Sustainable Development — English Bac SMB

Dans le programme du Bac SMB

English carries a coefficient of 2 in the Bac Sciences Maths B (SMB) stream, level with Philosophy. Mathematics dominates the stream (coefficient 9), followed by Physics-Chemistry and Engineering Sciences (coefficient 7 each), so English can look marginal — but it and Philosophy form the narrow margin where rankings and honours are actually decided. Reading, language and guided writing are all assessed.

À l'épreuve

Three parts: Reading Comprehension, Language, and Writing (a guided text of about 180 words). SMB candidates, trained to be rigorous and systematic, do well on the Language section if they treat each grammar point as a rule with a fixed structure; the risk is a dry essay that ignores vocabulary range and register, which the Writing section also scores.

Objectifs d'apprentissage

Reuse this vocabulary field in the Bac SMB Reading answers and in the argumentative essay (coefficient 2)
Use energy and climate vocabulary: renewable / fossil energy, carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, global warming
Name environmental issues: pollution, deforestation, water scarcity, loss of biodiversity, waste
Define sustainability: meeting present needs without compromising future generations
Argue how economic development and environmental protection can be reconciled

Notions clés

Energy and carbon footprint

renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro) vs fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas); carbon footprint (the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a person, product or activity); to reduce / offset emissions.

Environmental issues

air and water pollution, deforestation, water scarcity, loss of biodiversity, plastic waste, soil degradation — the problems sustainable development aims to address.

Sustainability: economy and environment together

sustainable development = development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It seeks a balance between economic growth, social fairness and environmental protection.

Erreurs fréquentes

Confusing renewable (naturally replenished: sun, wind) and non-polluting: nuclear power is low-carbon but not renewable; biomass is renewable but can pollute.

Using pollution as a countable noun: say “air pollution” / “levels of pollution”, not “pollutions”.

Treating sustainable development as “stopping all development”: it is about developing differently, not stopping.

Exemple corrigé

Énoncé

Write a sentence explaining how a country can pursue economic growth while lowering its carbon footprint.

Correction

Name the tension. Growth usually means more energy use; a lower carbon footprint means fewer emissions.

Give the reconciling idea. Shifting energy sources from fossil fuels to renewables allows both at once.

Result. “A country can keep growing economically while cutting its carbon footprint by investing massively in renewable energy, so that new industries and homes are powered by solar and wind rather than by coal and oil.”

Le cours, puis l'entraînement.

Orka génère des exercices illimités et des examens blancs corrigés sur tout le programme de Anglais du Bac SMB, avec un suivi de ta progression chapitre par chapitre.

Continue gratuitement sur Orka

3 exercices pour t'entraîner

Exercice 1

Easy

Classify as renewable or fossil: solar, coal, wind, oil.

Voir la correction

Renewable: solar, wind. Fossil: coal, oil.

Exercice 2

Medium

Complete: “Cycling to school instead of being driven reduces your ___.” (carbon footprint / biodiversity / deforestation)

Voir la correction

carbon footprint — cycling produces no emissions, so it lowers the greenhouse gases you are responsible for.

Exercice 3

Hard

Explain in one sentence why the definition of sustainable development refers to “future generations”.

Voir la correction

Because sustainability is about fairness over time: using resources and polluting today at a rate that leaves future generations unable to meet their own needs would not be development, but a transfer of the cost onto people who cannot object.

Va plus loin sur ce chapitre

50+ exercices interactifs sur ce chapitre

Générés et corrigés étape par étape par l’IA, à ton niveau.

Connexion requise

Quiz IA adaptatif

Questions qui s’ajustent automatiquement à tes réussites et erreurs.

Connexion requise

Corrigés d’annales sur ce chapitre

Sujets d’examens nationaux et régionaux déjà tombés.

Connexion requise

Plan de révision personnalisé

Priorise ce chapitre selon ta progression réelle sur toute la filière.

Premium

Flashcards du chapitre

Formules et définitions clés en mode révision rapide.

Premium

Tuteur IA en Darija

Pose tes questions sur ce chapitre et obtiens une explication immédiate.

Premium

Questions fréquentes

How does this theme connect to the science subjects?

Energy sources, greenhouse gases and pollution are studied in physics-chemistry and life-and-earth science; this chapter gives candidates the English vocabulary to bring that knowledge into an essay with concrete, credible examples.

Is Morocco a good example for this theme?

Yes — the Noor solar complex near Ouarzazate, wind farms, and water-scarcity policy are specific, current Moroccan examples that make an essay stronger than generic ones.

What are the three pillars of sustainable development?

Economic (growth and jobs), social (fairness, health, education) and environmental (protecting resources and ecosystems) — a good answer keeps all three in view rather than only the environment.

A maths-stream student often dislikes English — how do they raise the mark?

Treat it as structure. Every writing task = introduction + argument + counter-argument + conclusion; every grammar point = one rule + one correct example + one typical mistake. Memorise that framework, apply it to the 31 chapters with two example sentences each, and 12/20 is reachable without eating into the heavy maths programme.

How do I use this theme in the Bac SMB essay without sounding generic?

Anchor each key term in one concrete, personal example — a place, a person, a situation you know. A specific illustration in accurate English scores better than a long list of terms with no support, on any of the society prompts in the programme.