International section

The French National Education authority and College Board in the USA administer the BFI: the French International Baccalaureate. Since 2022, the BFI diploma has replaced the OIB in France as the international form of the French baccalaureate. The new BFI delivers its first diplomas in 2024.

This option compliments the French education system, known for its academic rigidity, with the more student-centred and enquiry based Anglo-Saxon method of learning. It is intended for motivated students who are interested in English and want to learn in an adapted school environment in order to attain a level of excellence in English. The question of motivation is very important because the BFI involves lots of supplementary work.

Students choosing the BFI American Section must be passionate about studying English literature and learning about History-Geography in English, taught exclusively by native teachers.

Students learn to critically analyse both American and English works of literature and see History-Geography topics from an American perspective sitting adapted English language exams in these subjects as part of the French Brevet and Baccalaureate. These subjects inclunding a further subject entitled "Connaissance du monde" account for 40% of the Baccalaureate (a coefficient of 60). They are assessed exclusively by the following exams taken in May during the ‘Terminale’ year:

4hr written exam in English Literature (coefficient 10)
30 minute oral exam in English Literature (coefficient 10)
4hr written exam in History-Geography (coefficient 10)
20 minute oral exam in History-Geography (coefficient 10)
20 minute oral exam in Connnaissance du monde : global studies-US Perspectives (coefficient 20)

The format of the written exams is a dissertation followed by a commentary.

The table below details the lessons offered in the American International Section at St Denis and TOEFL qualifications in which we enrol all BFI students, in order to develop their exam technique and improve their self-confidence as they prepare for application to universities and higher education institutes in France and around the world:

French Year Group	UK equivalent	US equivalent	English Literature	History-Geography in English
6° BFI	Year 7	6th Grade	Foundations of English Language	Introduction to History-Geography (1.5hrs of HG per week in English)
5° BFI	Year 8	7th Grade	Foundations of English Language and Literature	Introduction to History-Geography (1.5hrs of HG per week in English)
4° BFI	Year 9	8th Grade	Consolidation of English Language and Literature	Consolidation of History-Geography (3hrs per week or 100% of HG lessons in English)
3° BFI	Year 10	9th Grade	BFI Oral Brevet exam and Test TOEFL Junior® - Standard	Consolidation of History-Geography (50% of classes in English to prepare for BFI oral Brevet exam & 50% of classes in French to prepare for French written brevet exam)
2° BFI	Year 11	10th Grade	TOEIC® Listening and Reading Test - Institutional Programme	Preparation for more advanced History-Geography (4hrs per week or 100% of HG in English)
1° BFI	Year 12	11th Grade	Test TOEFL ITP® - Niveau 1 (intermédiaire à avancé) Connnaissance du monde : global studies-US perspectives (6hrs per week)	Advanced History-Geography (4hrs per week or 100% of HG in English)
T° BFI	Year 13	12th Grade	Test TOEFL IBT	Advanced History-Geography culminating in BFI 4hr written and 15 minute oral exams (4hrs per week or 100% of HG in English)

Academia International Studies Dual Diploma

We are also proud to offer students the opportunity to follow online courses leading to a dual Franco-American diploma starting in 2° BFI.
For more details please contact us or follow the link : https://dualdiploma.org/

Download our B.F.I. brochure

Information about the BFI diploma from the UK university applications service, UCAS:
https://qips.ucas.com/qip/france-option-internationale-du-baccalaureat-oib-assessed-from-2021

The Team: