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
- Produce this function at the right register in a dialogue-completion task on the Bac SMB English paper (coefficient 2)
- Make a polite but firm complaint: I'm afraid I have a complaint to make / I'm not satisfied with…
- Structure a formal letter of complaint: subject, facts, damage, request for redress
- Apologize at the right register: I do apologize / I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience
- Distinguish a constructive complaint (which proposes a solution) from a mere criticism
Notions clés
Complaining politely
The formal letter of complaint
Apologizing
Erreurs fréquentes
Writing a letter of complaint in an aggressive tone (You never…!): the expected formal register stays firm but courteous, even with real dissatisfaction.
Leaving out the request for redress at the end of the letter: a complaint with no precise request (refund, replacement) looks incomplete to the examiner.
Confusing I'm sorry (an apology or sympathy, depending on context) with I apologize (a formal apology only): “I'm sorry for your loss” is sympathy, not an apology.
Exemple corrigé
Énoncé
Correction
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.
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Exercice 1
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Questions fréquentes
What must a formal letter of complaint always contain?
A clear statement of the subject, the precise and dated facts, the inconvenience or damage suffered, and an explicit request for redress (refund, replacement, apology) — plus a firm but courteous closing.
Is “I'm sorry” always an apology?
No: “I'm sorry” can express sympathy rather than apology (“I'm sorry to hear that”). For a genuine apology in a formal context, prefer “I apologize” or “Please accept my apologies”.
How do I keep a complaint firm without sounding rude?
State facts, not accusations (“the parcel arrived damaged”, not “you destroyed my parcel”), use modal softeners (I'm afraid, I would appreciate), and end with a clear, reasonable request rather than a threat.
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.
Why learn a spoken function for a written Bac SMB exam?
Because it is tested in writing: dialogue-completion tasks ask for exactly these phrases at the right level of politeness. Keeping two or three set expressions per function, sorted by register, covers the task reliably.