From the OIB to the BFI
Students in the American Section spend their Première (11th Grade) and Terminale (12th Grade) years working towards the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI).
Note that the BFI replaced the Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB).
The first BFI exam session was in the spring of 2024.
Introducing the BFI
The BFI is a particularly demanding version of the French baccalaureat, enabling students to expand their international exposure and linguistic skills. In addition to the full French national curriculum, students at the Lycée International take eight additional hours of classes in the language of their section, taught at native level. Subjects include English Language and Literature (ACL), History and Geography (DNL), and Connaissance du Monde (CdM), or Contemporary US Society.
Subjects taught by the American Section are indicated in blue in the pie chart below:
American Section BFI exam coefficents comprise 41% of the total baccalaureat score. Spoken communication skills are emphasized, with students preparing a “capstone” oral presention for an individual research project in addition to the existing oral examinations in Language/Literature and History/Geography and the Grand Oral.
Note that the Contemporary US Society(CdM) module invites students to conduct in-depth research on a current issue of global importance within a US context. Similar to the IB Extended Essay, this project allows students to explore a topic of personal interest, demonstrate initiative and develop autonomy. The collaboration with a US-based contact gives students direct insight into a facet of American society and build professional skills. The research project also provides valuable preparation for their future university studies and careers.