The pass rate for the Certificate of Basic Education (CEB), a prerequisite for moving on to secondary school, reached 86.90% this year, according to official results released on Thursday by the General Administration of Education of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, FWB.
This result is slightly lower than the 2024 pass rate, which was 87.22%.
The CEB exam, held at the end of the sixth year of primary school, assesses pupils uniformly in three subjects: French, Mathematics and General Knowledge. This year, 50,938 pupils took it.
The average results obtained this year by subject are 73.77% in French (70.98% in 2024), 75.57% in Mathematics (73.99% in 2024), and 69.42% in General Knowledge (History-Geography and Science; 78.40% in 2024).
The main objective of the CEB is to certify pupils on the basis of a single exam. It assesses whether the basic skills expected at the end of primary school have been mastered.
The exam is developed each year by working groups made up of members of the Education Inspectorate, teachers, government officials and members of the support and guidance units of the various education networks.
For years, some observers have considered the exam too easy. Education Minister Valérie Glatigny (MR) acknowledged these concerns. "We shall ensure that the assessment committee sets the CEB at a level that requires students to have the necessary skills to enter secondary school," she said.
The pass mark for the exam is currently set at 50%. However, the new government has announced its intention to raise it to 60% during this legislative term.
In the event of failure or justified absence from all or part of the exam, pupils can obtain the CEB on the basis of their results from the last two school years. This decision is made by each school's examination board.
Parents of students who have been refused a CEB may appeal against that decision.
For more information, visit www.enseignement.be/CEB
