French secondary education, known as éducation secondaire, typically begins at age 11 and lasts for four years. It is divided into two cycles: the collège (middle school) and the lycée (high school). Students complete the collège by taking the brevet des collèges exam, which assesses their knowledge and skills. After collège, students can choose between general, technological, or vocational tracks in lycée. The general track prepares students for the baccalauréat (bac) exam, which is required for university admission. The vocational track focuses on specific trades and leads to a vocational diploma, while the technological track emphasizes applied sciences and technology.