Lycée Internationale De Grenoble- Grenoble International High School
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1 Lycée Internationale de Grenoble- Grenoble International High School 4 place de Sfax B.P. 1570 38012 Grenoble Cedex 1 (33) 4 38 12 25 00 fax (33) 4 38 12 25 20
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
Name: Date of Birth: Sex: Male Female Address: Phone: international access code + 33 + Email:
Freshman year /9th grade academic year 2011-2012 absences:
3ème Teacher Hrs/ Trimestrial Grades (French system) Overall equiv.: wk Overall U.S. 1st 2nd 3rd 1+2+3/3 class ave. class min class max (see table)** French (honors) 4 Mathematics (honors) 4 Physics and Chemistry (honors) 1.5 Earth and Life Science (SVT) (honors) 1.5 History/Geography (honors) in French* 2.5 History/Geography (honors) in English* 2.5 Physical Education 3 Art 1 Music 1 Technology 1.5 English Language and Literature (for native speakers) (honors) 3 German/Spanish/Italian/ (honors) 3
---= no grade given Overall Average 9th grade, French system: (U.S. equiv: **) Converted into U.S. system before averaging: **
* the two separate history courses in two different languages deal with different parts of the overall history program
** since the French scale does not reward proportionately to the U.S. scale, translating the French average into the U.S. system will give different results than translating each grade and then averaging. Grades may go above the total possible of 4.00 because the French system uses grades from 14 to 20 to distinguish between levels of achievement among the select A+ group. The proportion of students going over a 14 average or 4.00 average is only 4% of the total student population in France (see school and system profile enclosed) 2 Name: Seconde/10th grade academic year 2012-2013 Absences:
Subject and Level Teacher Hrs/ Trimestrial Grades (French system) Overall Equiv: wk US Taught in French 1st 2nd 3rd Overall class ave. Class min Class max (see table)** French (honors) 4 Mathematics (honors) 4 Economics and Social Sciences (honors) 1.5 Physics and Chemistry (honors) 3 Earth and Life Science (honors) 1.5 History + Geography (P1-in French) (honors)* 2 Physical Education 2 Option Taught in English History + Geography (P2-in English) (honors)* 2 English Language and Literature (honors) 6 Taught in another language Spanish/German/Italian foreign language 1 2.5 Literature and Society (honors) 1.5 Latin (honors) 2
---= no grade given Overall Average French system 10th grade: (U.S. equiv: **) Converted into U.S. system before averaging: **
*the two separate history courses in two different languages deal with different parts of the overall history program
** since the French scale does not reward proportionately to the U.S. scale, translating the French average into the U.S. system will give different results than translating each grade and then averaging. Grades may go above the total possible of 4.00 because the French system uses grades from 14 to 20 to distinguish between levels of achievement among the select A+ group. The proportion of students going over a 14 average or 4.00 average is only 4% of the total student population in France (see school profile enclosed) 3 Starting in the 11th grade, courses are weighted in accordance with their relative weight on the graduation exam, the Baccalaureat.
Name: Première/11th grade SCIENTIFIC BRANCH with OIB academic year 2013-2014 Absences: Subject and Level Teacher Hrs/ Trimestrial Grades (French system) Overall Coefficient Points for wk Equiv Weighting Average U.S. Taught in French 1st 2nd 3rd Overall class Class min Class (see French US ave. max table)** French (honors) 4 4 Mathematics (honors) 4 7 Physics and Chemistry (honors) 3 6 Earth and Life Science (honors) 3 6 History and Geography OIB (in French) (honors)* 3 3 Physical Education 2 2 Art, Music, Sports Option 2 score-10(fr) or 3(us) x 2 Taught in another language German/Spanish/Italian foreign language 2 (honors) 3 2 German/Spanish/Italian/Chinese/Greek/Arabic/Latin foreign score-10(fr) or language 3 (honors) 3(us) x 2 Taught in English History and Geography OIB (in English) (honors)* 3 4 English Language and Literature OIB (honors) 6 9 ---=no grade given French average 11th grade before coefficients: (US equiv: **) US average before coefficients: ** coefficient divider: 43 points: French () US () French average after coefficients: (US equiv: **) Converted into US system before averaging with coefficients: ** *the two separate history courses in two different languages deal with different parts of the overall history program ** since the French scale does not reward proportionately to the U.S. scale, translating the French average into the U.S. system will give different results than translating each grade and then averaging. Grades may go above the total possible of 4.00 because the French system uses grades from 14 to 20 to distinguish between levels of achievement among the select A+ group. The proportion of students going over a 14 average or 4.00 average is only 4% of the total student population in France (see school profile enclosed)
Cumulative average 10th and 11th grades/Years 11 and 12: In French = (US equiv: ** ) or converted into U.S. system with coefficients before averaging: **
is enrolled in the Scientific branch of the French Bac with the International Option (OIB program) managed by Cambridge Assessment in conjunction with French National Education. Designed for the best bilingual/bicultural pupils in France, unlike the Geneva IB, the OIB always tests TWO native languages/cultures with each subject marked out of 20. The heavy workload, often more than 38 hours of class a week with considerable homework to prepare for all the normal French Bac subjects plus demanding 4 genuine British A level exams for both Language and Literature as well as History and Geography, makes this one of the most difficult secondary education diplomas in the world. To succeed, students have to develop rigorous methods, time management and organisational skills as well as a very broad cultural background. Like all the students admitted into the International Option of the French bac in the English section of our school, is FULLY bilingual, having received overall on IELTS in June 2012, on the Edexcel version of the IGCSE in English Language A, so we ask you to waive any language requirement.
