To prepare for the CEB, nothing beats the exam papers from previous years. Your child discovers the type of questions, the rhythm of the exam mornings and the topics that come up often. Here is how the exam is built, where to find past CEB papers and how to use them without turning the end of the final year of primary school into a marathon.
What exactly is the CEB?
The CEB (certificat d’études de base) is the primary school leaving certificate in Belgium’s French-speaking schools. It is awarded through a common external exam at the end of the 6th year of primary school, organised by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. All pupils get the same questions and sit the exam at the same time, in every school.
Papers are marked externally: teachers do not mark their own pupils’ work. The exam covers four subjects:
- French;
- mathematics;
- science;
- history and geography.
How is the exam structured?
Each year, the exam is made up of two documents. The question booklet (questionnaire) contains all the questions. The portfolio contains the appendices: texts to read, illustrations, maps, documents. Questions come in three forms: multiple choice, short answer and extended answer.
Since the 2025-2026 school year, 6th year pupils in French-speaking schools follow the new common core curriculum (tronc commun). The 2026 CEB was therefore the first one designed on the new curriculum standards, with some changes in content and vocabulary, for example in grammar.
French
The French exam has four parts:
- Reading, part 1: a text of about 900 words;
- Reading, part 2: a collection of short, varied texts;
- Listening;
- Writing.
Rules are not tested by heart: your child has to apply them, for example by spelling past participles correctly in their own writing.
Mathematics
The mathematics exam has five parts:
- arithmetic, part 1, without a calculator;
- arithmetic, part 2, with a calculator;
- geometry;
- data handling;
- measures.
The calculator is allowed throughout, except in the first arithmetic part. Some questions ask pupils to explain whether a result is plausible: being able to estimate an order of magnitude counts as much as calculating correctly.
Science, history and geography
In science, questions cover living things, matter, energy and the scientific method, with some knowledge to recall. History and geography are grouped in a single booklet: timelines, major historical events, map reading.
What does it take to pass the CEB?
From June 2027, your child must score at least 50% in each subject assessed, and an average of at least 60% across the whole exam.
If not, the school board can still award the CEB on the basis of the pupil’s school record, including the results of the last two years. If the certificate is refused, parents can lodge an appeal, under certain conditions.
The 2027 CEB will take place on the mornings of Monday 21, Tuesday 22, Thursday 24 and Friday 25 June 2027. Results will be sent to schools on Monday 28 June 2027.
Where can you find past exam papers?
Past CEB papers are published by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation on its enseignement.be portal. For each year, you will find the question booklet, the portfolio and the administration and marking instructions, which serve as the answer key.
- Papers from 2015 to 2019, and from 2021 to 2026, are available in the standard version.
- There was no exam in 2020: the 2021 paper actually carries the label “CEB 2020”.
- Older papers are archived on e-classe.
- Adapted versions exist for pupils with special educational needs (more spacious layout, larger font).
One point to watch: papers from before 2026 were written for the old curriculum. Some questions no longer match the current 6th year and a few new topics are missing. Start with the 2026 CEB, then add earlier years.
To save you time, we have gathered the CEB papers from 2017 to 2026 and their answer keys in the My Sherpa student area. Access is free: you just need to create an account.
Access past CEB papers for free
How to practise with past CEB papers
Past CEB papers remain excellent practice to get into exam conditions, learn to manage time and become familiar with the question formats. To get the most out of them:
- Print the paper: your child will write on paper on the day, so it helps to get used to it.
- One subject at a time: a French session, then a mathematics session, rather than a full exam in one go.
- In real conditions: in the morning, somewhere quiet, with the portfolio next to the question booklet and the time given in the instructions.
- Mark it together using the marking instructions, without making a drama of mistakes.
- Note the mistakes that keep coming back: fractions, unit conversions, reading instructions, spelling… These are what need more work before the next paper.
A few papers that are carefully marked and well understood are worth more than a pile of booklets done in a hurry. A full “mock CEB” over several mornings can then serve as a dress rehearsal a few weeks before June.
To plan the whole school year, from September to the exam, see our tips on preparing your child for the CEB.
Exam days: our tips
The CEB takes place over four mornings. A few simple habits help your child arrive calm:
- get enough sleep and eat a proper breakfast;
- prepare their materials the evening before, following the school’s list;
- read each instruction to the end before answering;
- skip a question that is blocking them, then come back to it at the end;
- keep a few minutes to read back over their work, especially in writing.
In the afternoon, it is better to relax than to redo the morning’s paper. Your child needs energy for the next morning.
When should you get help?
If past CEB papers reveal gaps that persist, individual support can make the difference. At My Sherpa, an educational advisor chooses a coach for your child who goes back over the weak points and trains them in the exam format.
Our private tutoring for primary school takes place at home anywhere in Belgium, or online. Mathematics is often the subject that needs the most work: our primary school maths tutoring helps your child strengthen the skills assessed in the CEB.
