Protection Judiciaire Enfance CI exam-day guide
Protection Judiciaire Enfance CI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation and exam schedule
Print or download the convocation you received from the organizing body. It usually states the exam date, reporting time, center address and any candidate number. Verify the reporting time the day before; if you never received a convocation, contact the provider immediately rather than assuming the schedule.
Valid photo ID
Bring the original identity document normally required for public exams in Côte d'Ivoire (national identity card or passport). Check with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is tolerated; do not rely on an expired document.
Confirmation of registration or payment
Keep any receipt, registration confirmation or candidate number issued at enrolment. Some centers ask for proof of registration at the door. If you are unsure what proof is accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Several black or blue pens and a pencil
Bring at least two working ballpoint pens in the required colour, a pencil and an eraser. For multiple-choice answer sheets, check the instructions on the paper about pen versus pencil before marking anything.
No electronic devices at your desk
Switch off your phone and store it out of reach, following the center's instructions. Do not keep a phone, smartwatch or earpiece on you during the test; possession can be treated as cheating regardless of intent.
Water and a light snack for the break
Long sittings are tiring. Bring water in a clear container and a small snack in case a break is allowed. Whether food and drink are permitted in the room is decided by the center; ask the invigilator rather than assuming.
Know the route and travel time to the center
In Abidjan, traffic and detours can double journey times. Do a route check the day before, identify a fallback transport option, and plan to arrive well before the reporting time. Confirm the exact center entrance, since large school campuses can have several gates.
Review the exam format and instructions
Re-read the official instructions for the paper: number of questions, whether there are multiple-choice items, case studies or written reasoning, time allowed and whether penalties apply for wrong answers. Confirm these details with the provider if the documentation is unclear.
Prepare your legal references from memory
You will not normally be allowed to bring codes or notes into the room unless the provider says otherwise. Revise the key texts on judicial protection of children, the competence of the children's judge, and the applicable procedures so you can cite them from memory. Confirm the permitted reference materials with the provider.
Sleep, food and medication
Get a normal night's sleep, eat before leaving and carry any prescribed medication with the prescription. If you have a health condition or need an accommodation, arrange it with the provider in advance, not on the morning of the exam.
Watch and simple stationery
A plain wristwatch helps you pace yourself if the room has no visible clock. Bring nothing that could be mistaken for a communication device. Check whether watches are allowed with the invigilator.
Backup plan for the unexpected
Save the provider's contact number, keep a little cash for transport, and identify someone who can reach you. If you are delayed or fall ill, contact the center as soon as possible; late admission is at the center's discretion, so confirm the policy with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm the practical details: date, reporting time, exact address, ID requirements and permitted materials. Re-read the official exam instructions and the syllabus. Build a short revision list of the topics you are least sure of, prioritising procedure, jurisdiction and the rights of the child.
Do active revision rather than passive reading. Work through short case scenarios: a child in danger, a delinquent minor, a placement decision, an appeal. For each, write the competent authority, the legal basis and the procedural steps from memory, then check against your notes. Practise writing concise, structured answers under time pressure.
Stop learning new material. Review your summary sheets only. Prepare your bag with ID, convocation, pens, water and snack. Check transport and set two alarms. Confirm the provider's contact details. Go to bed at a reasonable hour; cramming the night before rarely helps and often hurts.
Eat a proper breakfast, leave earlier than your calculated travel time, and arrive at the center with margin. Keep your phone switched off and stored. Present your ID and convocation at the door, find your seat, read the cover page instructions carefully before the start signal, and fill in your candidate details exactly as instructed.
Read the whole paper first and allocate time per section. Answer the questions you know best first if the paper allows it, then return to harder ones. For case studies, state the facts, the legal issue, the rule and the conclusion. Watch the clock and keep ten minutes at the end to check your candidate number, answer sheet and any unanswered items.
Note any question you found ambiguous and report it to the provider only through the official channel if a complaint procedure exists. Keep your convocation and candidate number; results and any appeal deadlines are usually announced by the organizing body, so confirm the publication arrangements with the provider.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID required by the provider and keep it on your desk for inspection. If your ID is lost or expired, contact the provider before the exam; admission without valid ID is at the center's discretion and should not be assumed.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, starting and stopping. Do not begin writing before the start signal or continue after the stop signal; doing so can lead to your paper being cancelled.
Phones and connected devices must be switched off and stored away. Any device found on you during the test may be treated as an attempt to cheat, even if you did not use it.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not look at another candidate's paper. Raise your hand if you need the invigilator, need to leave the room or need more paper.
Breaks and toilet visits are usually supervised and may not be allowed in the final part of the sitting. Ask the invigilator at the start if you think you will need to leave; the exact policy is set by the center.
Write only in the space and format required: correct answer sheet, correct question numbers, legible handwriting. Answers written outside the designated areas may not be marked.
Scoring rules, including whether there are penalties for wrong multiple-choice answers or marks for structure and legal reasoning in written answers, are set by the provider. Confirm the marking scheme before the exam rather than guessing.
Any suspected irregularity will be handled under the provider's disciplinary procedure. If you believe an incident was a misunderstanding, ask for it to be recorded and follow the official complaint channel afterwards.