___Forecasts for French Bac Series S with OIB for (equivalent U.S. score in parentheses): OIB English Literature AP equivalent: written: oral: (*) OIB History/Geog AP equivalent: written: oral: (*) Mathematics AP equivalent (with specialty): (*) Earth/Life Sciences AP equivalent (with specialty): (*) Physics/Chemistry AP equivalent (with specialty) : (*) Philosophy: () German/Spanish/Italian 1st foreign language: (*) Gym/Sports: (*) German/Spanish/Italian/Greek/Latin/Chinese 2nd foreign language: (*) German/Spanish/Italian Literature: (*) Art/Music Option: (*)
___Tests taken at the end of 11th grad French Literature: written: () oral: (*) Personal Research Project: (*)
___Overall weighted average: (* U.S.)
(French research shows, roughly speaking, that among all 12th grade high school students, for those taking a general bac with OIB , above 14=top 4%, above 15=top 1%, above 16=top 0.5%, above 17= top 0.3%, above 18= top 0.1%) *A 10=a B, a 12 and above is an A, grades of 14 and above are used to distinguish between levels of achievement within the selective A+ group. As these grades represent only the A+ group, they may go over 4.00. student profile: Before preparing this reference, I consulted all of
* The above results are hereby certified accurate and complete. We will send further records as they become available.
Gregg West, English section coordinator for university applications abroad
(School and diploma profile on pages that follow):
C i t é S c o l a i r e I n t e r n a t i o n a l e 4 place de Sfax B.P. 1570 38012 Grenoble Cedex 1 F R A N C E 5 telephone : 33 4 38 12 25 00 fax : 33 4 38 12 25 20 counselor: Gregg West [email protected]
A brief explanation of the French National Education system, its exams, and our own school profile to help your university understand our candidates' applications
A system that focuses on qualifications
French high schools prepare students for a battery of exams administered by the university system called the Baccalaureat or BAC. There are several versions of these exams. Just under 80% of students who take the exams pass them, but they represent only about 61% of their age group, because 39% have opted for lower qualifications following orientation with a counsellor, or have attained no qualification. Among the 61% who get a BAC, just under half (28.5% of the age group) have studied for a degree which will allow them to enter professional life directly (vocational, technical and professional BACs), most often because they are not fully qualified for university level work. The other half of these BAC recipients (32.4% of the age group) have obtained a general BAC, far more difficult academically, in one of three branches: scientific, literary and economic/social studies. Over 80% of those who take this exam pass it due to prior streaming and selection. The exam includes separate tests, each several hours long, in every subject area studied (please see "academic program" below). Scores are multiplied by coefficients, then added and averaged to get the overall score which must be above 10 out of 20 to pass. (see "grading system" below) (for example, on the literary Bac, French scores are multiplied by 9, Philosophy scores by 7 and science scores only by 2. In contrast, on the scientific Bac, Math scores are multiplied by 7, each subject in science scores by 6 and French by 4.)
