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
- Apply this grammar point accurately in the Language section and in the guided writing of the Bac SMB English exam (coefficient 2)
- Apply the backshift of tenses (present → past, past → past perfect, will → would)
- Report a yes/no question with if / whether and an open question by keeping the question word
- Report an order or a request with tell / ask + object + to + infinitive
- Adjust time and place markers (now → then, tomorrow → the next day, here → there)
Notions clés
The tense change (backshift)
Reported questions and word order
Orders and marker changes
Erreurs fréquentes
Forgetting the tense backshift: “She said she is tired” is wrong in classic reported speech — use “She said she was tired”.
Keeping question word order (auxiliary before subject) in a reported question: “He asked where did I live” is wrong — use “He asked where I lived”.
Forgetting to change time markers: reporting “I'll call you tomorrow” without changing tomorrow to the next day distorts the meaning when the report is made on another day.
Exemple corrigé
Énoncé
Correction
Le cours, puis l'entraînement.
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Questions fréquentes
Is the backshift always compulsory?
It is expected in Bac writing, except when the reporting verb (say, tell, ask) is in the present (“He says he is tired”) or when the reported fact is a still-valid general truth (“She said the sun rises in the east”).
How do I report an order or a prohibition?
With tell + object + to + infinitive for an order (“He told me to close the door”), and tell + object + not to + infinitive for a prohibition (“He told me not to be late”).
if or whether for a reported yes/no question?
Both are correct and interchangeable for a yes/no question: “He asked if / whether I had seen the movie.” whether is compulsory before or not (“whether or not”).
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.
Is this grammar point actually tested on the Bac SMB English paper?
Yes — in the Language section as gap-fill, sentence-joining or error-correction, and indirectly in Writing, where the same structures decide whether a sentence is marked as accurate. One rule, two examples and one typical mistake per point is enough to cover both.