CANDIDATE PROFILES
The option “Economics and Social Sciences” for ENSAI’s Economic and Social Science entrance examination is mainly suited for students coming from Khâgne B/L post-secondary preparatory classes (literature and social sciences) as well as university students who have a strong background in economic science or Miashs.
Conditions to Take the Entrance Examinations:
- statistical engineering students (civilian): no particular conditions apply
- civil servant student statisticians for INSEE (government employee) must :
- be a citizen of an EU Member State or signatory to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra or Monaco);
- enjoy full rights as a citizen;
- prove a clean criminal record (Bulletin n°2 in France), compatible with official duties;
- prove physically fit for employment;
- have on September 1st of the year for which the examination is organized, a valid schooling certificate (to be a registered student) to certify that they are in the 2nd year of the preparatory classes for the grandes écoles entrance exams, or a level III (2nd year post-baccalauréat) title or degree, or qualifications that are recognized as being equivalent to these titles or degrees;
- have fulfilled any obligations they may have for National Service.
REGISTRATION
Registration for the exam option “Economics and Social Sciences” for statistical engineering students (civilians) and INSEE civil servant student statisticians (government employees) must be done via www.concours-bce.com, option “B/L”, then ENSAI civil (engineer) and/or ENSAI fonctionnaire (INSEE civil servant) – option Economics and Social Sciences.
Examination fees for 2025:
- statistical engineering students (civilians): €55. Candidates who receive French grants or bursary are exempt from paying.
- INSEE civil servant student statisticians: free
EXAMS AND SYLLABUS
The exams and coefficients are the same for statistical engineering students (civilian) and INSEE civil servant student statisticians.
Except for the interview (oral exam), the examination subjects are based on the programs for the entrance exams for ENS in social sciences (CPGE B/L).
Written exams:
The 4 written exams are taken from the group of inter-ENS social science exams (B/L).
The written compositions in social sciences and mathematics are common to all ENS.
The written exam with the sociology or economics option and the written language exam are specific to ENS Paris Saclay.
Oral Exams:
Shortlisted (eligible) candidates have two oral exams at ENSAI:
- An interview (30 min.) which aims to evaluate the candidates general knowledge and quality of reflection, as well as the candidates’ motivation to become a statistician (engineer or civil servant). The format and evaluation method can be consulted by clicking on the links above
- A mathematics oral exam (30 min.) which has two parts and tests knowledge from the BL preparatory classes’ curriculum:
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- one exercise drawn at random by the candidate, prepared for 30 min., and presented to the jury for 15 min.
- one exercise, without preparation time, on a different topic than the previous one, which allows the jury to evaluate the candidates’ reactivity in real-time, followed by questions from the jury, for a total of 15 min.
Either way, every candidate has a question about probability/statistics, either as the main prepared presentation or as the secondary unprepared activity. Both of these exercises are done on the (white)board and calculators are not allowed.
For all the exams, except the language test, all scores below 5/20 automatically eliminate the candidate.
Annals 2019 :
Annals 2018 :
RESULTS
Results will be available on the candidate area.
CALENDAR
- Registration on www.concours-bce.com : December 7, 2024, until January 13, 2025, at 5 p.m.
- Written exams: April 14 to 23, 2025
- Oral exams: June 23 to July 4, 2025
- Admission results: July 11, 2025
KEY FIGURES
> Entrance Exam 2024
Engineering students: 367 applied, 61 shortlisted, 11 admitted.
INSEE civil servant statisticians: 559 applied, 68 shortlisted, 14 admitted.
> Entrance Exam 2023
Engineering students: 303 applied, 46 shortlisted, 2 admitted.
INSEE civil servant statisticians: 474 applied, 55 shortlisted, 11 admitted.
> Entrance Exam 2022
Engineering students: 296 applied, 53 shortlisted, 10 admitted.
INSEE civil servant statisticians: 420 applied, 63 shortlisted, 7 admitted.
> Entrance Exam 2021
Engineering students: 251 applied, 53 shortlisted, 8 admitted.
INSEE civil servant statisticians: 320 applied, 55 shortlisted, 7 admitted.
CONTACT
Students are selected from a pool of candidates who take exams from the inter-ENS exams (banque commune d’épreuves). The written exams are the same for ENSAE.