on subjects like French, history/geography, math, the arts, and civics.

LIFE OF A FRENCH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

When students enter high school they can choose between a professional, technical or a standard specialization. The ultimate goal is to sit and pass a massive exam given at the end of 12th grade. This exam is known as le baccalauréat (oftentimes called le bac ), a powerful diploma in France which helps students further their undergraduate education or start working in their profession.

Kids are pushed at a young age to decide what area of expertise they would like for their future. Their classes are then tailored to their decided “major.” For the general diploma students can choose between economics / business , literature & the arts, or sciences.

THE TYPICAL DAY OF A FRENCH HIGH SCHOOLER

High school in France usually begins at 8:30AM (8h30) and classes can go all the way until 5-6PM in the afternoon. Students commute to school via bike, car, bus, or train. Because schools are centralized, some students live hours away while others only need a 15-minute walk. For this reason, students wake up at around 6:30 – 7AM to get ready for their school day.

Those who live far away tend to rent boarding (dorms) from the high school at a low cost. It’s not uncommon for French students to live on school grounds during the weekdays and return back home for holidays or weekends.

While the French school day may be longer than that of the States – French students have an OPEN schedule . Classes are blocked off into hour segments. Sometimes students will get two or three hours of free time. They are allowed to leave campus for lunch and only need to be at school for their courses. This means that if your first class for Thursday starts at 10AM, then you don’t need to be at school until 10. It also means that if your last class on Friday is at noon, then you’re free to leave at noon!

In French high schools, 25 students who specialize in the same subject (business, literature, etc) are given the same courses with each other throughout the day. So if Paul, Sandra, and Marc specialize in science AND they’re placed into a “class” together – they will follow each other all day.

French Student’s Schedule – photo by me

However, schedules do differ a bit because students may choose different foreign languages or take extra “advanced” courses known as EURO classes.

Class sizes varied. Most of the classes I’ve encountered had about 20-30 students. Classrooms varied from high tech computer labs to standard rooms with a projector, blackboard, and desks.

All French students are required to learn one or two foreign languages. There is an emphasis on English – which many students end up learning. Other options include Spanish, Italian, German, Latin or Chinese. By time CM2 (5th grade), students should have A1-level skills with one foreign language. While foreign language education sounds great, only a few French students retain their foreign language skills far into adulthood.

Other courses required? Math, science, reading & writing, as well as philosophy and workshops (for professional students).

Unlike the United States, there are little to no “extra-curricular” programs, sports, or activities organized by the school for the afternoon.

GRADING / MARKING IN FRANCE

Exams and courses are graded on a scale from 0-20 in France.

Zero is a horrendous score saved for those who fail to complete the assignment while twenty is a mystical high-point that few ever achieve. In France, a 10 is average, and depending on the student – that may be a GREAT grade! If you score over 16 on an assignment, it’s amazing. Most kids pass their classes at around an 11 or 12. Some finish with a 13. The exceptional students earn anywhere from 15 – 17 out of 20.

While exams or classes use the 0-20 scale, smaller in-class assignments (or homework) may be graded differently. Instead of 20 full points these could be assigned five or ten points. In this case a 5/5 is stellar while a 3/5 would mean “satisfactory work.”

Instructors have the flexibility to decide the “worth” of assignments. This is because students are given a global grade out of 20 by time the year ends – regardless of whether there were ten assignments or fifty.

Redoublement a.k.a RETAKING THE YEAR!?

Failing the year and being left behind is common in France. According to Wikipedia, 38% of French students under the age of 15 have been held back at least once. Studies show that holding students back may not be effective at helping academic success.

When I helped French students in their English classes – these problem students could be spotted. I hold a belief that lazy language students never succeed and felt as though this explained some of their failure.

SCHOOL LUNCHES IN FRANCE

Lunch is usually served from 11AM until 1:30 / 2PM. The school I went to charged just over 4 euros for lunch.

Lunch featured your choice of veggies and fruit, one dessert item and one dairy item. There would be two main meals to choose from and usually these were meat-based although occasionally they offered a vegetarian option. There wasn’t any juice or soda to drink, just water. School lunch varies by school, but this seemed to be a common configuration.

The food at school was mostly generic but it had a “French flair.” Pasta, rice, couscous or potatoes were a staple of every meal. The meat typically had a sauce and would vary from fish to chicken, pork, or beef.

Students also had the option to eat off the premises. While some students returned home for lunch, others preferred quick meals. Around lunch-time the local restaurants, bars, and cafés would be flooded with kids. Many would grab sandwiches, burgers, “tacos” or kebabs – all served with a large helping of fries.

SURVIVING LE BAC

Le Bac is a very difficult exam at the end of “terminale” or 12th grade.

This global exam covers multiple subjects: from philosophy and French to the sciences, maths, physical education, foreign languages, or history/geography.

Essentially, EACH COURSE gives their students a difficult oral or written exam, assignment, or project. The composite score of every class final creates a global Bac score. The total weighted average of all your final exams must be over 10/20 to complete high school and earn your Baccalauréat. Students who earn 12, 14, 16, 18, or 20 points are all awarded honors.

Exams may be graded by the student’s own teacher or a teacher from another institution. What makes the exam stressful is that it can cover any topic from the entire year.

Oral exams force students to present material on the spot , usually without prior preparation or notes. Most oral exams have a “jury” of 2-5 teachers, each one grading the student according to a set criteria.

Written exams last for hours.

Final projects or internships take weeks or months to complete and the work is heavily scrutinized.

The final exams are weighted differently depending on your specialization. Students who specialized in science, for example, would take biology or chemistry for their Bac. Their bio and chemistry exam scores would then contribute MORE to their overall Bac score than it would for a literature or business student.

But how much more?

Sometimes the score is multiplied by a coefficient of 20. This means that your biology score may be worth 20 times more than your score on your English exam. Hence, business student place more emphasis on their upcoming marketing final while those in literature would cram for their French literature exam.

Once a student takes all of their final exams – the grades are calculated and compiled. The exam scores are released across the nation on the same summer day. Students return to school, in droves, to find their final results posted outside of the school for all to see. This event alone makes national television each and every year.

