#2026-461France updates rules for medical students who retake national matching exams
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This decree changes how medical students may step away from the national matching process and retake key exams the following academic year. A student who has reached the minimum scores for national matching may, in exceptional cases and for serious, well-supported reasons, ask to give up that matching round and sit the digital exams and structured clinical exams again the next year. For students allowed to retake, the new scores replace the first scores, even if the student fails to meet the minimum threshold on the second try. Their training-path bonus points from the first attempt still count. If they miss all or part of the second attempt for any reason, the first-attempt scores are used for the missed exams. The rules apply from the 2026-2027 academic year.
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Key Changes
- Allows eligible medical students to request, in exceptional and justified cases, to leave the national matching process and retake the main exams the next academic year
- Makes second-attempt exam scores replace first-attempt scores, even if the student scores below the minimum threshold on the retake
- Keeps first-attempt training-path bonus points and uses first-attempt scores for any exams missed during the retake
Obligations
What this law requires
A medical student who has obtained the minimum scores required to participate in the national matching procedure may request, only on a derogatory and exceptional basis and for serious duly justified reasons, to waive that matching round and retake the first session of the digital exams and structured objective clinical examinations in the following academic year.
For students authorized to retake the exams in the following academic year, the national matching procedure must use the scores obtained on the second attempt for each exam, replacing the scores from the first attempt even if the student does not meet the minimum required scores on the second attempt.
For students authorized to retake the exams, the national matching procedure must retain the training-path bonus points awarded after the student's first exam presentation.
If an authorized retaking student is unable to attend all or part of the second exam presentation for any reason, the national matching procedure must use the scores obtained during the student's first presentation for the missed exams.