Overview
The Baccalauréat (the "Bac") is the school-leaving and university-entrance examination of Cameroon's Francophone education subsystem, taken at the end of Terminale, the final year of the general lycée. It is organised by the Office du Baccalauréat du Cameroun (OBC), a public body working under the Ministère des Enseignements Secondaires (MINESEC). This file covers the general-education Baccalauréat (Baccalauréat de l'Enseignement Secondaire Général). A separate Baccalauréat Technique exists for technical lycées and is outside this file's scope, as is the GCE (General Certificate of Education), the equivalent school-leaving exam of Cameroon's Anglophone subsystem, which has its own programme file.
Who can apply
Candidates are students enrolled in Terminale in a general lycée, after completing Seconde and Première, typically around 18 years old. Candidates register through their school: the lycée (listed by OBC as a "point focal" establishment) enters its Terminale candidates on OBC's Epimexam platform ahead of the session.
Exam pattern
The general Baccalauréat is organised into series (filières), each with its own set of compulsory subjects and its own weighting (coefficients) for the overall average. The main general-education series are:
| Series | Main focus |
|---|---|
| A | Literary/humanities — French, Philosophy, History-Geography and languages are the heaviest-weighted subjects |
| C | Mathématiques et Sciences Physiques — Mathematics and Physics-Chemistry are the heaviest-weighted subjects |
| D | Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre — biology/earth science and Mathematics are the heaviest-weighted subjects |
Every series also includes French, Philosophy, English (Cameroon's other official language), and other common subjects, each weighted less heavily than the series' core subjects. Every series also includes a Physical and Sports Education (EPS) component, taken as a theory or practical paper depending on the series; missing it can disqualify a candidate for that session. Exact subject lists and coefficients are set by OBC per series and are published on its site ahead of each session.
Marking and results
All papers are marked out of 20, and a candidate's papers are combined, each weighted by its coefficient, into one overall average out of 20. An overall average of 10/20 or more is a pass. Candidates who score below 10 but reach a jury-set minimum (commonly reported as 9/20, subject to minimum marks in the series' core subjects) may be admitted after jury deliberation; this discretion is exercised by the examination jury case by case. Passing candidates are awarded mentions: reports describe Passable for an average from 10 up to 12, Assez Bien from 12 up to 14, Bien from 14 up to 16, Très Bien from 16 up to 18, and the highest band from 18 upward — exact mention bands can vary by session, so candidates should check the result notice for the year they sit.
Important dates
For the 2026 session, OBC's published calendar had written exams for the general-education Baccalauréat running from 25 to 30 May 2026, marking (correction) running from 15 to 19 June 2026, and jury deliberations from 8 to 11 July 2026, after which results are released. Dates shift from year to year, so candidates should confirm the current session's calendar on OBC's site before the exam period.
Fees
For the 2024 session, OBC's registration fee for the general-education Baccalauréat was set at XAF 13,000 per candidate, up from XAF 10,500 in earlier sessions — reported as the first increase in about three decades. Fees are reviewed periodically, so candidates should confirm the current year's amount through their school or OBC before paying.
How to apply
Candidates do not register directly with OBC. Their school enters them as candidates on OBC's Epimexam platform, during a registration window that MINESEC opens by ministerial circular, typically in the school year before the exam session. The school collects the candidate's personal and academic details and the registration fee, and submits the entry through Epimexam; candidates can later use the same platform to check their registration status and, after the session, their results.
After the exam
The Baccalauréat is the entry qualification Francophone-subsystem students use to apply to higher education in Cameroon (Anglophone-subsystem students apply with the GCE Advanced Level instead). State universities admit Baccalauréat holders by file review for most faculties, while selective tracks — medicine, engineering, teacher training and other grandes écoles — select candidates through a separate competitive entrance exam (concours). Results are published through Epimexam and other OBC-announced channels such as SMS shortcodes and broadcast media.
Preparation tips
Learn your series' compulsory subjects and which ones carry the heaviest coefficients, since they drive the overall average more than the others.
Do not skip the EPS component: in some series missing it can disqualify a candidate for that session.
Confirm your school has registered you on Epimexam and keep your registration receipt, since this is the only route into the exam.
Check OBC's published calendar for the current session rather than relying on a previous year's dates.
FAQs
Which series can I take the Cameroon Bac in?
The main general-education series are A (literary/humanities), C (Mathématiques et Sciences Physiques) and D (Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre). Each has its own compulsory subjects and coefficients, published by OBC ahead of each session.
What average do I need to pass?
An overall average of 10 out of 20, combining all papers by their coefficients. Averages just below that may still be admitted after jury deliberation, depending on the candidate's marks in the series' core subjects.
Is there a fee to register for the Bac?
Yes. For the 2024 session, OBC set the registration fee at XAF 13,000 per candidate, paid through the candidate's school. Fees are reviewed periodically, so confirm the current year's amount with your school.
Can the Cameroon Bac get me into university?
Yes. It is the entry qualification for Francophone-subsystem students applying to Cameroonian universities. Most faculties admit by file review, while selective tracks such as medicine and engineering require passing a separate concours.