French students who pass are merry. They compare grades, high-five one another, or call their parents. Those who scored between 8-10/20 have a chance to retake one exam and attempt to earn a 10. The students with fewer than 8 points are given two options:  retake senior year or drop-out without a diploma.

UNIVERSITY IN FRANCE

Once students have their Baccalauréat they could join the workforce or attempt to attain a more prestigious diploma. Some opt for a 2-year technical degree or specialization. Others go for their License (BAC + 3 years) [U.S. Bachelors degree equivalent], their Masters (BAC + 5 years) or their Doctorat (BAC + 8 or more years).

Medical doctors need 8-11 years to become practicing healthcare providers. Dentists and pharmacists require 6 years after their BAC.

FIRST OFF: university in France is very affordable. You can expect 200 to 500 euros a year for tuition. This is the price range for MOST schools and this seems to be a trend across the EU. A small subset of the most prestigious schools can charge upwards of 8,000 – 10,000 euros. It’s fine though – their students become doctors, lawyers or politicians so the professional salary oftentimes negates the costs.

Similar to the French high school system, universities in France don’t feature collegiate sports or much in terms of extra-curricular activities. Universities vary from small campuses to one large administrative building. Your courses could be in lecture halls or classrooms – it all depends on the school.

If you want to study in France as a foreigner, you typically need proof that you can speak French (DELF/DALF exam). Students who do not originate from the European Union also need to acquire a student visa. If you do obtain a student visa, you have the ability to work in France for a couple hours a week to supplement your income.

CAMPUS FRANCE is the official government website that can help you prepare for your studies in France. They also offer advice on how to live in France. I recommend this website.

France does receive a considerable amount of foreign students into their university system. However their numbers vastly pale in comparison to the United States. The U.S. holds some of most prestigious universities in the world while the first French university doesn’t break the top 20, worldwide. There are 2 French universities in the top 50 though!

From my experience roaming around both American and French universities I find that the if you pit the best American universities to those in French – the facilities and scale of American universities tend to be bigger, larger, and better financed. That’s not to say that quality institutions don’t exist in France. Look around and make an informed decision based on your needs .

If you want to teach English in a French school, find out how .

That sums up school in France! Liked the article? Feel free to share it or leave a comment below. If anything is missing or unclear, your thoughts can help me modify the article as needed.

• Print Friendly

Related posts:

• How to be Successful in French Class
• How to Study in France
• How To Teach Your Kids French
• 10 Great Reasons to Live in France

17 Comments

how do they identify different pronouns in France

Who’s Joe, Joe Mama. Thank you my french foreigner, baguette :’)))

Thank you, this helped so much for the stories I’ve been writing!

I’m happy to hear that it helped :)

I am looking for an immersion secondary school typically called college in France for my 11 year old daughter. I will like one that is full boarding and supports transition for non French native speakers. Pastoral care is also essential. I will appreciate your recommendation

Great article! My students enjoy it. Merci beaucoup!

Thank you, very cool!

This was a great article, also I really like cheese!!!!!!1

thank you :)

It really helped thank you!! And I like cake!

Any ideas if there is a website or a resource I can use to calculate how brevet scores translate into an American school? My son just moved from a french school and we are now in the USA, and wanted to know if there is some where i can use to calculate what his scores translate into. Thanks

thank you so much for this! very helpful and interesting.

neat things

Very interesting, thank you for sharing!

No problem Kelly, it’s my pleasure :)

Thank you! This helped a lot with my French Project!

That’s great to hear Grace.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• The French GIGN – Counterterrorism Unit
• French Military Contributions to the Ukrainian-Russian War
• France Falls Short in 2022 World Cup Final
• My FIRE French Rap Playlist
• French Overseas Departements: What are “les DROM”?
• Camouflage of the Modern French Military
• Paris for First Time Visitors (Day Guide)
• Useful French Slang
• French Prepositions Explained
• French Vocabulary Lists
• Top French Music 2019
• Top French Music 2018
• Top French Music 2017
• How Long to be Fluent in French
• Things Americans Won't Understand in France
• Ask Questions in French
• French Love Terms

Pin It on Pinterest

• Military Families

The official provider of online tutoring and homework help to the Department of Defense.

Check Eligibility

Higher Education

Improve persistence and course completion with 24/7 student support online.

How it Works

Public Libraries

Engage your community with learning and career services for patrons of all ages.

Corporate Partners

Support your workforce and their families with a unique employee benefit.

Get Started

Tutor.com is now part of The Princeton Review !    Learn more

• Testimonials
• Become a Tutor

Bring Learning French to Life

Our interactive online French tutoring sessions are designed to help you build confidence, develop fluency, and help you learn in a new way that’s effective and fun! Our French tutors will give you all the support and motivation you need to get your French homework done on time and get a better grade in your class.

Online French Tutoring

Tutor.com offers personalized, one-to-one French tutoring, so you can focus on your areas of difficulty. Instant tutor feedback makes it easy for you to monitor your progress as you learn! Need help conjugating those irregular verbs? Having trouble figuring out the gender of a word? Our online French tutors can help.

Personalized Sessions at Your Pace

Can’t keep up in a standard classroom? Is the teacher going too fast? With our expert French tutors, you can go at your own pace! Whether you’re looking for immediate French homework help or weekly tutoring, Tutor.com has online tutors who can help you study everything, from pronunciation and rhythm of speech, to grammar and sentence structure.

Getting Help in Our Online Classroom

Working with our tutors online gives you the flexibility to learn whenever and wherever works for you. With the help of our interactive white board, our tutors are able to explain spelling and accent usage in a way that is readable and easy to understand. You can even go over homework, papers, and previous exams with your French tutor using our real-time file-sharing.

Your French Tutor is Waiting

Learning French can be easy. No matter where you live or what your schedule is, you master French online with our expert tutors. Don’t let homework stress keep you from doing things you love— find to a French tutor online now!

• Our Company
• Homework Resources
• Social Studies
• SAT/Test Prep

Proudly Serving

• Colleges & Universities

For more information call us at:

800-411-1970

The complete guide to the French school system

What is school like in France? It’s a question you might find yourself pondering as you study French and get to know more about French culture.

