Concours Administrateur de l'INSEE (INSED) exam-day guide
Concours Administrateur de l'INSEE (INSED) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation to the written tests
Print or download the convocation you received after registering. It states the session, address, and reporting time. If you have not received it, check your registration account and contact the organizing service; do not assume you can be admitted without it.
Valid identity document
Bring the photo ID required by the convocation (national ID card, passport, or residence permit, depending on your situation). Check that it is unexpired and that the name matches your registration. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted if your ID is in a different name or is a foreign document.
Black ballpoint pens (several)
Written tests are answered on paper with dark ink. Bring at least three black pens and a spare you have already tested. Pencil is normally only for rough work, if allowed at all.
Pencil, eraser, and pencil sharpener
Useful for rough drafts, calculations, and any machine-readable answer sheet that requires pencil marks. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is allowed on the answer sheet itself.
A non-programmable calculator
Quantitative and economics sections may require computation. Bring a simple scientific calculator with no memory of stored text, no communication capability, and no cover with formulas. Confirm with the provider which models are authorized, since rules differ by session.
Analog watch
Rooms are not guaranteed to have a visible clock, and phones must be switched off and stored. A simple non-connected watch lets you pace the sections. Do not rely on a smartwatch, which is normally prohibited.
Water bottle and small snack
Long sessions can run several hours. Bring a clear, label-free bottle and a quiet snack for the break, if a break is scheduled. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the room.
Nothing that connects or stores data
Phones, smartwatches, earbuds, connected pens, and any device with memory or transmission must be switched off and left outside the work area, usually in a bag at the front. Possession in the room can be treated as fraud even if unused.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Locate the test center in advance and plan to arrive well before the reporting time, accounting for transport disruptions. Late arrival may mean exclusion. Confirm with the provider the exact reporting time and the latest admissible arrival.
Read the instructions on the answer sheet
Before writing, check the candidate number, the number of pages, and the required format for each section (essay, short answer, multiple choice). A mislabeled or incomplete answer sheet may not be graded.
Review the official test format
Re-read the official description of the written tests (subjects, durations, coefficients) on the official concours site so you know how many exercises to expect and how to allocate time. Confirm with the provider if the format notice for your session differs from earlier years.
Check accessibility arrangements, if relevant
If you requested extra time or a specific arrangement, bring the written confirmation and arrive early to speak with the room supervisor. Confirm with the provider the procedure and deadline well before the session.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Re-read your own summary sheets for the main subjects (economics, quantitative methods, public statistics, and the essay topics), and do one timed rehearsal of a full section to check your pacing. Confirm the test center address, transport route, and reporting time from the convocation.
Prepare the physical kit: ID, convocation, pens, calculator, watch, water. Test the calculator's battery and buttons. Put everything in one bag so nothing is decided on the morning. Check the weather and any transport works that could affect the journey.
Review method rather than facts: how you structure an essay (introduction, plan, argument, conclusion), how you show calculations clearly, and how you allocate minutes per exercise. Write a one-page time plan for the session and keep it in your bag.
Do a light review of formulas and key definitions only. Avoid full mock tests, which add fatigue. Prepare clothes and meals, set two alarms, and go to bed at a normal hour. If you must travel, arrive the evening before and check the hotel's distance from the center.
Eat a normal breakfast, take your ID and convocation, and leave with a large margin. On arrival, find the room list, check your name and candidate number, switch off your phone, and place prohibited items in your bag at the front.
Listen to the supervisor's instructions, fill in your identity details on the answer sheet exactly as instructed, count the pages, and read the whole subject before writing. Note the start and end times on your watch.
Allocate time by section and keep a reserve for final checking. Start with the exercise you can do most reliably to secure marks, then move to harder parts. Write legibly, number your answers to match the questions, show your reasoning in quantitative exercises, and leave space to correct. When ten minutes remain, stop expanding and check identity fields, page numbers, and that every required question has an answer.
Hand in the answer sheet and any required documents when instructed, keep your convocation for later stages, and note the date and channel for results publication. Do not discuss answers in a way that disturbs others still working.
Rules to check
Identity is checked at the door. Present the ID and convocation matching your registration; a mismatch or missing document may lead to exclusion. If your situation is unusual (name change, foreign ID), confirm with the provider in advance.
Electronic devices must be switched off and stored outside the work area. A phone or connected watch found on you, even unused, can trigger a fraud procedure with consequences for the entire concours.
Follow the announced schedule: the session starts and ends at fixed times, and no extra time is granted for late arrival or for time lost filling in the answer sheet. Confirm with the provider the policy on late arrival and on early departure.
Breaks are only those announced by the supervisor. If a break is scheduled, leave the room only when authorized, take your ID if instructed, and return at the stated time; do not communicate with other candidates about the content of the test.
Only authorized documents and equipment may be on the desk. Notes, textbooks, and programmable or connected calculators are normally prohibited. Confirm with the provider the exact list of authorized materials for your session.
Answers must be written in the required format and place. Work written outside the designated areas, on rough paper, or in a different color may not be graded. Keep your rough work clearly separate from your final answers.
Scoring is anonymous and based only on the submitted copies, with each test weighted according to the official coefficients. Do not expect feedback on individual answers; results and any eligibility for the oral stage are published through the official channel.
Any attempt to communicate with another candidate, to use unauthorized material, or to substitute another person is treated as fraud and may lead to disqualification from the concours. If you are unsure whether an action is allowed, ask the supervisor before doing it.