Examen DNB / DNBi 2024-2025
What is the Brevet?
The DNB (Diplôme National du Brevet) is the first official credential in the French Curriculum.
It includes both internal and external assessments as well as continuous assessment.
1) Written External Assessment: (300 points)
French: 3 hours (100 points)
• Part 1: Dictation and questions based on a text (excerpt from a novel, play, poem) to evaluate student comprehension and mastery of French grammar. (1h 30)
• Part 2: Written work: choice of two subjects on a theme taken from the French literary corpus. (1h 30)
Math: 2 hours (100 points)
Between 6 and 8 exercises based on the math curriculum in grade 9
History, Geography and Civics: 2 hours (50 points)
• One document-based question (History or Geography°)
• One small essay called “développement construit” (History or Geography°)
• Civics Questions
* If the document based question is in geography, the “developpement construit” is in History and vice versa
Sciences: 1 hour (50 points)
Two subjects will be randomly chosen in May among SVT (Bio) SPC (Physics and chemistry) and Technology (Tech and skills)
• Part 1: Subject 1
• Part 2: Subject 2
2) French Oral Internal Assessment (100 points)
Length 15 minutes: 5 minutes exposé+ 10 minutes questions: Students will present for 5 minutes a project linked with an interdisciplinary project they have done in class in middle school and then answer the jury’s questions on this project.
3) Continuous Assessment:
Scores for each domain of “the socle commun de compétences” (skills) are awarded by the pedagogical team during the “conseil de classe” based on continuous assessment in each subject.
The Different Domains are:
Domain 1.1: French language: written and spoken
Domain 1.1: Second language
Domain 1.3: Mathematical, scientific, and numerical language
Domain 1.4: Artistic and body language
Domain 2: Learning tools and methods
Domain 3: Citizenship education
Domain 4: Natural and technical systems
Domain 5: Representation of the world and human activity
For each domain, the scores are either:
50: Very good
40: Satisfactory
25: Fragile
10: Insufficientô
Mention Internationale
The DNBi Value-Added Proposition:
• A recognition of student bilingualism and biculturalism
• Two oral exams in English and the non-linguistic discipline (Discipline non-linguistique – DNL)
1) Oral Exam History Geography: 35 minutes (50 points)
35 minutes total: 20 minutes of preparation time and 15 minutes of student oral presentation and interview with the jury.
The student must answer a question given by the jury. The question is related to the topics studied during the year in History and Geography. A list of topics will be given to the students before the exam. The student will pick a topic randomly and will have 20 minutes to prepare his/her presentations.
The students will be assessed on their skills and knowledge related to a set of questions on topics covered during the year, their abilities to give a structured and pertinent presentation and their ability to speak clearly in English.
2) Oral Exam English: 20 minutes (50 points)
All 9th grade students will take an oral exam at the end of the year in order to achieve the international mention for the Brevet (DNB-I).
The course and the exam will serve as a validation of the bilingualism and biculturalism of LILA students.
The exam is given at the end of April, lasting 20 minutes. The exam, which is a presentation of a portfolio and an interview with the examiner(s) will determine the linguistic capabilities of the candidate.
Skills are evaluated regarding level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Points Summary:
Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB)
Socle Commun de Compétences: 400 points
1) Written Examinations: 300 points
• French: 100 points
• Math: 100 points
• History/Geography: 50 points
• Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology): 50 points
2) DNB Oral Examination: 100 points
TOTAL: 800 points
Diplôme National du Brevet Mention Internationale (DNBI)
Socle Commun de Compétences: 400 points
1) Written Examinations: 300 points
• French: 100 points
• Math: 100 points
• History/Geography: 50 points
• Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology): 50 points
2) DNB Oral Examination: 100 points
• History Oral Examination: 50 points
• English Oral Examination: 50 points
Note: (In order to have the “international mention” of the DNB, a minimum of 25/50 is required for both orals)
TOTAL: 900 points
Please note: Scores for each domain of the socle commun de compétences (skills) are awarded by the pedagogical team during the conseil de classe based on continuous assessment in each subject.
What about the Result?
To pass the DNB or DNBI, the student must have:
• at least a score of 400 points (on the DNB part)
• at least 450 points (on the DNBi part with a minimum of 25/50 in both DNBi orals)
The Student will be Awarded a “Mention” if his/her Score is:
DNB | DNBI | |
“Assez Bien” Cum Laude | 480 points or more | 540 points or more |
“Bien” Magna Cum Laude | 560 points or more | 630 points or more |
“Très Bien” Summa Cum Laude | 640 points or more | 720 points or more |
Results of the Brevet
Results will be shared on Monday, June 16, 2025.
How to Prepare?
Two Mock Exams Proctored at LILA:
First Mock Exam (Winter 2024)
Thursday, December 5 and Friday, December 6:
Written exam (no regular class during these two dates)
Monday, December 9:
DNBi English Oral (Students will have class as usual and allowed to leave class 15 minutes before their orals)
Tuesday, December 10:
DNBi History/Geography Oral (Students will have class as usual and allowed to leave class 15 minutes before their orals)
Second Mock Exam (Spring 2025)
March 31 and April 1:
Written exam and EPI
Thursday, April 3:
DNBI English Oral (Students will have class as usual and allowed to leave class 15 minutes before their orals)
Friday, April 4:
DNBi History/Geography Oral (Students will have class as usual and allowed to leave class 15 minutes before their orals)
Final Oral and Written Exam Dates:
Dates of the Final Oral Exam (Spring 2025)
Wednesday, April 16, 2025:
Final French Oral EPI
Monday, April 28, 2025:
Final English Oral
Tuesday, April 29, 2025:
Final History/Geography Oral
Dates of the Final Written Exam (Spring 2025)
Monday, June 2, and Tuesday, June 3, 2025:
French Written, Math Exam, History/Geography Written, and Science Written