Students in the Terminale Générale and Terminale Technologique have recently been introduced to a new test, the Grand Oral. Expressing yourself in public, arguing, convincing and sustaining a thought process: these are the main objectives of the Grand oral. However, this test requires solid preparation.
In the following lines, you’ll find advice from the Oratores association on how to succeed in the Grand Oral and take the test in stride.
Would you like us to call you back?
Would you like more information?
Would you like to join us?
What is the “Grand oral du bac” test?
The Grand oral makes its debut in the 2021 session of the baccalauréat. It is also the last test taken by terminale students. During the test, they stand before a jury of two teachers and give a structured, well-argued answer to a specialty question they have defined.
In their final year of high school, students take two specialty courses, chosen according to their interests or future study plans. For the Grand Oral, they have to prepare two questions related to their specialties.
Defining these two questions is a process that takes time. Over the course of the year, students develop their own ideas, with the support of their specialist teachers.
For final-year students, the aim of the Grand Oral is to learn how to speak convincingly and engagingly in public.
How does the Grand oral du bac work?
The Grand oral du bac lasts 40 minutes. After you have introduced yourself to the jury, you will hand over a document signed by your specialization teachers, showing the two questions you have prepared. Once the jury has chosen the question to be dealt with, the test proceeds as follows:
- 20 minutes preparation time ;
- 5 minutes oral presentation;
- 10 minutes of discussion between the jury and the candidate, who can enhance his or her knowledge and argumentation skills, as well as expand on certain points covered during the oral;
- 5-minute discussion on the candidate’s study plan and post-baccalaureate orientation.
The oral exam is marked out of 20, with a coefficient of 10 for general-track candidates and 14 for technological-track candidates.
The Grand Oral has a number of special features:
- You can create a support document to illustrate what you are saying, but it will not be taken into account in the scoring;
- the presentation is made standing up facing the jury;
- the two specialties followed by the student in the final year of secondary school must be covered in the questions defined. It is not possible to propose two questions based on the same specialty;
- Candidates are not allowed to use any medium other than the one they have prepared;
- one of the jury’s examiners teaches the specialty related to the question being addressed, while the second teaches another discipline;
- the members of the jury cannot be your teachers.
What are the expectations of the jury evaluating your Grand Oral?
During your Grand Oral, the jury observes and evaluates the following skills:
- quality of oral performance, ability to sustain a speech and hold the audience’s attention
- time management, punctuation, intonation
- solidity of the knowledge mobilized and of the thinking carried out
- ability to interact with jury members, respond, reformulate and react
- quality of arguments and logical articulation of discourse, clarity of purpose
How to succeed in the Grand oral du bac, following the advice of Oratores, HEIP’s eloquence association?
Public speaking plays a fundamental role at HEIP, particularly in our associations. Our students can join Oratores, the school’s eloquence association affiliated to the French Debating Federation (FFD).
Driven by the conviction that eloquence is within everyone’s grasp, the association offers advice on how to tackle the Grand Oral in the best possible conditions.
Prepare effectively for the first 20 minutes of the test
On the day of the Grand Oral, you have 20 minutes to prepare. However, don’t give in to the temptation to write too much on your rough draft. This will waste precious time.
During your 20 minutes, Oratores advises you to write out your ideas concisely, using dashes. Your draft is a support that should guide your speech. It can take the form of notes, diagrams, illustrations, charts or tables. Your support can be used during the 3 parts of the test (presentation, interaction with the jury and discussion of the orientation).
Perfecting your oral presentation
Expressing yourself with conviction and ease in public is far from easy, but that’s what this test is all about!
Mastering your plan, diction and body language
To feel confident, you must first master your subject and know how to articulate your speech perfectly. Your argumentation must be crystal-clear and reflect logical reasoning that the jury will easily understand. To this end, Oratores recommends that you keep your sentences short and clear. During the test, your voice will be your instrument, the tool you use to convince and persuade. You’ll need to vary your intonation to attract and hold the jury’s attention.
Eloquence is a subtle art that doesn’t just focus on diction, but engages your whole body. So watch your posture and body language during the test. As far as possible, the Oratores association recommends avoiding any parasitic gestures and anchoring yourself firmly to the ground. In this way, you may transform yourself into a resplendent orator!
Follow the 5 parts of a rhetorical speech
The art of oratory, or rhetoric, is governed by precise rules, most of which date back to Roman antiquity. These rules include the different parts of a speech. According to Cicero, one of the most famous orators of his time, all successful speeches are divided into the following parts:
- In theexordium or overture, the speaker introduces his subject and attracts the audience’s positive attention through captatio benevolentiae ;
- narration(narratio), the part in which the narrator presents the facts;
- confirmation(confirmatio), proof, defence of the arguments put forward ;
- the peroration(peroratio), the climactic conclusion of the speech.
These four parts can help you to structure your speech effectively and build a relevant, logical argument.
Answering the jury’s questions
After your presentation, you’ll have to talk to the jury and answer their questions. Be a good listener and open to discussion. The jury’s role is not to make you fail the test, but to assess your ability to bounce back and defend your ideas. The fact that the jury asks you questions is not in itself a bad sign. It’s an opportunity for you to add to a point you’ve made, or to make it clearer for your interviewers.
Above all, stay honest and say you don’t know.
Finally, remain pleasant and polite with the jury throughout the test.
How can you effectively manage stress during the Grand Oral?
For some, the Grand Oral is the most nerve-wracking test of the baccalaureate. In addition to judging your eloquence, it calls for important interpersonal skills and crucial interpersonal know-how.
On the big day, stress can make you lose your composure and paralyze you in front of the jury. To avoid this, Oratores encourages you to practice and speak regularly in front of an audience. You can rehearse your presentation in front of family, friends or fellow students. By practicing more and more, you’ll gain in confidence and poise, and improve your oratory skills.
Before entering the room and at the moment of the test, create a peaceful space around you and within yourself. Stay focused on the exercise ahead: you’ve worked hard to pass your oral, and now it’s time for you to shine. Turn your attention to your breathing, making it calm, deep and regular. By calming your heart rate, you’ll be able to think clearly and start the test in the best possible conditions.
Practical advice to make the most of your Grand Oral.
Finally, Oratores recommends that you follow these tips to ensure that your oral presentation goes as smoothly as possible:
- Be on time on the day of the test, but don’t arrive too early, as this will only increase your stress;
- Dress appropriately and comfortably, don’t change your personality for this oral;
- smile and be pleasant to the jury;
- for your specialty questions, find subjects that appeal to you and that you’re passionate about. More than just an official exercise, the Grand Oral is ultimately an opportunity for you to work for a year on a theme that’s close to your heart. We do what we love, so make the test a pleasure!