The fundamental cycle in Mauritania (1AF to 6AF)
The fundamental cycle is the first stage of Mauritanian schooling, the equivalent of primary school. It lasts six years, from 1AF to 6AF, and ends with the entrance exam to the first year of secondary school (1AS), which opens the way to the collège.
At a glance
- Grades
- 1AF, 2AF, 3AF, 4AF, 5AF, 6AF
- Length
- Six years
- End of cycle
- Entrance exam to the first year of secondary school (1AS)
- Next stage
- Collège, from 1AS to 4AS
A six-year cycle
Pupils go from 1AF to 6AF. 6AF is the exam year: it is the grade that prepares for entry to the collège, and 6AF is also the grade code you will find in the BacMR profile.
The entrance exam to the first year of secondary school
At the end of 6AF, pupils sit the entrance exam to the first year of secondary school. Dates, rules and results are published by the Ministry: rely only on its official announcements.
How to support a primary-school child
- Read a little every day, in Arabic and in French, even a few lines.
- Go over the day's lesson in the child's own words to check it was understood.
- In 6AF, review the year's lessons before the exam and practise with exercises from the textbook.
BacMR and the fundamental cycle: what is covered today
BacMR was built first for lycée students. To date, fundamental-cycle textbooks are not yet part of the library BacMR relies on: it is based on the 7AS books and some 6AS books of secondary school. The BacMR profile does offer the 6AF grade (exam year), but we do not claim to cover the fundamental curriculum.
Parents and teachers can use BacMR to understand how the path continues up to the Bac, and an older student can use it to revise. When a question falls outside the available textbooks, BacMR says so instead of guessing. Conversations are private and the account can be deleted at any time.
Free to start, on any phone or computer.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does the fundamental cycle last in Mauritania?
Six years, from 1AF to 6AF.
What is the entrance exam to the first year of secondary school?
It is the exam 6AF pupils sit at the end of the fundamental cycle to enter 1AS, the first year of the collège. Dates and rules are published by the Ministry.
Does BacMR cover the fundamental curriculum?
Not yet. The textbooks built into BacMR are secondary-school ones, mainly 7AS and some 6AS. BacMR states clearly when a question is not covered by its textbooks.