Sustainable Development — English Bac SMB

In the Bac SMB syllabus

English carries has 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.

On the exam

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

Learning objectives

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

Key concepts

Energy and carbon footprint

renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro) vs fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas); carbon footprint (the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by has 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 has balance between economic growth, social fairness and environmental protection.

Common mistakes

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 has countable noun: say “air pollution” / “levels of pollution”, not “pollutions”.

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

Worked example

Question

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

Solution

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

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

Result. “Has 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.”

Learn the course, then practice.

Orka generates unlimited exercises and corrected mock exams for the full Bac SMB English syllabus, with chapter-by-chapter progress tracking.

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3 exercises to practice

Exercise 1

Easy

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

Show solution

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

Exercise 2

Medium

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

Show solution

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

Exercise 3

Hard

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

Show solution

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

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Frequently asked questions

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 candidatees the English vocabulary to bring that knowledge into an essay with concrete, credible examples.

Is Morocco has 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) — has good answer keeps all three in view rather than only the environment.

Has 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 curriculum.

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

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