Concours e3a-Polytech exam-day guide
Concours e3a-Polytech · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation and piece of ID
Print the convocation you received after registering and bring the identity document it names. The exact accepted ID types and whether a photo is required can change year to year, so confirm the accepted list with the provider (SCEI / the concours organisers) rather than assuming a student card is enough.
Check your convocation for time, room and address
The e3a-Polytech written papers are sat in assigned centres; the exact reporting time, building and room come only from your convocation. Re-read it the day before and plan the route to the building, not just the city, because large centres use several halls.
Black or blue pens, spares, and a pencil
Bring several ballpoint pens that write reliably plus a pencil and eraser for rough work. Confirm on the convocation or the concours rules page which writing instruments are permitted; do not rely on correction fluid or erasable pens unless the rules explicitly allow them.
Calculator policy
Calculator rules differ between concours and between papers. Check the official notice for whether a calculator is allowed, which models are banned (typically programmable or graphing models), and whether it must be in exam mode. If the notice is unclear, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Watch and simple geometry kit
A plain analogue watch helps you pace a long paper if the hall clock is not visible; check that smartwatches are excluded. Bring a ruler, compass and set square if the mathematics paper may involve geometry, subject to what the rules allow on the desk.
Food, water and medication
Papers can run several hours, so bring a small snack and a bottle of water for before or after the session, and any prescribed medication. Ask the provider in advance about bringing food into the hall and about any accommodation for a documented health condition.
Know the paper structure and timing
Read the official description of each épreuve (duration, number of exercises, weighting) so you know how many minutes you can spend per exercise. Do not trust second-hand summaries of the format; use the concours notice for the year you are sitting.
Phone switched off and stored
Switch your phone fully off before entering the hall and store it as the invigilators instruct. A phone that rings or is found on your person during the paper can lead to disqualification, so treat this as a hard rule.
Travel plan with a margin
Aim to arrive well before the reporting time, allowing for transport delays. If you are travelling from another city, consider arriving the evening before; the provider's notice will state the reporting time and any late-entry cut-off.
Sleep and light revision only
In the last days, revise formulas and method sheets rather than starting new topics. A full night's sleep is worth more than an extra hour of cramming, especially for a long written paper.
Plan the day
Re-read the official concours notice and your convocation for the exact schedule, permitted materials and ID requirements. Print the convocation if you have not already, and confirm the address and reporting time.
Do one timed practice paper under exam conditions to check your pacing: how long you spend per exercise and where you lose marks. Then review the corrections rather than doing more papers.
Make a one-page formula and method sheet per subject (mathematics, physics, and any other subject you sit) and use it for short review sessions. Focus on standard results and typical exercise patterns rather than obscure material.
Pack your bag: convocation, ID, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, geometry kit, calculator if allowed, water and snack. Check the calculator's status against the rules and confirm with the provider if anything is ambiguous.
Confirm your route and transport times, set two alarms, and avoid an all-night revision session. A short review of your formula sheets is enough; stop early enough to sleep properly.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave with a large time margin, and arrive at the centre before the reporting time. Switch your phone off before entering the hall and follow the invigilators' instructions on where to place your belongings.
Read the whole subject quickly, note the marks or length of each exercise, and allocate time. Start with the exercises you can handle confidently, and keep a few minutes at the end to check arithmetic and units.
Write clearly and show your reasoning, since method and intermediate steps usually earn marks even when the final answer is wrong. If you get stuck, move on and return later rather than losing time on one question.
Check that your name and candidate details are filled in as instructed, that every page is identified, and that you have not left a question blank by accident. Hand in your script only when the invigilator asks.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document named on your convocation and present it when asked. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day rather than assuming.
Follow the invigilators' instructions at all times: they control seating, the start and end of the paper, and what may be on your desk. Ask them, not other candidates, if something is unclear.
Phones and connected devices must be switched off and stored as instructed. Keeping a phone on you during the paper can be treated as cheating, so do not risk it.
Only use authorised materials. Check the official notice for the calculator policy and for any banned instruments; if the notice does not settle a case, confirm with the provider in advance.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the paper and do not look at another candidate's script. Any suspected fraud is handled under the concours regulations, which you should read on the official site.
Breaks and leaving the hall are at the invigilator's discretion; confirm the rules for your centre on the day and plan to stay seated for the whole session unless told otherwise.
If you have a health condition or a disability requiring accommodation, request it from the provider well before the exam, following the procedure and deadlines in the official notice.
Scoring and marking conventions are set by the concours; read how each épreuve is marked and weighted on the official site. Do not rely on unofficial claims about coefficients or grading.