Overview
The Brevet d'Études du Premier Cycle (BEPC) is Côte d'Ivoire's national exam marking the end of the first cycle of secondary education (collège). It is set by the Direction des Examens et Concours (DECO), under the Ministère de l'Éducation Nationale et de l'Alphabétisation (MENA), and follows the French-derived system used across the country's schools. The BEPC certifies that a student has completed the four years of collège (the classes of 6e, 5e, 4e and 3e) and is a required step before moving on to the second cycle of secondary school (lycée).
Who can apply
Candidates are mainly students finishing the final year of collège (classe de troisième) in a public or private school authorised by the state, generally around age 15. A student who is not enrolled in a recognised school for the exam year can still sit the BEPC as a "candidat libre" (free candidate), registering directly with DECO rather than through a school.
Exam pattern
The BEPC is a written exam covering nine subjects, each marked out of 20. A subject's coefficient decides how much it counts toward the final total; coefficients across all nine subjects add up to 18, for a maximum possible score of 360 points.
| Subject | Coefficient |
|---|---|
| French composition | 4 |
| Mathematics | 3 |
| English | 2 |
| History-Geography | 2 |
| Life and Earth Sciences (SVT) | 2 |
| Physics-Chemistry | 2 |
| Human Rights and Citizenship Education (EDHC) | 1 |
| Second foreign language (LV2) | 1 |
| Physical and Sports Education (EPS) | 1 |
For the 2026 session, written papers ran from 26 to 29 May 2026: French composition on 26 May and Mathematics on 27 May, both starting at 7:45am local time, with the remaining subjects spread over the following days.
Marking and results
Each subject mark is multiplied by its coefficient and the results added up, out of a maximum of 360 points. For the 2026 session, a candidate needed 180 points out of 360 (50%) to be admitted outright; candidates close to that mark can be considered for "repêchage," a catch-up admission based on additional criteria set by DECO. DECO reported a national pass rate of 52.17% for the 2026 session.
Results are not posted at schools first. Candidates check their own result online by entering their exam registration number on DECO's portal, men-deco.org, or one of its mirror sites, itdeco.ci and agce.exam-deco.org.
Important dates
For the 2026 session:
Written exams: 26 to 29 May 2026
Results published: 16 June 2026, 2pm local time
Pre-registration for free candidates for a given session typically opens online with DECO around October-November of the preceding year.
Fees
For the 2026 session, a free candidate ("candidat libre") pays a BEPC registration fee of 2,000 FCFA (XOF), plus 500 FCFA for each optional subject chosen. Candidates registered through a school pay their exam fees through the school as part of its normal registration process, rather than paying DECO directly.
How to apply
School candidates: the school pre-registers each candidate online, then prints the pre-registration form for the student to sign and file at the school, along with a recent ID photo and a photocopy of a valid national identity card or biometric passport.
Free candidates: the candidate pre-registers online directly with DECO, then validates the file in person with the relevant regional education directorate (DRENA/DREN), submitting the signed pre-registration form, proof of fee payment, an ID photocopy and identity photos.
After the exam
Passing the BEPC is required to move from collège into the second cycle of secondary school (lycée, starting at classe de seconde) toward the baccalauréat. It also allows entry to some teacher-training colleges, and can support entry-level jobs in trade or administration for students who do not continue in general or technical secondary school.
Preparation tips
Prioritise French composition and Mathematics: together they carry 7 of the 18 total coefficient points, so performance in these two subjects weighs most heavily on the final score.
Practice past papers for every subject under timed conditions, since the written papers run over several consecutive days in the same week.
Check your registration status and venue details well before the exam dates, since free candidates must validate their file with the DRENA/DREN after pre-registering online with DECO.
Who can take the BEPC?
Students finishing classe de troisième (the final year of collège) in an authorised public or private school normally sit the BEPC through their school. Anyone not enrolled in a recognised school for that session can register separately as a free candidate ("candidat libre") directly with DECO.
How is the BEPC marked?
Each of the nine subjects is marked out of 20 and multiplied by its coefficient; the coefficients add up to 18, giving a maximum score of 360 points. A candidate generally needs 180 points (50%) to be admitted, with borderline scores considered for a catch-up admission ("repêchage").
How much does the BEPC cost for a free candidate?
For the 2026 session, a free candidate pays a registration fee of 2,000 FCFA (XOF), plus 500 FCFA for each optional subject chosen. Candidates registered through a school pay through the school instead.
Where can I check my BEPC result?
DECO publishes BEPC results online rather than at schools first. Candidates enter their exam registration number on men-deco.org, or one of its mirror sites itdeco.ci and agce.exam-deco.org, to see their result.