Testing Criteria
For collège, the written test typically includes an extract from a work of children’s literature, followed by reading comprehension questions and a short essay. The oral component is an examination based on a text (given on the spot), such as a poem, a passage from a novel, or an article, followed by a ten-minute interview with the English teachers. Of course, each test is adapted accordingly to each age and year group.
6e test:
Written test:
Duration : 60 minutes for 6ème
Passage 30-35 lines of fiction or non-fiction
Reading and answering questions : from global comprehension and more detailed understanding
Creative writing 15-20 lines
Oral test:
Duration: 10 minutes
Read a passage aloud
Answer questions
Short conversation
The oral interview is not just a conversation. It is a test to judge the pupil’s comprehension of a written text and their ability to react and analyse it.
A short description of the content of the written test for all levels is available here : https://pia.ac-paris.fr/serail/jcms/s2_3305789/fr/tests-d-admission
The child’s record from their current school will also be assessed: their file is analysed in depth to assess if they are serious and motivated pupils.
The individual schools follow closely those students who have taken the test at their establishment but ultimately, the Rectorate controls the final selection.
The school is not permitted to publish previous papers.
The best way to prepare children for the entrance tests: ensure that they regularly read a variety of English-language texts; speak to them consistently in English; and give them opportunities to write in English whenever possible. Many children in the section have followed a more structured programme, via weekly courses or even language exchanges during the summer months. Some have previously attended school in an English-speaking country, or have been enrolled in a bilingual programme in Paris.
Any other questions? Contact us at camilleseeenglishsection@gmail.com