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)
- Use polite phrases to signal you do not understand (I'm sorry, I don't follow / I'm not quite sure I understand)
- Ask for a repetition or a clarification (Could you repeat that, please? / What do you mean by…?)
- Ask for a simpler rephrasing (Could you put it differently? / In other words…?)
- Match the register to the situation (formal with a teacher, informal with friends)
Notions clés
Signalling that you do not understand
Asking for a repetition or clarification
Asking for a rephrasing
Erreurs fréquentes
Using only “What?” in a formal written dialogue: it is too casual for most tested contexts (student–teacher, an interview).
Confusing repeat (say the same thing again) and rephrase (say the same thing in other, simpler words) — the exam often distinguishes the two.
Dropping the politeness marker (I'm sorry, I'm afraid) in a formal register before signalling a lack of understanding.
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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Questions fréquentes
Is this chapter really useful, when the Bac is a written exam?
These phrases are mainly for the written dialogue-completion tasks, but they also stay useful in real life (lessons, oral exams in other subjects, talking with English speakers) — one of the few chapters that transfers directly beyond the exam.
Which phrase is safest for all registers?
“I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. Could you explain that again?” works in almost every tested context, formal and semi-formal — polite without being over-formal.
Can I use “Pardon?” as in French?
Yes, but “Pardon?” (or “Sorry?”) in English is used on its own to signal you did not hear, a more informal register — for a fuller dialogue in the exam, a complete phrase (I'm sorry, could you repeat that?) is better.
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.