In some ways, French school is like school in many places in the world, including the US and UK – but there are a number of key differences, including a few that give some interesting insights into French culture as a whole.

Explaining just about any country’s education system is a complex task, since there are so many different aspects to look at. The French education system in particular is known for being complicated when it comes to things like different categories and types of diplomas and tests.

Hopefully, this article will give you a good overview and some important takeaways about school in France and the French school system.

French school vocabulary

Before we start discussing the French education system, there are some words it might be helpful to know – or words you might already be wondering how to say. How to say “school” in French, for example.

When you think about it, there’s a lot of vocabulary related to school, from school supplies, to types of exams, to traditions. But when talking or learning about school in France, here are a few that are especially useful. 

Note that you’ll find additional vocabulary, including school grades/levels, diplomas, and more, in the sections of this article that focus on them.

l’école – school. This is a general word for school in French, but as you’ll see in later sections of this article, schools of different levels have different names, just as they do in many other places (nursery school, high school, etc.).

un professeur/une professeur(e) (often shortened to prof )– teacher. This is the general word for “teacher” in French. It used to be exclusively masculine, even if the teacher was a woman. But in recent decades, it’s become accepted to use it with a feminine article when talking about a female teacher. In Canadian French especially, to people may add an “e” to the end when referring to a female teacher, as well: une professeure .

In France, teachers are usually referred to by their first names until collège (middle school/secondary school). Then, they’re referred to as Monsieur or Madame [Last name].

un maître/une ma î tresse – a teacher in preschool/elementary school. Teachers of younger kids are usually referred to this way. Their students usually refer to, or, in preschool/nursery school, call them, by their first name.  By elementary school, to be polite, they will usually just call them Maître or Ma î tresse when addressing them directly, but will still use their first name, for instance, to say who their teacher is.

un instituteur/une institutrice – a more formal, less common term for an elementary/primary school teacher.

un directeur/une directrice – the principal/headmaster or headmistress of a school.

la rentr ée – back to school. This can refer to the first day back at school or the general back-to-school period. La rentr ée is also used as a general term for a return to the routine after summer vacation, so you will see it in other contexts, as well.

la cantine – the cafeteria or canteen/dining hall.

les devoirs – homework. If you’re in French class, you probably already know this word quite well!

la r é cr é ation/la r é cr é – recess.

l’étude – study hall.

les notes – grades or marks.

la classe – class/classroom.

un cours – a class (for middle and high school/secondary school).

un examen – a test.

une interrogation (often called une interro ) – a quiz.

faire l’école buissonnière – to skip school.

sécher un cours – to skip a class.

le centre de loisirs –after school program/vacation program. This usually includes activities as well as free playtime, and sometimes a study hall option or sports options.  During school vacations, the centre de loisirs is a sort of (optional) day camp for preschool and elementary school kids.

We’ll cover many other French school vocabulary words throughout this article. You can also find more school-related French words here .

Basic facts about the French school system

Public (state) education in France is compulsory for children aged 3-16.

Until recently, it was 6-16, but that changed in 2019. So, if you’re reading an older source on French education, keep that in mind.

Another big change is that, as of the 2020-2021 school year, people aged 16-18 who have stopped their studies are required to be employed or involved in an internship or volunteer work .

Public (state) and university education in France are free or extremely affordable.  

All state-run primary and secondary education in France is free. This includes la maternelle (preschool/nursery school). People from countries where  preschools/nursery schools are private and expensive will probably be impressed by this (I know I was, not to mention grateful).

In fact, one of the principles of education in France seems to be affordability. Even universities, which do charge tuition, only charge a few hundred to a few thousand euros per year. There are some universities that cost more, but these tend to be private ones that, interestingly enough, aren’t usually considered as prestigious.

There aren’t really “good” and “bad” public (state) schools in France.

Some French high/secondary schools are known for their high level of academic achievement and for carefully selecting students (this is similar to the high school system in New York City, for those familiar with it). Or there might be schools where outside problems like crime rate or poverty contribute to the general environment.

But generally speaking, because of the strict way school is viewed, the rigorously upheld national curriculum, and the fact that in the early years of their careers, teachers are usually required to teach in other French regions besides their native ones, French schools are fairly uniform when it comes to their quality. Again, there can be some exceptions, but the actual level of education in public schools tends to be perceived as the same, at least in my experience.

A major principle of French public (state) schools is la laïcité (separation of church and state).

Students aren’t allowed to wear religious symbols (although a very subtle one, like a small necklace pendant, may be tolerated) or clothing, and no religious holidays are celebrated or even particularly discussed at school.

In some cases, there may be a school celebration or play around Christmastime, but even this tends to be referred to as an “end-of-year” celebration. That said, in this predominately Christian country, some schools may put up a small Christmas tree, and classes and after school activities may involve Christmas-themed coloring pages or crafts, but it’s never particularly overt and these decorations never feature religious symbols like angels, a manger/creche, etc.

Although education is compulsory until age 16 in France, an estimated 64% of students stay in school until age 18.

A little over 50% of them will continue to university or an apprenticeship.  

More than 80% of schools in France are publics (public schools (US)/state schools (UK)).

Most of the remaining 20% of schools in France are private schools (public schools for our UK readers). A majority of them are run by the Catholic church, but they tend not to be intensely religious. One of the reasons for this is that French private schools can be sous contrat – that is, affiliated with the state, including for the payment of their teachers’ salaries, if they follow certain rules, like adhering to the national curriculum. 

Homeschooling (usually called le homeschooling ) is legal in France, but very rare.

Only about 0.3% of school-aged kids are homeschooled here.

There is a standard national curriculum for every grade/level.

Grades/notes in french public school are based on a maximum of 20 points ..

So if a student gets a 20 on a test or assignment, they got a perfect score.  10/20 is usually considered at least a passing grade.

Starting as early as CP (1 st grade/1 st year), it’s common for French students to have to memorize poems and recite them in front of the class.

Each student may have to recite a poem, or a student might be randomly called upon to do it.  It’s kind of terrifying, but it also leads to many French people knowing at least a few lines of famous poems by heart.

