Avoir un exam = To pass an exam (French Expressions with avoir)

Take the fastest path to fluent French

In French, to express passing an exam, you use the expression "avoir un exam".

How to say 'to pass an exam' in French

Look at these examples:

Youpi ! J'ai eu ma licence !Yippee! I got my B.A.!

Et toi ? - Non, je ne l'ai pas eu.And you? No, I didn't pass [it].

Mon frère a eu son bac.My brother passed his A-levels.

J'ai eu mon master en biologie il y a deux ans.I earned my Master's in Biology two years ago.

 

In French, to say that you passed an exam (meaning succeeded in it), or that you earned/obtained/got a degree, you can use the verb avoir and the name of the exam or degree.
Note that the bac or Baccalauréat is the compulsory exam that French students take at the end of high school, when they're 18, before going on to university for example. This exam, unlike British A-Levels, includes all the subjects studied up to then.

 

See also Differences between French and English usages - Passer un exam vs To pass an exam

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Mon frère a eu son bac.My brother passed his A-levels.
Youpi ! J'ai eu ma licence !Yippee! I got my B.A.!
J'ai eu mon master en biologie il y a deux ans.I earned my Master's in Biology two years ago.
Et toi ? - Non, je ne l'ai pas eu.And you? No, I didn't pass [it].
I'll be right with you...