CAFDES exam-day guide
CAFDES · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation letter / convocation notice
The CAFDES (Certificat d'aptitude aux fonctions de directeur d'établissement ou de service d'intervention sociale) is organised by the regional DRJSCS/DDETS or the accredited training body, and candidates normally receive a written convocation stating date, time, address and instructions. Bring the printed copy. If you have not received it, contact the organising body immediately - confirm with the provider.
Valid photo ID
Bring the original national identity card or passport. Check that it is unexpired; an expired document is commonly refused. Do not rely on a photocopy or a digital ID in your phone. Whether a driving licence is accepted varies by centre - confirm with the provider.
Confirmation of registration / eligibility file
Keep the acknowledgement of your registration and, where relevant, proof of the prerequisites (diploma, experience attestations). These are usually checked at enrolment rather than on the day, but having them avoids last-minute problems. Confirm with the provider what must be shown on the day.
Several black or blue pens and a spare
Written papers are still handwritten in most centres. Bring at least three pens that you have tested, plus a pencil and eraser for rough notes if permitted. Check whether correction fluid or erasable pens are allowed - confirm with the provider.
Wristwatch (non-connected)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones must be switched off and stored. A simple analogue or digital watch lets you manage the time across the different parts of the test. Smartwatches are normally prohibited.
Water and a small snack
The director-level tests are long and often run across a full day with a short break. Bring a bottle of water and something quiet to eat between papers, subject to the centre's rules on food in the room.
Nothing that connects or records
Leave connected watches, earbuds, tablets and phones out of reach or at home. A phone that rings or vibrates during the test can lead to expulsion even if you were not using it. Confirm the centre's storage arrangements with the provider.
Review the format of each test
Know in advance which épreuves you are sitting and their duration and coefficient: typically a written dossier or case study, a written or oral professional dissertation defence, and an oral interview before a jury. Confirm the exact programme and timing with the provider, as arrangements differ between centres and sessions.
Prepare your professional experience narrative
For the oral, be ready to present your career path, the establishments or services you have managed or worked in, and the management situations you have handled. Rehearse a short, structured presentation of your motivations and your understanding of the director's role.
Plan the journey and the arrival time
Locate the venue in advance, check transport disruptions and aim to arrive well before the convocation time. Late arrival may mean exclusion once the test has started. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Read the instructions on the paper carefully
Before writing, check the number of pages, the required sections, the marking guidance and the time allowed. Note the points allocated so you can budget your effort, and keep a few minutes at the end to reread.
Check the centre's current health and access rules
Requirements on masks, health passes or specific access arrangements can change between sessions. Verify the current instructions in your convocation or on the organiser's website - confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Reread your convocation and confirm the venue, date, start time, duration and list of authorised materials. Print the convocation and prepare your ID. Check transport options and, if the venue is far away, book accommodation or plan the departure. Do not start new topics: consolidate your notes on the main legal and policy frameworks relevant to social and medico-social action, the director's responsibilities, and the structure of a written argument. Rehearse aloud the presentation of your professional path for the oral.
Pack your bag: convocation, ID, pens, watch, water, snack, and any document the provider has explicitly authorised. Lay out your clothes. Do a light review of your summary sheets and the plan structure you intend to use for the written case study. Stop working early in the evening, eat normally, avoid alcohol and screens late at night, and go to bed at your usual time. Set two alarms and check the journey time once more.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the venue ahead of the convocation time. Switch off your phone and store it as instructed. Show your convocation and ID at the check-in. Once seated, read the whole paper and the instructions before writing, note the time allowed and the points per section, and plan your answer briefly. Watch the clock at agreed checkpoints so you do not overrun one part.
Answer the question actually asked, structure your response with clear headings, and support your arguments with precise references to the legal and institutional framework and to your professional experience. For the oral, listen to the jury's questions to the end, take a moment to think, and answer directly before developing. If a question goes beyond your knowledge, say so honestly and reason from principles rather than inventing facts. Keep a few minutes at the end of each written paper to reread for clarity, spelling and completeness.
Note down the questions you found difficult while they are fresh, for your own reflection or a future session. Keep your convocation and any receipts. Results and the procedure for consulting your marks or requesting feedback are set by the organising body - confirm with the provider.
Rules to check
Bring the original, valid photo ID named on your registration and your convocation. Candidates who cannot prove their identity are normally not admitted; the exact list of accepted documents is set by the centre - confirm with the provider.
Switch off all phones and connected devices and store them as instructed before the test begins. Using or even handling an unauthorised device during the test is commonly treated as fraud and can lead to exclusion from the whole examination.
Only bring the materials the convocation authorises. Annotated books, personal notes, dictionaries or calculators are usually prohibited unless explicitly permitted for a given paper - check your convocation and confirm with the provider.
Arrive before the stated time. Once a paper has started, late candidates may be refused entry, and no extra time is granted for a late start. Leaving the room before the end may be restricted; ask the invigilator if you need to leave temporarily.
Breaks between papers are set by the centre. Stay within the designated areas, keep noise down, and do not discuss the content of a paper with other candidates while the session is still running.
Do not attempt to communicate with other candidates, share materials or copy during the test. Suspected fraud is reported to the jury and can result in cancellation of the paper or of the whole examination.
Marking is done by a jury against published criteria for each épreuve, and the pass decision and any compensation between papers follow the rules of the certification. The precise thresholds and procedures are set by the organising authority - confirm with the provider.
If you have a disability or a special examination arrangement, request it well before the session and confirm in writing that it has been granted. Adjustments are not normally arranged on the day itself.