School supplies are very standardized and important.

One of the strangest things for me when I started teaching in French elementary schools is how each child has the same kind of supplies (even though some of these, like backpacks and folders, can be personalized), and how they use them in the same way.

For instance, if you ask an elementary school child to write something down, they’ll often take out an ink pen and make a neat line with a ruler to head their paper. Students have many different kinds of notebooks (a school planner, a notebook of poems and texts to memorize, etc.) and folders, and overall are encouraged to be very organized and precise.

French students still learn cursive.

In certain places, like the US, many schools have stopped teaching cursive, but in French, it’s still taught – even from kindergarten/year 1 ( grande section ). In fact, handwriting is a big part of French learning.

The types of French schools

There are five types of French schools, although some may be combined, especially in areas with a small population.

Note that kindergarten/year 1 is grouped with preschool/nursery school, and not elementary school, like it usually is in the US.

The five types of French schools are:

• la maternelle (preschool and kindergarten/nursery school and year 1) for students age 3-6
• l’école élémentaire (elementary school/primary school) for students age 6-11
• le collège (middle school (including ninth grade)/secondary school) for students age 11-16
• le lycée (high school/secondary school) for students age 16-18
• l’université , often called la fac (short for la faculté ) (university/college) for students 18 and up

These schools cover three main categories of education:

• l’école primaire (primary school). This includes la maternelle and l’école élémentaire .
• l’école secondaire (secondary school). This includes le collège and le lycée .
• l’enseignement supérieur (higher education) – l’université .

We’ll look at the equivalents of each grade/level a little further on.

The French school year, week, and day

The French school year starts in early September and usually finishes around the first week of July.

Up to university level, students have a two-week break every six weeks or so.

There’s one in mid-October to early November ( les vacances de la Toussaint ), one in mid-December to early January ( les vacances de fin d’année ), one in February ( les vacances de février ), and one in March or April ( les vacances de printemps ). Additionally, there is a two-month summer break ( les vacances d’été / les grandes vacances ).

There are also a lot of holidays on the French calendar, including three in the month of May alone. Add to this the very likely possibility that there could be a teacher strike or a strike that affects teachers’ ability to come to the school (like a transportation strike, for instance), a teacher being sick and the school not being able to find a substitute, teacher workdays, and so on, and you will discover that while kids in French schools work hard, they do, luckily, get a pretty decent amount of time off.

French students from maternelle through lycée go to school five days a week (Monday-Friday).

School times and schedules can vary a bit, especially as kids get older, but generally speaking, school starts between 8 and 9am and ends anywhere from 3-4:30pm. Kids might stay at an after-school program until as late as 6:30pm.

If you’re reading or watching something that dates to pre-2008, you may notice that the school schedule was a bit different. Before that time , schools were open on Wednesday mornings, and then also also on Saturday mornings.

The idea was to give kids a bit of a mid-week break, as well as time to pursue extracurricular activities (more on that in a bit). But as a working parent, I cannot imagine how complicated it must have been…or how annoying to have to wake up early on a Saturday to get your kid to school for a few hours…not to mention to have to have part of your Saturday blocked.  Fortunately, that’s no longer the case today.

There are no longer classes on Saturday mornings, but typically, maternelles and écoles élémentaires still only offer classes on Wednesday mornings until lunchtime. Parents can sign students up for after school programs and activities that allow them to stay at the school for the typical amount of time if they prefer, or if they need to due to work.

French school life

Here are some important things to know about school life in France:

French students in public (state) schools don’t wear uniforms.

French students in public (state) schools don’t have an equivalent of something like the pledge of allegiance, morning prayer, etc., most french public (state) schools don’t allow students to bring their lunch from home..

Students either eat at the la cantine (cafeteria/canteen) or go home for the allotted lunchtime (usually an hour or two).

Meals served in French schools are usually considered decent to good quality.

I’ve heard that in a way, meals served in French schoools are a form of education, exposing students to many traditional French dishes. As early as la maternelle , children eating in the school cafeteria also start learning things like how to cut their meat, how to drink from a real glass (as opposed to a plastic one), etc. These are some of the reasons why my son eats at the school cantine – he gets to try traditional French meals it may not occur to me to make at home, and he reviews and brushes up on his table manners .

French schools aren’t closely tied with extracurricular activities or dances.  

In places like the US, school is a huge part of students’ lives, especially as they get older. Many activities, including music, sports, debate club, the school newspaper, yearbook, and so  on, are organized through the school and take place on the school grounds. But this isn’t the case in France.

For the most part, in France, school is school. You will have physical education or art or music classes during the day, but if you want to do more than that, you’ll have to sign up with an outside after-school program.

This also means there isn’t a sense of “school spirit” or “the big game” that you see in a lot of American TV shows (and experience in real life if you go to an American school). French schools also don’t organize school dances or have yearbooks, or even graduation ceremonies in most cases.  The idea behind this, I think, is that school is about academics: the French are very serious about students being there to learn and do their work.   

French education and activities are as affordable as possible.

Each year, based on their income tax, families are given a tarif familial . This determines how much they’re charged for things like school lunches, field trips (although some of these are free) and other activities, supplies, etc. 

Is bullying an issue in French schools?

Bullying exists in French schools but, in a way, on a lesser scale than in some other places.

Bullying ( le harcèlement ) does, unfortunately, happen in French schools. But it’s not the sort of systematic thing it is in the US, where the bully is a stock character in every high school-set TV show, and the results of real-life bullying often make news headlines.

This said, there have been bullying-related suicides in France, and there are anti-bullying campaigns and helplines. The issue is addressed by school administration. But most French people I know don’t seem to have had problems with bullying (or to have been bullies) when they were in school, and it doesn’t seem like the sort of shared, expected experience that it does in countries like the US.

It’s fascinating to me that there is no exact French word or phrase for “school bully”. I think that this shows two important things about French culture:

1. It’s a bit tougher, maybe some would say more “tough love”, than the culture in places like America. For instance, while a bully would be the only one to make fun of you for not getting a good grade, or generally being “stupid”, many French teachers will point out a student’s inadequacies (at least academically), and friends and acquaintances will liberally correct each other. When I taught in French elementary schools, this was pretty shocking to me.

