Concours INP-HB - ESCAE exam-day guide
Concours INP-HB - ESCAE · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation / convocation notice
Print the convocation you received when registering for the Concours INP-HB (ESCAE). It typically shows your candidate number, the test centre, and the schedule. Confirm with the provider (INP-HB admissions/service des concours) exactly which document is required and whether a digital copy is accepted; if you cannot verify this, treat it as needs_review.
Valid identity document
Bring the original piece of ID that matches the name on your registration - typically a national identity card or passport. Do not bring only a photocopy. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether an expired document is refused; mark as needs_review until confirmed.
Several pens and pencils plus an eraser
Bring at least two blue or black ballpoint pens, two sharpened pencils, and a clean eraser. If any section uses a machine-readable answer sheet (bubble sheet), pencils and an eraser are essential. Confirm with the provider whether the answer sheet requires pen or pencil.
Simple calculator (only if authorised)
ESCAE-style aptitude and quantitative sections may involve arithmetic. Do not assume a calculator is allowed: check the convocation or the exam rules. If authorised, bring a basic non-programmable model with no memory of formulas. If not authorised, practise mental and written calculation instead. Mark as needs_review until confirmed with the provider.
Watch (non-connected)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch lets you pace yourself. Smartwatches and connected devices are usually banned; leave them at home or be ready to remove them. Confirm with the provider whether any watch is allowed.
Water and a light snack
Bring a transparent bottle of water. A small snack is useful if the test is long or if there is a wait before entry. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed inside the room; some centres require them to stay outside.
Route and arrival plan
Before the day, confirm the exact test centre address and the transport route. Plan to arrive well before the reported start time - aim for at least 45–60 minutes early - because identity checks and seating take time. Confirm the reporting time with the provider; it can differ from the start time.
Leave prohibited items at home
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, earphones, notes, textbooks, or any connected device. If you must carry a phone, expect to switch it off and hand it in or store it as instructed. Confirm with the provider how phones are handled at your centre.
Know your candidate number
Memorise or write down your candidate/registration number separately from your convocation, in case documents are collected. Confirm with the provider where this number appears on your documents.
Read the exam instructions in advance
If the provider publishes a notice describing the test format (number of sections, time per section, scoring, negative marking), read it before the day. If no notice is published, ask the provider directly. Do not rely on rumours about the format.
Rest and logistics the night before
Sleep adequately, prepare your clothes and documents the night before, and set two alarms. Avoid last-minute cramming that leaves you tired. This is preparation advice, not an official rule.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the provider's contact number and a local contact. If transport fails, know an alternative route. If you arrive late, follow the centre staff's instructions; whether late entry is allowed depends on the provider's policy - confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read your convocation and any instructions published by INP-HB for the ESCAE concours. Write down the test centre address, reporting time, and your candidate number. Confirm with the provider any point that is unclear: accepted ID, calculator policy, and whether phones must be handed in. Check that your ID is valid and that the name matches your registration; if there is a mismatch, contact the provider immediately, because corrections may not be possible on the day.
Do a final review of the sections you find hardest, using timed practice rather than passive reading. For aptitude tests, practise short timed sets of numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and logic, and review your errors. For general-knowledge or economics sections, review key definitions and current economic facts rather than trying to memorise everything. Stop introducing new material in the last day.
Do a full timed mock under realistic conditions: no phone, one sitting, same time of day as the real test if possible. This trains your pacing and reveals which sections eat your time. Decide a per-section time budget and a rule for when to skip a question and return to it later.
Prepare your bag: convocation, valid ID, pens, pencils, eraser, authorised calculator if permitted, water, snack, and a simple watch. Lay out clothes. Charge nothing you cannot bring - leave connected devices at home. Re-confirm the route and travel time, including traffic at that hour, and decide your departure time so you arrive at least 45–60 minutes early.
Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and very late nights, and sleep at your usual time. Do a light review of formulas, definitions, and your own error notes only - no new topics and no full mock. Set two alarms and ask someone to wake you as a backup.
Wake with enough margin, eat a normal breakfast, and avoid heavy or unfamiliar food. Take your prepared bag and check it against the checklist before leaving: convocation, ID, pens, pencils, eraser, calculator if authorised, water, snack, watch. Leave earlier than you think necessary.
On arrival, follow staff instructions for identity checks and seating. Switch off your phone and hand it in or store it as instructed. Use the waiting time to settle, not to cram. If a document problem arises, speak to the centre staff immediately and calmly rather than waiting until the test begins.
Read the instructions on the paper or screen first and note the number of questions and the time allowed. Fill in your candidate details exactly as instructed, and check that your answer sheet number matches your candidate number. If the test is divided into timed sections, respect the section boundaries.
Work in passes. First answer the questions you can do quickly and confidently; mark difficult ones and return to them. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints so you are not surprised near the end. If there is no penalty for wrong answers, never leave a question blank; if there is a penalty, confirm the rule with the provider beforehand and answer only when you can eliminate options.
Keep the answer sheet aligned with the question numbers and transfer answers as you go or in blocks - whichever you have practised. Leave a few minutes at the end to check that no answers are misaligned and that every intended question is marked. If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and follow staff instructions; break policy depends on the provider, so confirm with the provider in advance.
Note what felt difficult while it is fresh, for any later stage of the concours. Keep your convocation and candidate number, since results and any follow-up steps may require them. Ask the provider about the results timeline and the next stage rather than relying on unofficial sources.
Rules to check
Bring the original identity document that matches your registration and your convocation. Photocopies or documents belonging to someone else are not a substitute. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and what happens if a document is missing.
Arrive at the reporting time stated on your convocation, not the advertised start time, and expect identity checks before seating. Whether late candidates are admitted is decided by the provider; confirm the policy in advance and do not assume you will be let in.
Phones, smartwatches, earphones, and any connected or recording device are normally prohibited in the test room. Switch devices off and hand them in or store them as instructed. Confirm with the provider how devices are handled at your centre.
Bring only materials the provider authorises. If a calculator, dictionary, or formula sheet is not explicitly permitted, do not bring it into the room. Confirm the authorised-materials list with the provider rather than inferring it.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and centre staff, including on seating, talking, and leaving the room. Any communication with another candidate during the test is normally treated as misconduct. The provider's disciplinary rules govern; ask for them if you are unsure.
Breaks are not automatic. If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for staff. Whether toilet breaks are allowed, and whether the clock stops, depends on the provider - confirm with the provider before the day.
Scoring rules, including whether wrong answers are penalised, how sections are weighted, and what constitutes a passing score, are set by the provider. Do not rely on hearsay. If the rules are not published, ask the provider directly before the test.
Keep your convocation, candidate number, and any receipts after the test. Results, appeals, and later stages of the concours may require them. Ask the provider for the official results timeline and the procedure for any query about your score.