Concours Fonction Publique exam-day guide
Concours Fonction Publique · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation (summons) printed
Your convocation lists the exact time, room, and any building-access instructions. Print it and keep it with your ID; some centres also ask for it at the entrance. If you have not received it, contact the organising administration immediately - do not assume you can enter without it.
Valid photo ID
Bring the identity document named on your registration (national ID card, passport, or residence permit). Check that it is unexpired. The exact list of accepted documents is fixed by the exam provider - confirm with the provider if yours differs from what you registered with.
Black ballpoint pens (two or more)
Most French public-sector written tests are marked on scanned answer sheets, which require dark ink. Bring at least two identical pens and test them beforehand. Pencil, correcting fluid, and erasable ink are commonly refused - confirm the permitted stationery with the provider.
Watch (non-connected)
Exam rooms are not always equipped with a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch without connectivity helps you pace the sections. Smartwatches and phones are usually banned from the desk - confirm with the provider whether any watch is allowed.
Transparent water bottle and small snack
Long sittings (three to five hours) are common. A clear bottle and an energy bar keep you steady. Check the provider's rules on food and drink in the room; some centres forbid all items on the desk.
Public transport route and backup plan
Plan to arrive 30–45 minutes early. Verify the line, stop, and walking time to the exact building, and identify a backup route in case of a strike or delay. Late arrival after the doors close usually means exclusion, regardless of the reason.
Review the format and timing of each paper
Know in advance how many questions or exercises each part contains and how many minutes you have. This determines your pacing strategy and when to abandon a question.
Leave prohibited devices at home or switched off in your bag
Phones, smartwatches, and earphones must be switched off and stored as instructed. A ringing or vibrating device during the test can lead to disqualification. Confirm the storage procedure with the provider.
Written confirmation of any accommodation
If you requested extra time, a separate room, or another adjustment, bring the written approval. Without it, invigilators may not be able to apply it on the day - confirm with the provider in advance.
Read the instructions on the answer sheet before starting
Answer sheets are often machine-read. Check which box to shade, whether wrong answers are penalised, and where to write your candidate number. A sheet filled incorrectly may not be corrected later.
Plan the day
Re-read the convocation and the exam notice line by line: time, address, ID required, authorised materials. Confirm your transport and, if you are travelling, your accommodation. Do one final light review of your summary sheets - no new topics. Sleep on a normal schedule for the next three nights; sleep is the single most reliable performance factor.
Do a timed mini-simulation of the hardest section only (for example 30 minutes of numerical reasoning or a short essay plan). Stop and correct it, noting the two or three errors you can still fix. Prepare your bag with the checklist items. Check the weather forecast and plan clothing in layers, since exam halls are often cold.
Stop intensive revision. Re-read only your one-page summary of formulas, definitions, and essay structure. Prepare your clothes and documents by the door. Eat a normal meal, avoid excess caffeine and alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Set two alarms and confirm the first transport departure.
Eat a real breakfast and take water. Leave with a margin that absorbs a 20–30 minute delay. On arrival, find the room and the toilets before the doors open. Once seated, fill in your candidate details on the answer sheet immediately, then read the whole paper's instructions before answering the first question.
Allocate time per section before you start and keep to it. Answer the questions you know first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. For multiple-choice papers, check whether unanswered questions score zero or are penalised, and act accordingly. Leave 5–10 minutes at the end to transfer answers and verify your candidate number. If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and follow the invigilator's instruction.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document named on your registration and present it on request. If your document has expired or does not match your registration, contact the provider before the test; admission decisions rest with the exam centre, not with the candidate.
Arrive before the doors close. Candidates arriving after the stated closing time are normally excluded, and the exact tolerance (if any) is set by the provider - confirm it in the convocation.
Switch off all phones, smartwatches, and connected devices and store them as instructed. Any device found at the desk or emitting sound during the test may lead to disqualification.
Use only the stationery and documents authorised in the convocation. Unauthorised notes, printed material, or calculators are treated as cheating, even if unused.
Communication between candidates is prohibited from the moment you enter the room until you leave it. Do not turn around, speak, or pass material; raise your hand for the invigilator.
Breaks and toilet visits are usually limited and may be escorted. Go before the test starts; the exact policy on leaving the room mid-test is set by the provider - confirm it on the day.
Scoring rules - negative marking, rounding, and how each paper is weighted - are defined in the exam notice. Read them before the test so your answering strategy matches the scoring, and confirm any ambiguity with the provider.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times. A report of misconduct can lead to cancellation of your paper and, depending on the provider's rules, exclusion from future sessions.