2. A more old-school “stiff upper lip” mentality still predominates. This is changing, as people become more aware of the effects of bullying and as victims speak out and express themselves on social media and elsewhere. But as with many problems that cause strong emotions or difficult, complex feelings, the idea in French culture is to try to accept it and certainly not to air it out in public.

This said, these are general observations, at a large-scale level. Many parents of kids who are being bullied will take action of some kind, whether that’s confronting the kid or their parents themselves (although schools discourage this), talking to school administrators, or at least considering getting their child psychological help if it’s needed (though therapy is fairly rare and often thought of as strange or unnecessary in mainstream French culture). 

What is each year (level) of school called in French?

Most French students are in school for fifteen years (not counting university) – from petite section at age 3, to terminale at age 18.

Here are the French school grades/levels and their equivalents in the US and UK. For anyone unfamiliar with these school systems, I’ve also included the age a typical student would be in each grade/level.

Note that there are three types of French lyc ée (high school/secondary school). These are:

le lyc ée g én éral – the typical high school you might be thinking of, where students take academic classes in many different subjects.

This said, students in these schools choose a path of study based on their major areas of interest/what they want to major in in university. So some will have more emphasis on math courses, while for others it will be foreign languages or literature, etc. The system is a bit complicated to us outsiders, especially since there are subdivisions. This Frenchman’s account of being a student at a typical French lycée gives some interesting insights. And as he advises, the Wikipedia entry on the baccalauréat  exam also provides some helpful information. The French entry goes into even further detail.

le lyc ée technique/lyc ée technologique – This high school (or sometimes just a high school curriculum) focuses on applied technical or technological studies alongside academic ones. Areas of study include laboratory sciences, applied arts, management, and hospitality industry studies.

le lyc é e professionnel – vocational school. That is, a school that mainly focuses on preparing and teaching students who plan to go to work directly and don’t need or want to pursue their studies into university. Subjects include construction-related work, agriculture, and clerical positions.

Students at all three types of lyc ée will have to take some kind of exit exam , usually a variant of le baccalaur éat . This will determine if they can go to university (and which university will accept them), or, in the case of some lyc ée professionnel exit exams, like the CAP ( certificat d’aptitude professionnelle ), if they’re qualified to do a particular job or set of jobs.

What to know about French universities

French universities are always called “ université ”, not college .

But you may see this word associated with older forms of higher education in France in the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and even around Revolutionary times.

Usually, though, coll è ge means “middle school” in contemporary French.

A university is usually referred to in everyday language as la fac .

This is short for la faculté (school division of a university). The pronunciation of this word may sound a bit obscene to the unprepared Anglophone ear, as this funny, iconic, and NSFW scene from the hit French movie L’Auberge espagnole delightfully illustrates , but when you listen to it more carefully (as you should when the French-speaking character pronounces it), you’ll realize that it really does have a short “a” sound.

Not all French universities are considered equal.

This doesn’t necessarily mean in terms of the excellence of their faculty, but in terms of their funding and prestige.

Any French university will have a certain standard of academics that’s perfectly respectable. But French universities are often no-frills affairs when it comes to funding. There are also no special events like graduation ceremonies and such, and there aren’t donors who regularly gift the school with new wings and materials.

On the other hand, the Grandes Écoles are exclusive, extremely prestigious French universities that students full of academic, career, or political ambition strive to get into. They’re the rough equivalent of Ivy League schools in the US, but unlike an Ivy League school, a Grande École will only have about 200-300 graduates per year.

Unlike countries where your diploma will only take you so far, it’s been observed that every French president has always graduated from a Grande École, not some regular university.

As this article points out, the French university system can be seen as elitist . But at least even the Grandes Écoles only charge a few thousand euros for tuition, which allows them to be accessible based on academic merit, rather than economic earnings (and keeps students debt-free).

So, there are good and bad sides to the system.

After graduating from lycée , most students who want to enter a Grande École will take one to two years of classes préparatoires first.

Affiliated with a lycée and usually called by a singular, shortened name, prépa , this is an incredibly intense year or two of studies, with at least 30 hours a week of work, plus oral exams.

Prépas are organized into different areas of studies , but all of them are intense and challenging.  I know someone who took a year of prépa before going to a prestigious engineering school. He says it was the hardest year of his life, even harder than taking classes at the Grande École he then got into. He just worked and slept.

The reward for this work is getting into a good school and then, hopefully, getting a good job that lets you earn a good living or even fulfill your most ambitious desires, like becoming head of state.

That said, as with any prestigious school, a diploma is a diploma; it depends on what you choose to pursue afterwards. My friend, for instance, went to a Grande École and currently has a well-paid IT job. He’s very happy, but it’s not like his academic career automatically made him the French president or one of the richest people in the country.

La Sorbonne is not considered the best school in France.

Internationally, the best-known French university is probably La Sorbonne, officially known as l’Université de Paris today. Established in the Middle Ages, it was the first university in Europe, and is one of the oldest in the world. Still, while you can get a quality education at La Sorbonne, it is not a Grande École.

When it comes to universities in France, cost does not equal quality.

There are many private French higher education organizations that (like many of their counterparts in the US) are more focused on making money than on education.

These schools are usually very pricey, but have no prestige among the French. As a general rule, the higher the cost of a university/higher education institution in France, the less its diplomas are actually “worth”, although there are a few exceptions. If you’re thinking about studying in France, be sure to research any private institutions you’re considering.

French diploma equivalencies

Most French universities offer a three-year program to get the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in the US or UK. 

But there are a lot more French diplomas than that, and sometimes it can be confusing to find their equivalents in another country’s education system.

Let’s look at the most common French diplomas you’ll come across, and their equivalents in the US and UK.

• un DEUG (two-year university diploma) – Associate’s degree (US)/Diploma of Higher Education (UK)

• une licence – (a three-year undergraduate degree) – Bachelor’s degree

                Licence dans un domaine littéraire : BA/Bachelor of Arts

                Licence dans un domaine scientifique : BSC/Bachelor of Science/B.S. degree

• Master 1/ Maîtrise – Master’s Degree

• Master 2/ DEA : A degree given one year before postgraduate studies. There is no precise equivalent for this in the US or UK, as far as I can find, so it still generally corresponds to a Master’s Degree.

