Overview
The Bac II (the National Baccalaureate Examination, also called the High School Diploma Examination) is Cambodia's grade 12 national exam. It is run by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and sat each year in all provincial capitals and Phnom Penh. Passing Bac II earns the high school graduation certificate and is the main route into university in Cambodia.
Note
MoEYS publishes its exam notices and regulations on its own website, which could not be reached directly from this environment. The facts below are corroborated from Cambodian English-language news coverage (Khmer Times, Cambodianess, Kiripost) of MoEYS's announcements. Candidates should confirm the current year's exact dates, fees and rules with their school or MoEYS before relying on this page.
Who can apply
Students completing grade 12 at a recognised Cambodian high school, registered through their school.
Students sit the exam in one of two tracks they followed in grade 12: the science track or the social science track.
Exam pattern
Bac II is a written exam held over two days. Both tracks sit Khmer literature, mathematics, a foreign language, and history; the remaining subjects differ by track.
| Track | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Science | Khmer literature, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, foreign language (English or French) |
| Social science | Khmer literature, mathematics, history, geography, moral and civic education, earth science, foreign language (English or French) |
For 2026, 151,238 candidates registered nationwide, and the exam was held on 10-11 August 2026. The ministry has reported tightening exam-hall rules in recent years (for example, banning electronic devices in exam centres and adding anti-corruption monitoring) to curb irregularities.
Marking and results
Each candidate's overall result is reported as one of five pass grades, from A (highest) down to E, or as a fail. For the 2026 exam, MoEYS announced a nationwide pass rate of 84.06%: 125,975 of the candidates who sat the exam passed, including 2,022 who achieved Grade A. Cambodia's Bac II pass rate has risen sharply over the past decade, from around 25% roughly ten years ago to over 84% in recent years, which MoEYS and local reporting attribute to ongoing reforms to the exam and to secondary education.
Results are announced at examination centres in all 24 provincial capitals and Phnom Penh, roughly three weeks after the exam.
Important dates
Based on the 2026 cycle, the typical yearly pattern is:
Registration at high schools: March, through the school a candidate is enrolled at.
Exam days: early to mid-August (held on 10-11 August for the 2026 exam).
Results announced: early September (announced 2 September 2026 for the 2026 exam).
Exact dates are set by MoEYS each year and can shift by a few weeks from one year to the next, so candidates should confirm the current year's schedule with their school rather than assuming the same dates repeat.
How to apply
Grade-12 students register at their own high school; the school collects and forwards registration forms to MoEYS.
A typical registration file includes the candidate's completed application form, a copy of their lower secondary (grade 9) certificate, a copy of their birth certificate, a digital photograph (candidates who do not submit one are not permitted to sit the exam), and proof of payment of the exam fee.
Registration is typically open for about a month, from early March to end of March, ahead of the August exam.
After the exam
Candidates who pass receive the Bac II high school graduation certificate. This certificate is the general entry requirement for bachelor's-level admission at Cambodian universities; most universities also run their own entrance assessment, foundation-year placement test, or English proficiency test alongside the Bac II result, so requirements vary by institution and programme.
Preparation tips
Decide on the science or social science track well before grade 12, since it fixes which exam subjects are sat in August.
Practise with past Bac II papers for each subject on the track, since the exam format and question style have stayed broadly similar from year to year.
Keep school attendance and in-class performance steady through grade 12, since schools use this record to confirm eligibility to sit the exam.
Prepare registration documents (grade 9 certificate copy, birth certificate copy, photograph, fee payment) early in the March registration window to avoid missing the deadline.
FAQs
What is Bac II?
Bac II is Cambodia's national grade 12 exam, run by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Passing it earns the high school graduation certificate and is the main qualification used for university admission in Cambodia.
How many subjects does a Bac II candidate sit?
Seven. Both tracks include Khmer literature, mathematics, history and a foreign language; science candidates add physics, chemistry and biology, while social science candidates add geography, moral and civic education, and earth science.
Is passing Bac II enough to get into university?
It is the general entry requirement, but most Cambodian universities also set their own entrance exam, foundation-year placement test, or English proficiency test on top of the Bac II result, so candidates should check the specific requirements of the university and programme they want.
When are Bac II results announced?
Results are typically announced in early September, around three weeks after the August exam, at centres in all 24 provincial capitals and Phnom Penh. Exact dates are set by the Ministry each year.