The Examining Board consists of a government inspector (_der Königliche Kommissar_) acting as chairman, the headmaster of the school, and the teachers of the highest classes in the school. The inspector may nominate a deputy, who is as a rule, the headmaster of the school.
Each teacher concerned selects for the written examination three alternative subjects in his branch, from which, after receiving a report thereon from the headmaster, the inspector makes a final choice.
The papers are marked by the teachers concerned and circulated the the whole Board of Examiners, who then decide whether individual candidates shall be (i.) rejected, (ii.) admitted with (ii.) admitted with oral examination, or (iii.) submitted to the oral examination.
VII. Nature of Examination and General Remarks.
The written examination extends over four or five days. Only one paper is given each day, for which 3 to 5½ hours are allowed (5½ hours for the German essay). For essays in foreign languages dictionaries may be used.
_Baccalauréat de l'enseignement secondaire._
This examination has been carried on under different forms since 1808. The regulations summarized here date from 1902, when the _baccalauréat_ described replaced the _baccalauréat-ès-lettres, baccalauréat-ès-sciences_, and _baccalauréat de l'enseignement moderne._
Part I., 16, or, with special permission, 15.
Part II. may not be taken within an academic year after passing Part I.
There is no requirement of attendance. Part I. of the examination corresponds exactly to the subjects taken in the "second cycle" of secondary education, and Part II. to the _classe de philosophie_ and _classe de mathématiques._
Part I. is divided into four Branches, viz.:--
(1) Latin-Greek. (2) Latin-modern languages. (3) Latin-science. (4) Science-modern languages.
In each Branch the examination is divided into two parts, viz., written and oral. The nature of the examination may be indicated by the following requirements in Branch (1):--
Written (i.) French composition. (ii.) Translation from Latin. (iii.) Translation from Greek.
Oral (i.) Explanation of a Greek text. (ii.) Explanation of a Latin text. (iii.) Explanation of a French text. (iv.) Text in a modern foreign language. (v.) Interrogation on ancient history. (vi.) Interrogation on modern history. (vii.) Interrogation on geography. (viii.) Interrogation on mathematics. (ix.) Interrogation on physics.