                Master dans un domaine littéraire : MA (Master of Arts)

                Master dans un domaine scientifique : MSC/MS (Master of Science)

                Master dans les affaires : MBA (Master of Business Administration)

• Doctorat : Phd/doctorate

This helpful webpage lists a few more specific French diplomas , as well as certain documents and certifications, along with their UK and US equivalents (when applicable).

French school milestones

You may live in a country where school is full of major events. I know that’s certainly the case in the US, where I grew up. Finishing each kind of school can, in some places, be the reason for a celebration or even a ceremony at the school itself. There are school dances, competitions, sports, and more, and of course, when you graduate from high school, there’s the iconic cap and gown ceremony where you receive your diploma.

But that’s not really the case in France. As I’ve mentioned before, the French are very serious about education. Kids may have fun at school, but there isn’t a really fun or “big deal”/ “good job” spin on things. Add to that the fact that most activities like extracurricular sports, clubs, and so on, aren’t associated with schools directly, there are no dances, and there aren’t many big school events.

This said, it may depend on the school, and of course, there can be exceptions. French preschools and elementary schools often host end-of-year carnival-style parties, for instance, and some put on concerts or plays as well.

One thing that does shape the school experience for French students are two important exams.

The first is le brevet des coll èg es , a major test taken at the end of collège (middle school) and the rough equivalent to the GCSE’S under C Grade or GNVQ Intermediate in the UK. There is no US equivalent.

The biggest French school milestone is taking le baccalaur éat , usually called le bac . This exam covers multiple subjects and includes written and oral sections, as well as some parts that may require demonstrating skills (in sports, for example). A student’s overall score and some of the minor subjects covered will differ depending on their area of study.

Le bac is the rough equivalent of A levels in the UK. As for the US, many sources say le bac is similar to AP exams, but personally, since all French high school students have to take it and it influences college admissions, I consider it similar to the SAT’s. The SAT’s are a standardized test covering a limited range of subjects, but when it comes to cultural impact and pre-test jitters, that’s the best match for le bac .

Le bac has many variants and a complex scoring system that I won’t go into in this brief overview of the French education system, but if you’d like to learn more about le bac , I’d recommend this detailed resource.

The biggest difference between le bac and AP or SAT exams, though, is that le bac also determines whether or not you can graduate lyc ée. In that sense, you can think of it as your high school diploma or a certificate of completion.

The results of the bac are posted on lists in front of the school. French students go to find their scores, then, hopefully have reason to celebrate, and that’s it – lycée is finished. There is no graduation ceremony.

University in France does seem to be a similar experience to US and UK schools, in that students still find ways to have fun, and things are a little more open in terms of scheduling – even though there’s still a lot of hard work.

At the end of post-graduate studies, students write and defend (present) un m émoir (thesis/memoir/ dissertation).  If the jury of academics approve, they and the family members and friends that the student has invited will often finish the presentation with a small celebratory ap éro (snacks and drinks).

At the end of some university cycles, there may be une remise de diplômes (graduation ceremony). Students would typically wear business or formal attire, rather than a cap and gown or other traditional clothing. But graduation ceremonies aren’t especially common.

Overall, you could say that the motto for school in France is “it’s not personal, it’s business.”  Whether they’re 3 or 23, French students’ priority is to learn. Fun is something that may happen but it’s not considered an intrinsic part of the educational experience, nor are emotional events like marking milestones.

This doesn’t mean that school in France is a totally joyless affair. You only have to look at comedies old and new that are inspired by the French school experience, including the iconic Le Petit Nicolas and the relatively recent movie Les beaux gosses (sort of like a French Superbad ) to see that there are plenty of laughs, good memories, and nostalgia tied to French academic life.

What is school like where you live? What do you like and dislike about the French education system?

• What are the best French learning apps in 2024?
• The 16 best websites and apps for French conversation practice
• Duolingo French review: The good, the bad and the ugly

Alysa Salzberg

Alysa Salzberg is an American writer, worrier, teacher, and cookie enthusiast who has lived in Paris, France, for more than a decade. She has taught English and French for more than ten years, most notably as an assistante de langue vivante for L'Education Nationale. She recently published her first novel, Hearts at Dawn , a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling that takes place during the 1870 Siege of Paris. You can read about her adventures here , or feel free to stop by her website .

The French School System Explained 👩🏼‍🏫

This is always a problem for my students. Understanding the French school system, l’école française, knowing which grades are which is a real nightmare. So here is a post that should make things easier. I wrote the equivalent grades in the US/UK school system, and the age of the students for reference.

Navigating the French school system and the equivalent US/UK grades can be tricky. Here’s an explanation of each French grades as well as related French school vocabulary and French school supply vocabulary.

How to Say School in French?

School, the generic term is l’école ( feminine , singular).

Leyla aime aller à l’école. Leyla enjoys going to school.

Now let’s see the different French school levels.

How to Say Preschool in French?

Preschool is l’école maternelle (la maternelle). Attendance to preschool is not compulsory in France.

Here are the different French preschool grades:

• La petite section de maternelle ou PS (3 ans) = Nursery.
• La moyenne section de maternelle ou MS (4 ans) = Pre-K (Reception UK)
• La grande section de maternelle ou GS (5 ans) = Kindergarden (Year 1 UK)

Read my thoughts about switching from an American to a French preschool system .

How to Say Elementary School in French?

Elementary school in French is “l’école primaire”, or “le primaire” and it is compulsory in France. This means that in France, kids 6 and up must go to school (see the paragraph below about homeschooling in France). 

Here are the different French elementary school grades:

• Cours préparatoire ou CP (6 ans) = 1st Grade (Year 2 UK).
• Cours élémentaire 1re année ou CE1 (7 ans) = 2nd grade (Year 3 UK).
• Cours élémentaire 2e année ou CE2 (8 ans) = 3rd grade (Year 4 UK).
• Cours moyen 1re année ou CM1 (9 ans) = 4th grade(Year 5 UK).
• Cours moyen 2e année ou CM2 (10 ans) = 5th grade (Year 6 UK).

