Le Bac - What is it?

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, but I have been writing, writing, writing.  And when you are in the "zone" as I call it, you can't get away from your words.  Second novel coming along nicely.

I have a small scene in The Coin where the grandson of the jeweler is not happy at his new responsibility.  He says:

   He still didn't know what was so important about the coins anyway, or why the damn things needed to be cleaned and photographed.  It was all so stupid.  If it weren't for the fact that he needed the extra pocket money while he studied for his BAC, he wouldn't put up with this nonsense.

What he is referring to is the baccalauréat, or fondly named le bac by the students.  French students, after finishing secondary school (high school for us) must study for one entire year extra to take this exam.  This is the only way that they can enter the university.  If you don't pass le bac, you don't go to university and must look to technical schools, or do something else.  It is an intense year of learning, just like in Japan. I don't know if any other European countries have this, but I am assuming they do.

Just a little bit of culture info you may appreciate.

This is the diploma given to those who pass the exam.