What is the risk in case of baccalaureate fraud?

Verified 17 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you cheat during a point evaluation (continuous check) or a terminal test of the bin, you commit a fraud. You risk disciplinary and criminal sanctions.

Point-in-time evaluation

Cheating during an exam is a fraud. You commit fraud if you act in one of the following ways:

  • Being replaced by another person during an ordeal
  • Impersonating someone else (identity substitution)
  • Use false documents (fake diplomas, fake identity papers for example)
  • Use a device to exchange or consult information (smartphone, smartwatch for example)
  • Use a device to listen to audio files
  • Communicate with other candidates during the test
  • Using a calculator without authorization
  • Use paper or documents other than those provided by the administration
  • Commit a plagiarism.

Warning  

The non-compliance with certain instructions during the examination may also constitute an attempt at fraud.

Fraud can also be committed outside the scope of tests or evaluations. This concerns in particular cases of fraud of the reporting tools that may lead to a change in the average score under examination.

Example :

If you use a teacher's credentials on the grade reporting application and change one or more grades from your continuous check, you are committing fraud.

The procedure differs depending on whether the fraud or attempted fraud is committed during the evaluation or outside the scope of the evaluation:

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Fraud committed during the evaluation

If you are caught in the act of fraud or attempted fraud, the room supervisor must intervene.

It does not prevent you from continuing the test, but seizes the documents or materials that will establish the reality of the facts (paper document...).

He writes a report describing the behaviors observed.

He makes you sign the document. The other supervisors also sign it. If you refuse to sign, the supervisor indicates this in the minutes.

Please note

The head of the examination center can decide on your immediate expulsion if you disrupt the assessment. If you are being replaced by another person to take the assessment, the head of the examination center may also decide to deport that person.

The minutes shall be transmitted to the President, who shall take one of the following decisions:

  • Drop the lawsuit
  • Seize the disciplinary committee of the bac
  • Summon you himself when he plans to sanction you with a blame or a denial of any mention in the diploma.

At least the president or the disciplinary commission will call you 10 days in advance, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The summons shall indicate the facts alleged, the opportunity to submit observations (written or oral) and to be assisted or represented.

The hearing is not public and takes place even if you are absent.

Until the decision of the president or the commission, you cannot obtain the results of your examination. You also cannot enroll in a public higher education institution.

Fraud committed outside the scope of the evaluation

The superintendent prepares an incident report describing the facts found.

He makes you sign the document. If you refuse to sign, the superintendent will indicate this in the incident report.

The incident report is forwarded to the rector. It may decide to drop the proceedings or refer the matter to the baccalaureate's disciplinary committee.

Until the board decides, you cannot get the results of your review. You also cannot enroll in a public higher education institution.

You're summoned at least 10 days before the meeting of the committee, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The summons shall indicate the facts alleged, the opportunity to submit observations (written or oral) and to be assisted or represented.

The hearing is not public and takes place even if you are absent.

Disciplinary sanctions

You risk a disciplinary sanction.

The rector can sanction you himself by a reprimand or a deprivation of any mention in the diploma.

When referred to it by the Rector, the Academic Disciplinary Committee may, as the case may be, impose one of the following penalties:

  • Blame
  • Deprivation of any mention in the diploma
  • Prohibition to participate in any examination of the National Education for a maximum of 5 years (bac or post-bac)
  • Prohibition of enrollment in a public higher education institution for a maximum of 5 years.

The penalty is accompanied by the cancelation of the test during which the fraud took place (you will then have the score of 0 in the test concerned). Depending on the case, the commission may also declare the entire examination void. You will then have to retake all the tests if you want to obtain your baccalaureate.

The penalty also entails the cancelation of any points added by the jury.

All sanctions can be entered in your school booklet.

FYI  

You can appeal the decision by filing an appeal with administrative tribunal. You have 2 months upon receipt of the decision of the academic commission to do so.

Criminal sanctions

Baccalaureate fraud is also a offense. It can lead to criminal sanctions.

If you communicate the subject of the test in advance or if you are replaced during the test, you and your accomplices risk €9,000 fine and 3 years imprisonment.