Les écoliers = elementary school children L’école is often used to talk about elementary school in French.

The teachers are called traditionally “ le maître ” and “ la maîtresse ” (be very careful with this word since it means “elementary school teacher” AND “a (woman) lover”… go figure…)

In elementary school in France, a main teacher teaches several “ matières (f)” such as le français, les mathématiques, la géographie, l’histoire, les sciences …

School Children Age in France

The age indicated in this article is the minimum age you are supposed to be when entering that grade.

Of course, it’s a bit flexible: Leyla is from November, so we had a choice: she could have been one of the youngest or one of the oldest in her class. With the agreement of the school director, she joined CP at 5, turning 6 in November and therefore finishing that grade age 6.

It could be the contrary as well: kids entering CP at 6, turning 7 that year: it’s the majority of the cases.

And some kids also repeat years (this is called “redoubler” in French).

Of course, there are always unique cases.

– Here we are! – Not already?!

What is the French Word for Middle School?

After elementary school, French kids start what we call “l’enseignement secondaire”.

It starts with “le collège” – Middle School. Kids usually attend Middle school in France from age 11 to 16. Some kind of formal education is compulsory in France till 16.

Here are the various French middle school grades:

• La sixième (11 ans) = 6th grade (Year 7 UK).
• La cinquième (12 ans) = 7th grade (Year 8 UK).
• La quatrième (13 ans) = 8th grade (Year 9 UK).
• La troisième  (14 ans) = 9th grade (Year 10 UK).

The collège ends with a test called “ le brevet “.

Kids attending middle school are called “un collégien, une collégienne”

There are several “professeurs” (un professeur, always masculine even when referring to a woman teacher.

Camille est un bon professeur , but in slang, you can say “un/mon prof” or “une/ma prof”)

Middle school is also referred as “le premier cycle des études secondaires”.

Collège in French vs College in English

Watch out for the common French mistake:

• le collège = middle school
• la fac, la faculté, l’université = college

Confusing indeed!

The best way to memorize these kind of subtleties is to learn French in context. My beginner level audiobook  A Moi Paris L1 has a chapter about middle school (ch 17), and in my intermediate audiobook method  A Moi Paris L4 chapter 1 describes a typical day at a university.

Both French audiobooks clearly explain French and then illustrate the new grammar/ vocabulary points with a level-adapted bilingual French story recorded at 2 levels of enunciation (enunciated and modern).

A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.

More Details & Audio Samples

High School in France

High school in French is called “le lycée”. Students are about 16 to 18 years old.

Le lycée can be in general studies, with some specialty as in languages or sciences, leading to the diploma of Baccalauréat général (commonly called “le bac” – do say the “c”), or prepare you for a special trade (hairdresser, a cook, mechanic…) leading to CAP or BEP diplomas – you can stop at 16 years old – or to a Baccalauréat technologique.

Studies in France are compulsory until you reach 16 years old, but they can be in school or in some kind of study/apprentice program.

High school in France is sometimes referred to as “le second cycle des études secondaires”.

Here are the various French high school grades:

• La seconde (15 ans) = 10th grade (Year 11 UK).
• La première (16 ans) = 11th grade (Year 12 UK).
• La terminale (17 ans) = 12th grade (Year 13 UK).

Higher Education in France

Higher education in France is generally called “l’enseignement (m) supérieur”.

French students then go for “des études supérieures” (higher studies) à la fac, à l’université (watch out this is college in French…) or in les Grandes Écoles (the French Ivy League: SciencePo, HEC, more … ).

You need to have le baccalauréat to get into these schools, and Les Grandes Écoles often require that you have “une mention” (honors of the jury) to get in, or that you pass a special test.

Homeschooling in France

Homeschooling in France is often called “Le homeschooling”. We also say “l’école à la maison” ou “la scolarisation à domicile”. Homeschooling in France is not illegal, but quite rare.

Most children that are home-schooled in France are so because their parents are traveling, or because the kids have a medical condition.

Homeschooling parents have to register with the French school authorities and potentially face yearly inspections/evaluations to make sure the children keep up with French educational standards.

How to Say to Take a French Class in French ?

In French you cannot say “French class”. Your class is not French itself: it’s a class about the French language. Saying “French class” is an idiom in English.

So translating word by word and saying: “une classe française” is a mistake.

So here are a few possible translations to talk about your French class:

• “Je suis un cours de français” (of the verb “suivre”: ‘to follow’) I’m taking a French class
• “Je fais partie d’une classe de français”, I’m enrolled in a French class
• “J’adore ma classe/mon cours de français”, I love my French class
• “Je déteste ma prof de français” I hate my French teacher

In any case, to say “French” for a class, it’s “ de français “, never “français/française”, which is my point :-)

More about how to translate  French and France in French .

How to translate ‘I study French’ in French

To say ‘I study French’, here is what you can say:

• “J’étudie le français” I study French The name of the language is “le français”, and it’s masculine.
• J’étudie la langue française I study the French language “La langue” being feminine, the adjective “française” is also in the feminine.

Now let’s review the French school vocabulary we saw in this article and add additional French school terms.

