“It was less stressful than I thought.
However, I climbed very high in pressure.
Okay, it's over, a cigarette and we go on vacation!
"In the overheated corridor of the first floor of the Eugène-Delacroix high school, in Maisons-Alfort (Val-de-Marne), Bilal, 17, is breathing.
Monday morning, he has just taken the grand oral, a brand new baccalaureate test.
Forty minutes, including twenty of preparation, to present a problem studied this year in front of a jury of two professors, then discuss the program of first and final, before arguing on its orientation.
“I was sweating a lot when I was called to the labor room. But in the end, the jury was kind, ”concludes Bilal, going out to take the air. Since Monday and until July 2, 525,760 high school students (from general and technological routes, the pro sector not being concerned) have taken part in this test inspired by the oral examinations of the grandes écoles, aimed at restoring a little solemnity to the diploma . "It's the only one that still matters a little," recalls Maïa, 17, a student in terminal STMG, before rushing into the hall. And for good reason: 82% of the baccalaureate is marked by continuous assessment, including specialty courses; the philosophy was almost optional. On the other hand, the grand oral, coef 10 for the general sector and 14 in technology, has been maintained as is or almost,the candidates simply having the right to have their notes under their noses in front of the jury.
"The jury is not there to trap"
Result: it sweats seriously in front of the examination rooms. The teachers in charge of supervising put on the show, giving some advice. "Come on, young people, it was you who prepared this question, it is your subject!" I sent you an email yesterday to tell you to be calm and that you have been reciting poems and giving presentations for twelve years. Do you say it's the same. What? Haven't you seen my email? But wasn't there any football last night? »Launches« Madame Romeo », the professor in science and technology of management and management (STMG). She may be the most stressed out. She has been preparing her "favorites" for a few months on D-Day. "I love them", she breathes before leaving the hallway to let them concentrate. “The jury is not there to trap you,” she said with final advice.
Amians (foreground), Maia and Daren revise in the dying seconds.
Thomas Poupeau
At 10:30 am, it's time for the test.
A teacher calls the first student.
Identity card, summons… and the ax falls: the jury chooses one of the two questions, which the candidate will have to work on for twenty minutes, isolated in a room, before presenting it to them.
“At 10:50 am, we come to pick you up,” warns the prof.
At Amians, it's a cold shower.
"They chose the second question, while I wanted the one," he slips, livid, to his comrades, before entering the class.
On the program for this final year student in the STMG sector, specializing in management and finance: "Should companies control personnel costs?"
He sits down at a table and log, under the gaze of two supervisors.
"A little apprehension", even for teachers
Next door, in the examination room, the two jurors are also a little “blind”, a few minutes away from receiving their very first candidate.
"I was a little surprised to be summoned, but I am here to bring an outside perspective, that of Mr. and Mrs. Everybody to whom the high school student will have to be able to explain, to popularize, his problem", develops Lucas, teacher… of PE.
"This is a great first, there is necessarily apprehension, even for us," adds Sébastien, who teaches eco-management.
His only preparation: a videoconference last Monday, orchestrated by the rectorate of Créteil, for 200 jury teachers.
"We are there to put the student at ease, it's a discussion, not a silly and mean recitation," he explains.
"We are going to gauge his critical thinking, not his mistakes in conjugation," says Lucas.
This Monday, they will only have three high schools to judge.
And no score will be awarded in the moment: Lucas and Sébastien have decided to let the day go by to "harmonize" their decisions.
Lucas and Sébastien, jurors and teachers.
Thomas Poupeau
The waiting corridor empties. We laugh a little yellow. Madame Romeo always goes back and forth, takes news. Triturates his hands, is stressed for his flock. "If they give me question two, I cry," breathes Theo, who has just learned of his integration into a training center of a rather popular football club. "You still have to go through it, to the grand oral", he slips to his teacher. Behind the glass, we hear the candidates scrambling. Like their jurors, they are masked.
"We got used to talking with this mask, we have to speak louder and articulate well," said Maïa. She goes last, when Amians concludes his exam. "I took five minutes, but there was a huge gap, I bugged," sighs the teenager. But no real fear, he has already done his little calculations: provided he has at least 4, his bac is in his pocket. "It is thanks to continuous monitoring," he recalls. Place, these coming days, for interviews in schools for those who intend to a BTS real estate professions. "And after, vacation, I go to Marseille with friends", smiles Amians. Behind her back, Madame Romeo nevertheless reminds her of the last big step before turning the page on high school: “Don't forget, see you on July 2, at the terminal ball! "