This article is based on reporting originally published by hellomonaco.com and covers announcements made by Monaco’s Direction de l’Éducation Nationale in mid-2020.
Background: Why Monaco Cancelled Its 2020 Baccalaureate Exams
On 3 April 2020, Monaco’s education authority announced the cancellation of final written exams for both the baccalaureate (the school-leaving qualification) and the brevet (the national diploma awarded at the end of lower secondary school). The decision was driven by the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had forced schools to close and students to learn remotely during a prolonged period of confinement.
In place of the traditional high-stakes final exams, both qualifications would be awarded on the basis of continuous assessment — a shift that required detailed guidance from the administration to ensure consistency and fairness.
How Continuous Assessment Would Work for the Baccalaureate
Isabelle Bonnal, Monaco’s Director of National Education, provided further detail on the practical implementation of the new approach. Key points included:
- Grade calculation: Only marks earned in the first two trimesters of the academic year would count toward the final baccalaureate result. Third-trimester grades obtained after schools reopened on 4 May 2020 would not form part of the numerical calculation.
- Teacher commentary: Rather than contributing numerically, progress observed after schools reopened would be recorded as written comments in each student’s school record book (livret scolaire). Teachers would also note attendance and engagement with schoolwork during the confinement period.
- Abolition of the Première oral exam: The oral exam in French language for students in the Première year (the penultimate year of high school) was permanently abolished, replaced by continuous assessment. This change applied not just as a COVID-era exception but as a lasting reform for the Monaco system.
The Role of the Jury
Director Bonnal emphasised that the fundamental structure of the baccalaureate jury would remain unchanged. As in every other year, the diploma would be awarded by a jury convened under the Academy of Nice, chaired by an academic and composed of inspectors and teachers.
The jury’s responsibilities in 2020 included:
- Reviewing each candidate’s livret scolaire (school record book).
- Examining academic results from the first two trimesters of the Terminale (final year), as well as results from the first year (Première).
- Taking into account the qualitative assessments written by classroom teachers.
- Applying a harmonisation process to ensure equal treatment of all candidates, regardless of which school or class they attended — a standard practice designed to correct for grading differences between establishments.
Return to School and Additional Class Openings
Students in the Première and Terminale year groups had already returned to in-person classes from 4 May 2020. Bonnal indicated that the administration was reviewing the possibility of opening additional classes — potentially two to three days per week — in line with steps being taken in France, while continuing to respect health and safety protocols for both students and staff.
The emphasis on in-person assessments delivered by teachers was deliberate: face-to-face observation allowed educators to provide the qualitative commentary that would feed into the jury’s deliberations, giving students credit for their engagement and effort during an exceptionally difficult period.
Key Takeaways
- Monaco’s 2020 baccalaureate was awarded entirely on continuous assessment, using trimester grades and teacher commentary rather than final written exams.
- The abolition of the Première French oral exam was framed as a permanent change, not a temporary measure.
- A jury under the Academy of Nice retained oversight, with a harmonisation step to ensure fairness across candidates.
- The administration balanced the need for meaningful in-person assessment with ongoing public health requirements as schools reopened in May 2020.