French School Vocabulary

• La maternelle = preschool
• L’école primaire = elementary school
• Le collège = middle school
• Le lycée = high school
• L’université, la faculté (la fac) = college
• Un écolier, une écolière = elementary school child
• Le maître, la maîtresse = elementary school teacher
• Un collégien, une collégienne = middle school child
• Un professeur = teacher – always masculine
• Un prof, une prof = teacher, common slang
• Un lycéen, une lycéenne = high school child
• un étudiant, une étudiante = a student
• Les vacances – always plural in French – vacation
• La rentrée (des classes/ scolaire) – 1st day back to school
• Faire ses devoirs – to do one’s homework
• Suivre un cours de français/ une classe de français – to take a French class – watch out, you can’t say “un cours français/ une classe française”, it’s a class OF French (language) in French, the class itself is not French – more in this blog article.
• l’APEL – association des parents d’élèves (parent association)
• Le directeur, la directrice – principal
• La cantine – the cantine / cafeteria
• La récréation (la récré) – recess
• L’étude – study hall
• Une colle – detention
• Se faire coller – to be sent to detention
• Les notes – grades

20 French School Words For Supplies

• Les fournitures scolaires (f) – school supplies
• Un classeur – a binder
• Un cahier – a notebook
• Un livre – a textbook
• Un agenda – an agenda
• Une feuille de papier – a piece of paper
• Une copie double – I don’t know how to say that in English… it’s 2 pieces of paper together, so 4 sides total – we use them for exams
• Une trousse – a pencil case
• Un crayon (à papier / de couleur) – pencil / color pencil
• Un feutre – marker
• Un stylo, un bic (say the c) – a ball-point pen
• Un stylo plume – an fountain pen (ink) – yes, French kids still use these!
• Un effaceur – ink eraser + marker
• Une gomme – an eraser
• Une calculatrice – a calculator
• Une règle – a ruler
• Un tableau – black/white board
• Une craie – a chalk
• Un sac à dos – backpack
• Un bureau – desk (un pupitre is quite old-fashioned)

Voilà, I hope you’ll find this article useful.

I post new articles every week, so make sure you subscribe to the French Today newsletter – or follow me on  Facebook , Twitter  and  Pinterest .

You may also enjoy:

• My thoughts comparing French and American preschool systems
• Back to School Poem

Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany .

More Articles from Camille Chevalier-Karfis

You Might Also Enjoy...

More free lessons

A bit of French culture

• French table etiquette
• Being a polite house guest in France
• How to ask where is bathroom in French?
• What to do if you are sick in France?
• French school system explained
• Catholic mass prayers in French
• Madame or Mademoiselle?
• How to dress in Paris?
• Paris Subway audio guide

French Traditions Even wonder how the French spend these holidays?

• Christmas in France
• A French New Years eve
• Valentine’s day
• April’s fool
• French Easter
• Mother’s day
• Bastille day
• Thanksgiving
• Halloween in France

I publish posts every week. Want to keep up to date with the new content? ✉️ Subscribe to my weekly newsletter

Recorded at 3 different speeds + Study Guide + Q&A + Full Transcript

Copyright - French Today 2024

• Privacy Policy
• Mentions Légales
• Affiliate Program

Can You Understand Today’s Spoken French?

It’s not just slang. The French everybody speaks in France today is NOT the overly enunciated, extremely formal French usually taught to foreigners.

TAKE YOUR FREE AUDIO TEST NOW

StudyMonkey

Your personal ai french tutor.

Learn Smarter, Not Harder with French AI

Introducing StudyMonkey, your AI-powered French tutor .

StudyMonkey AI can tutor complex French homework questions, enhance your essay writing and assess your work—all in seconds.

No more long all-nighters

24/7 solutions to French questions you're stumped on and essays you procrastinated on.

No more stress and anxiety

Get all your French assignments done with helpful answers in 10 seconds or less.

No more asking friends for French help

StudyMonkey is your new smart bestie that will never ghost you.

No more staying after school

AI French tutoring is available 24/7, on-demand when you need it most.

French is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Northern Gaul.

AI Tutor for any subject

American college testing (act), anthropology, advanced placement exams (ap exams), arabic language, archaeology, biochemistry, chartered financial analyst (cfa) exam, communications, computer science, certified public accountant (cpa) exam, cultural studies, cyber security, dental admission test (dat), discrete mathematics, earth science, elementary school, entrepreneurship, environmental science, farsi (persian) language, fundamentals of engineering (fe) exam, gender studies, graduate management admission test (gmat), graduate record examination (gre), greek language, hebrew language, high school entrance exam, high school, human geography, human resources, international english language testing system (ielts), information technology, international relations, independent school entrance exam (isee), linear algebra, linguistics, law school admission test (lsat), machine learning, master's degree, medical college admission test (mcat), meteorology, microbiology, middle school, national council licensure examination (nclex), national merit scholarship qualifying test (nmsqt), number theory, organic chemistry, project management professional (pmp), political science, portuguese language, probability, project management, preliminary sat (psat), public policy, public relations, russian language, scholastic assessment test (sat), social sciences, secondary school admission test (ssat), sustainability, swahili language, test of english as a foreign language (toefl), trigonometry, turkish language, united states medical licensing examination (usmle), web development, step-by-step guidance 24/7.

Receive step-by-step guidance & homework help for any homework problem & any subject 24/7

Ask any French question

StudyMonkey supports every subject and every level of education from 1st grade to masters level.

Get an answer

StudyMonkey will give you an answer in seconds—multiple choice questions, short answers, and even an essays are supported!

Review your history

See your past questions and answers so you can review for tests and improve your grades.

It's not cheating...

You're just learning smarter than everyone else

How Can StudyMonkey Help You?

Hear from our happy students.

"The AI tutor is available 24/7, making it a convenient and accessible resource for students who need help with their homework at any time."

"Overall, StudyMonkey is an excellent tool for students looking to improve their understanding of homework topics and boost their academic success."

Upgrade to StudyMonkey Premium!

Why not upgrade to StudyMonkey Premium and get access to all features?

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Translation of homework – English-French dictionary

(Translation of homework from the GLOBAL English-French Dictionary © 2016 K Dictionaries Ltd)

Translation of homework | PASSWORD English-French Dictionary

(Translation of homework from the PASSWORD English-French Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)

Examples of homework

Translations of homework.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

have your hands full

to be so busy that you do not have time to do anything else

Binding, nailing, and gluing: talking about fastening things together

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• do your homework
• PASSWORD English–French    Noun
• Translations
• All translations

Add homework to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of homework

Examples of homework in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'homework.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Dictionary Entries Near homework

Cite this entry.

“Homework.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homework. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of homework, more from merriam-webster on homework.

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for homework

Nglish: Translation of homework for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of homework for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about homework

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, every letter is silent, sometimes: a-z list of examples, more commonly mispronounced words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), a great big list of bread words, the words of the week - apr. 12, 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are), games & quizzes.