CAPLP exam-day guide
CAPLP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation and exam-room assignment
Print or download the convocation (convocation) you received after registration. It states the date, the session time, the address of the centre, and your candidate number (numéro de candidat). If you have not received it, contact the rectorat or the organising académie immediately - do not assume you can be admitted without it. Confirm with the provider whether a digital copy on your phone is accepted or whether a paper copy is mandatory (needs_review).
Valid photo ID
Bring the identity document named in the convocation - usually a national identity card or passport. Check that it has not expired. A driving licence is not always accepted; confirm with the provider which documents are admissible (needs_review).
Black ballpoint pens and spare
The CAPLP written papers are answered on paper booklets. Bring at least two black ballpoint pens, plus a pencil, an eraser and a small sharpener if you use one. Do not bring correcting fluid or erasable pens unless the instructions explicitly allow them.
Authorised reference materials for your discipline
Some CAPLP options allow specific materials (for example a dictionary, a set of official texts, or a calculator for certain sections). The list of authorised materials appears in the exam regulations (règlement d'examen) and on the convocation. Only bring what is explicitly permitted; anything else may be confiscated. Confirm the exact list with the provider (needs_review).
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres require stationery to be carried in a clear bag so invigilators can check it quickly. Keep it small and free of notes, labels or annotations.
No connected devices
Switch off your mobile phone completely and leave it in your bag at the place designated by the invigilators, or hand it in if the centre requires it. A ringing or vibrating phone, or a connected watch on your wrist, can trigger a fraud procedure even if you did not use it.
Analogue watch
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones are not available as timekeepers. Bring a simple analogue watch with no smart features. Check the time against the invigilator's announcements rather than relying only on your watch.
Water and a small snack
Written sessions can last four to six hours. Bring a transparent bottle of water and a snack for the break, unless the centre's rules say otherwise. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at the desk (needs_review).
Transport plan and backup
Locate the centre in advance, check public transport schedules for the exact morning, and plan a backup route. Aim to arrive well before the doors close; late arrivals are typically refused once the paper has been distributed.
Read the whole paper before writing
Use the first minutes to read every question and the marking guidance, then allocate time per section according to the marks. Leave time at the end to re-read your answers for clarity and legibility.
Physical preparation
Sleep, eat a normal breakfast, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Bring any prescribed medication you need and tell the invigilator if you have a documented accommodation (aménagement) arranged in advance.
Accommodation confirmation if applicable
If you have a recognised disability or health condition, verify in advance that your accommodation (tiers-temps, separate room, assistant) has been formally granted. This cannot be arranged on the day. Confirm the decision with the provider (needs_review).
Plan the day
Re-read the convocation and the règlement d'examen for your option. Confirm the address, start time, door-closing time, and the exact list of authorised materials. Print a map and check transport schedules, including any strikes or engineering works announced for that day. Do a full timed rehearsal of one past paper under exam conditions, then review only your weak points - do not start new topics. Prepare your bag with ID, convocation, pens, watch and clear pouch, and leave it by the door.
Stop intensive revision in the evening. Re-read your own summary sheets and the structure of the expected exercise types. Check the weather and travel plan again, set two alarms, and go to bed at a normal hour. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals. Confirm that your ID and convocation are in the bag. If you must travel far, consider staying near the centre.
Eat breakfast, leave earlier than strictly necessary, and arrive at the centre with time to find the room and the candidate list. Switch off your phone before entering the building and put it away. Present your convocation and ID at the check-in, sit at your assigned place, and place only authorised materials on the desk. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions about filling in the header, the candidate number, and the start and end times.
Read the whole paper first and note the marks per question. Budget your time, start with the sections you can answer confidently, and keep an eye on the clock. Write legibly and structure long answers with clear headings and short paragraphs. If a question is unclear, state your interpretation briefly and answer it. Leave five to ten minutes to check that every page is numbered and identified with your candidate number. Stop writing immediately when the invigilator announces the end; continuing to write can be treated as a breach of rules.
Rules to check
Bring the convocation and the identity document named on it. Admission may be refused without them; if you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Arrive before the doors close. Candidates arriving after the paper has been distributed are generally not admitted, and no extra time is granted for lateness.
Mobile phones, connected watches and any other communication or recording devices must be switched off and stored as the invigilators instruct. Possession of an unauthorised device, even unused, can lead to the paper being cancelled.
Only authorised materials may be on the desk. Notes, annotated documents, or reference works not listed in the regulations are prohibited; confirm the authorised list with the provider if it is unclear.
During a long session, breaks are usually taken under invigilation and only when the regulations allow. You may not leave the room during the final part of the session, and no extra time is given for a break. Confirm the exact break policy with the provider (needs_review).
Any attempt to communicate with another candidate, exchange documents, or use unauthorised aids is treated as fraud and may result in disqualification from the examination and a ban from future sessions.
Marking follows the official subject-specific criteria. Partial credit is normally given for correct method and reasoning, so show your working and justify your answers rather than leaving blanks.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on filling in the header and candidate number. Anonymity rules apply to the written papers: do not write your name where only your candidate number is required.