You may also face the following criminal penalties:

  • 3 years in prison and €45,000 fine for forgery and use of forgery
  • 3 years in prison and €50,000 fine for falsification of documents
  • 10 years in prison and of a fine for substitution of identity during the tests.

Terminal test

Cheating during an exam is a fraud. You commit fraud if you act in one of the following ways:

  • Being replaced by another person during an ordeal
  • Impersonating someone else (identity substitution)
  • Use false documents (fake diplomas, fake identity papers for example)
  • Use a device to exchange or consult information (smartphone, smartwatch for example)
  • Use a device to listen to audio files
  • Communicate with other candidates during the test
  • Using a calculator without authorization
  • Use paper or documents other than those provided by the administration
  • Commit a plagiarism.

Warning  

The non-compliance with certain instructions during the examination may also constitute an attempt at fraud.

Fraud can also be committed outside the scope of tests or evaluations. This concerns in particular cases of fraud of the reporting tools that may lead to a change in the average score under examination.

Example :

If you use a teacher's credentials on the grade reporting application and change one or more grades from your continuous check, you are committing fraud.

The procedure differs depending on whether the fraud or attempted fraud is committed during the test or outside the scope of the test:

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Fraud committed during the event

If you are caught in the act of fraud or attempted fraud, the room supervisor must intervene.

It does not prevent you from continuing the test, but seizes the documents or materials that will establish the reality of the facts (paper document...).

He writes a report describing the behaviors observed.

He makes you sign the document. The other supervisors also sign it. If you refuse to sign, the supervisor indicates this in the minutes.

Please note

The head of the examination center can decide on your immediate expulsion if you disturb the test. If you are being replaced by another person to take the test, the head of the examination center may also decide to deport that person.

The minutes shall be forwarded to the Rector. It may decide to drop the proceedings or refer the matter to the baccalaureate's disciplinary committee.

Until the board decides, you cannot get the results of your review. You also cannot enroll in a public higher education institution.

You're summoned at least 10 days before the meeting of the committee, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The summons shall indicate the facts alleged, the opportunity to submit observations (written or oral) and to be assisted or represented.

The hearing is not public and takes place even if you are absent.

Fraud committed outside the scope of the event

The superintendent prepares an incident report describing the facts found.

He makes you sign the document. If you refuse to sign, the superintendent will indicate this in the incident report.

The incident report is forwarded to the rector. It may decide to drop the proceedings or refer the matter to the baccalaureate's disciplinary committee.

Until the board decides, you cannot get the results of your review. You also cannot enroll in a public higher education institution.

You're summoned at least 10 days before the meeting of the committee, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The summons shall indicate the facts alleged, the opportunity to submit observations (written or oral) and to be assisted or represented.

The hearing is not public and takes place even if you are absent.

Disciplinary sanctions

You risk a disciplinary sanction.

The Academic Disciplinary Committee may, as appropriate, impose one of the following penalties:

  • Blame
  • Deprivation of any mention in the diploma
  • Prohibition to participate in any examination of the National Education for a maximum of 5 years (bac or post-bac)
  • Prohibition of enrollment in a public higher education institution for a maximum of 5 years.

The penalty is accompanied by the cancelation of the test during which the fraud took place (you will then have the score of 0 in the test concerned). Depending on the case, the commission may also declare the entire examination void. You will then have to retake all the tests if you want to obtain your baccalaureate.

The penalty also entails the cancelation of any points added by the jury.

All sanctions can be entered in your school booklet.

FYI  

You can appeal the decision by filing an appeal with administrative tribunal. You have 2 months upon receipt of the decision of the academic commission to do so.

Criminal sanctions

Baccalaureate fraud is also a offense. It can lead to criminal sanctions.

If you communicate the subject of the test in advance or if you are replaced during the test, you and your accomplices risk €9,000 fine and 3 years imprisonment.

You may also face the following criminal penalties:

  • 3 years in prison and €45,000 fine for forgery and use of forgery
  • 3 years in prison and €50,000 fine for falsification of documents
  • 10 years in prison and of a fine for substitution of identity during the tests.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region