A very heavy academic program
Whichever branch college-bound students opt for, all face a class schedule in high school with 28 hours MINIMUM of obligatory classes weekly in French, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Earth and Life Science, History and Geography, Physical Education, one foreign language, PLUS extra classes in Economics and Social Sciences, Extra math and science, or extra foreign languages, depending on their branch, as well as optional classes like music, dance, theatre, art, etc. exams (as opposed to vocational-technical high schools that prepare students for easier exams). All students have at least 8 subjects a week; many take options which add extra hours and work. In their senior year, all students are additionally required to take Philosophy. Compared with a general American high school, these classes demand much more of these students in terms of memory work, analysis and synthesis ability, reasoning, organisation, quantity and quality of homework, and writing skills. Indeed, with school from 8 to 6 four days a week and half days on Wednesdays and Saturdays with several hours of homework every night, students who manage to do the work well deserve enormous credit. The material is studied here in greater depth, much more like the work of university students. As a consequence, much course work itself can be considered as honors in every year and AP quality in the junior year. Academically-oriented courses in the final year are all AP level or higher.
Our school profile
Our school is designed for students who are bilingual, college-bound students (over 98% go on to university), often from families that come from abroad or have lived abroad. Language ability and a desire to prepare for the general BAC described above (that opens the door to university) are the only criteria for entry, but it requires substantial extra time and effort to succeed here, which discourages many candidates. Students take all the usual required classes in French (see the list above) but also take extra History/Geography and Language/ Literature classes in one of six languages we run here (English, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Arabic). This adds an additional 4 hours up to the 9th grade, and then an additional 6 hours compared to normal Bac classes in 10th grade, followed by AP level work (11th and 12th grades) to the student's weekly schedule (3 extra in language and literature and 2-3 in history, depending on whether the student is in 10 th or 11th and 12th, to help them progress and maintain their language level in a French environment. Students who additionally choose to take other options can end up with 36 to 42 hours of class a week. Our students take British exams at the end of the year to validate their level and do better than the British national average on the tests. 6 International Exams
The "Option Internationale Baccalaureat" or International High School Graduation Exams (OIB exams) take place in June each year. The OIB was created by the French Ministry of Education in collaboration with Cambridge Assessment of Cambridge University (Admissions Testing Service) for bilingual high school students like those in our school. It aims at building a rich curriculum through teaching different languages and cultures within the context of the academic program of the French BAC. Variants of the OIB exist in a variety of languages. (N.B. There is no connection between the OIB and the IB or International Baccalaureat.) The latter is overseen by the BAC of Geneva and, unlike the OIB, does not test a fully bilingual culture.
Characteristics of the OIB
1. The OIB is an option and not a branch of study and is therefore open to students enrolled in the three branches of the general BAC. It means preparing for these exams in addition to all the general BAC exams.
2. The OIB option is an especially challenging diploma which requires two years of intense preparation. Students must follow the OIB courses in 11th and 12th grades to gain eligibility to present the international option at the BAC. Doing the OIB means adding 6 hours to the weekly schedules of the students described in the previous section (school profile.)
3. The OIB test is comprised of English, plus History and Geography combined. The History/Geography syllabus, however, is that of the French national curriculum, taught in both English and French, with a special British emphasis on themes and subject areas.
4. The OIB is equivalent to choosing three A levels in the British educational system in English literature, history and geography. This corresponds to an AP level or higher in these subjects. Only students with an excellent level in English (oral and written) are encouraged to present this option at the BAC, yet all of the students in our English section do so. Our success rate is generally 100%. The OIB is heavily weighted (coefficient 9-10 in English Literature and 7-9 in History/Geography), which contributes to the overall result of a student’s BAC.
5. The written OIB examination lasts four hours for English and four more for History/Geography. There is also an oral examination in each of the subjects. The choice of essay and oral questions, and the correction of these examinations, are overseen by Cambridge Assessment (Admissions Testing Service) in cooperation with the French Ministry of Education.
Grading
It is difficult to translate the French grading system into the American system. First, a grade in a vocational-technical program or a general BAC program does not at all mean the same thing. Second, a student studying the literary branch (chosen in 11th grade) has a much easier mathematics program to learn than one in social sciences whose math program is a bit easier than the scientific branch, while the French literature program for the literary branch is far heavier than that faced by students in the scientific branch. So, a student who gets quite a good grade in math or literature in a branch where that is not emphasized still may know far less about the subject than one whose grade was much lower but who has studied in a branch where the subject is developed more fully. Third, the higher general level of difficulty in classes, though substantiated by general statistics, is variable according to the subjects involved, and manifests itself differently depending on the quality of particular schools and the severity of particular teachers.
Students doing the challenging OIB program (International Option of the French Baccalaureat, which has nothing to do with the much less demanding IB) cannot be graded on the same scale as other students as their exams tests true bilingual and bicultural students with a much heavier class schedule (6 hours more a week) and large amounts of homework above and beyond all the normal bac subjects which they ALSO take exams for. 7
As an American who has worked in both systems, I want to fairly represent our students, neither under or overplaying their abilities, and have tried to take numerous statistics into account in the calculations mentioned below: average performance by our students who have gone abroad and returned or vice versa, SAT scores correlated to class grades and percentiles, French general Bac scores and percentages of students they represent, etc.
In grading, the French use a 20 point system where the top six points are given only to the exceptionally talented student, except in more subjective artistic disciplines. The bottom 4 points are usually given only to students who have done almost no work or are, unhappily, quite lost. Let it be clear that in the chart below we are referring to: a. general BAC students, b. those doing the OIB, and c. a composite, average grade that might be awarded across the whole spectrum of subjects and branches, knowing that in one branch and subject area a "10", for example, might represent a higher standard of achievement than it would in another branch and subject area. Finally, let it be said that 14 and above is really A+ work, for the French use the top six points of their scale to award excellence.
French grade, in American GPA equivalent Approximate ranking equivalent among all high school Observations: (and comments concerning the general bac equivalent, for averages seniors based on a weighted average (including case where these grades are obtained on the branches considering level coefficients) BAC) with OIB option of difficulty 0-6.99 F 0-.49 0-49.9%ile 7-7.99 D-, D, D+ .5-1.49 50.0-59.9%ile 8-8.99 C-, C, C+ 1.5-2.49 60-69.9%ile a student with a C here would be held back a year in order to improve command of basics 9-9.99 B- 2.5-2.99 70-77.9%ile 10-10.99 B/B+ 3.0-3.49 78-84.9%ile lowest grade to pass the BAC and 11-11.99 A- 3.5-3.79 85-89.9%ile enter university 12-12.99 A 3.8-3.89 90-92.9%ile with honors on Bac 13-13.99 A 3.9-3.99 93-95.9%ile with honors on Bac 14-14.99 A+ 4.0-4.19 96-98.9%ile high distinction on Bac 15-15.99 A++ 4.2-4.39 99-99.49%ile high distinction on Bac 16-16.99 A+++ 4.4-4.59 99.5-99.69%ile with highest distinction on Bac: these levels of achieve- 17-17.99 A++++ 4.6-4.79 99.7-99.89%ile ment are not usually 18-18.99 A+++++ 4.8-4.99 99.900-99.989%ile measured by U.S. 19-19.99 A++++++ 5.0-5.19 99.990-99.999%ile high school 20 A+++++++ 5.2 over 99.999%ile grading systems
Class Ranking
In explanation of the percentiles used above, I should explain that the French system doesn't run comparative statistics for class ranking for some of the same reasons it is hard to translate French grades into the U.S. system. One can only compare a student to the 30 (or possibly if there are two classes in the same branch, taking the same OIB, 60) or so other students who take exactly the same program, not all those who are seniors in the same high school, and statistically, such a group is too small to make ranking very meaningful.
Nevertheless, it is clear that: a. General BAC branches already exclude all the students who chose vocational-technical-professional BAC options and don't intend to pursue their education further after high school. 8 b.Out of this 32% of students in their age group... the OIB option represents a tiny group of students whose option is so difficult, that they represent, with only a few exceptions, only students of the top 25% of students in their age group. Indeed very few of our OIB students in the English section fail the BAC (Our success rate on the BAC is almost always between 98 and 100% compared to an overall success rate on the bac of around 80%... for an easier exam.)
Among students who chose a general BAC and the OIB, students with an overall weighted average (considering the higher coefficients applied to subjects that are emphasized in each branch) of over 16 (who get a citation for "with highest distinction" or "très bien") would comprise about 1.6% of their class... but in fact, compared with all high school seniors, this means they represent only .4%: above 99.5%ile. Adjusted this way, those getting from 14 -16 (with a citation of "with great distinction" or "bien") make up only about 3.35% (above 96.65.%ile ), and those receiving 12-14 (with the citation "honorable mention" or "assez bien") compose 5.35% (above 90.9%ile).
In Conclusion
I hope these explanations will help you interpret the performance of our students fairly. I remain at your disposal for any additional information you might wish to have.
Gregg West* English Section Coordinator for University Applications Abroad
*Gregg West only counsels part time, also teaching History and Geography, Business English, and Interpersonal Communications in the English section. He received his B.A. in Humanities in 1974, Magna Cum Laude, and a B.S. in Secondary Education with majors in English and History in 1978, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. A National Merit Finalist, member of Phi Beta Kappa, and Fulbright Assistant to France, Mr. West worked in Kansas schools for 4 years before moving to France where he has lived and worked since 1983.