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Key Facts: Concours CCINP Exam

240 €

Common dossier fee shared with e3a-Polytech (0 € for boursiers), plus per-school fees

Règlement CCINP 2026

20–23 April 2026

Written papers, in about 130 centres in France, the DOM-TOM and abroad

Calendrier CCINP 2026

6 filières

MP, MPI, PC, PSI, TSI and TPC preparatory streams

concours-commun-inp.fr

3 June 2026

Admissibilité results published at 18:00

Calendrier CCINP 2026

22 June – 18 July

Oral examinations and the TIPE defence, 2026 session

Calendrier CCINP 2026

Renamed 2018

Formerly Concours Communs Polytechniques (CCP)

concours-commun-inp.fr

The cornerstone competitive entrance concours for French CPGE scientific students, recruiting for over 70 engineering Grandes Écoles (including Grenoble INP, Bordeaux INP, Toulouse INP, ENAC, and ENSAI) through multi-day written papers and oral examinations.

Sample Concours CCINP Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Concours CCINP exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Consider the 3x3 real matrix A = [[3, 0, 1], [0, 2, 0], [1, 0, 3]]. What are the eigenvalues of A and their respective algebraic multiplicities?
A.lambda = 2 with multiplicity 2, and lambda = 4 with multiplicity 1
B.lambda = 3 with multiplicity 2, and lambda = 2 with multiplicity 1
C.lambda = 4 with multiplicity 2, and lambda = 2 with multiplicity 1
D.lambda = 1, lambda = 2, and lambda = 3 each with multiplicity 1
Explanation: Expanding the characteristic polynomial det(A - lambda I) along the second row gives (2 - lambda) * [(3 - lambda)^2 - 1] = (2 - lambda)(2 - lambda)(4 - lambda) = (2 - lambda)^2 (4 - lambda). The roots are lambda = 2 with algebraic multiplicity 2, and lambda = 4 with algebraic multiplicity 1.
2In the CPGE mathematics syllabus, what is the necessary and sufficient condition for an endomorphism u of a finite-dimensional vector space E to be diagonalisable over the base field K?
A.The characteristic polynomial Chi_u is irreducible over K
B.The characteristic polynomial Chi_u is split (scindé) over K and for each eigenvalue, its geometric multiplicity equals its algebraic multiplicity
C.All eigenvalues of u have algebraic multiplicity strictly greater than 1
D.The trace of the matrix representing u is equal to the dimension of E
Explanation: An endomorphism u is diagonalisable over K if and only if its characteristic polynomial is split over K and the dimension of each eigenspace E_lambda(u) equals the algebraic multiplicity of the eigenvalue lambda (dim(E_lambda) = mult(lambda)). This guarantees that E decomposes into a direct sum of eigenspaces.
3Let A = [[1, 2], [3, 4]] in M_2(R). Using the Cayley-Hamilton theorem, which expression represents the matrix inverse A^(-1)?
A.A^(-1) = (5 I_2 - A) / 2
B.A^(-1) = (A + 5 I_2) / 2
C.A^(-1) = (A - 5 I_2) / 2
D.A^(-1) = (A - 2 I_2) / 5
Explanation: The characteristic polynomial of A is Chi_A(X) = X^2 - tr(A) X + det(A) = X^2 - 5X - 2. By the Cayley-Hamilton theorem, A^2 - 5A - 2 I_2 = 0. Multiplying by A^(-1) gives A - 5 I_2 - 2 A^(-1) = 0, which rearranges to A^(-1) = (A - 5 I_2) / 2.
4Let N in M_3(C) be a nilpotent matrix such that N^2 != 0 and N^3 = 0. Which statement regarding N and its Jordan reduction is correct?
A.N is diagonalisable over C with unique eigenvalue 0
B.The eigenspace ker(N) has dimension 2
C.The minimal polynomial of N is mu_N(X) = X^2
D.The Jordan canonical form of N consists of a single Jordan block of size 3 with eigenvalue 0, and dim(ker(N)) = 1
Explanation: Since N^2 != 0 and N^3 = 0, the minimal polynomial is mu_N(X) = X^3. In M_3(C), the size of the largest Jordan block equals the degree of the minimal polynomial, so there is exactly one Jordan block of size 3. Consequently, the geometric multiplicity dim(ker(N)) equals the number of Jordan blocks, which is 1.
5Let u and v be two commuting endomorphisms (u o v = v o u) of a finite-dimensional complex vector space E. Which property is guaranteed?
A.u and v possess at least one common eigenvector in E
B.If u is diagonalisable, then v must also be diagonalisable
C.u and v have identical characteristic polynomials
D.ker(u) and ker(v) must have trivial intersection {0}
Explanation: Because u and v commute, every eigenspace E_lambda(u) of u is stable under v. Over C, the restriction of v to E_lambda(u) has at least one eigenvalue and therefore a non-zero eigenvector in E_lambda(u), which is simultaneously an eigenvector of u and v.
6Given the upper triangular matrix M = [[2, 1], [0, 3]] in M_2(R), what is the entry in the first row, second column of M^n for any positive integer n?
A.3^n + 2^n
B.3^n - 2^n
C.2 * 3^n - 2^n
D.3^(n-1) - 2^(n-1)
Explanation: M has distinct eigenvalues 2 and 3 with eigenvectors (1, 0)^T and (1, 1)^T respectively. Diagonalising M = P D P^(-1) with P = [[1, 1], [0, 1]] and P^(-1) = [[1, -1], [0, 1]] yields M^n = P [[2^n, 0], [0, 3^n]] P^(-1) = [[2^n, 3^n - 2^n], [0, 3^n]]. The (1, 2) entry is 3^n - 2^n.
7According to the CPGE syllabus, an endomorphism u of a finite-dimensional vector space E is diagonalisable if and only if its minimal polynomial mu_u(X):
A.Is irreducible over the base field K
B.Has degree equal to the dimension of E
C.Is split with simple roots (scindé à racines simples) over the base field K
D.Has only non-zero roots in K
Explanation: A central theorem of endomorphism reduction states that u is diagonalisable over K if and only if there exists a non-zero annihilating polynomial that is split with simple roots over K, which is equivalent to the minimal polynomial mu_u(X) being split with simple roots over K.
8In R^3 equipped with the standard dot product, apply the Gram-Schmidt orthonormalisation process to the vectors v_1 = (1, 1, 0) and v_2 = (1, 0, 1). What is the resulting unit vector e_2?
A.e_2 = (1/sqrt(2), 0, 1/sqrt(2))
B.e_2 = (1/sqrt(3), -1/sqrt(3), 1/sqrt(3))
C.e_2 = (-1/sqrt(6), 1/sqrt(6), 2/sqrt(6))
D.e_2 = (1/sqrt(6), -1/sqrt(6), 2/sqrt(6))
Explanation: First, e_1 = v_1 / ||v_1|| = (1/sqrt(2), 1/sqrt(2), 0). Next, the orthogonal component is u_2 = v_2 - <v_2, e_1> e_1. Here <v_2, e_1> = 1/sqrt(2), so u_2 = (1, 0, 1) - (1/2, 1/2, 0) = (1/2, -1/2, 1). Its norm is ||u_2|| = sqrt(1/4 + 1/4 + 1) = sqrt(6)/2. Normalising yields e_2 = u_2 / ||u_2|| = (1/sqrt(6), -1/sqrt(6), 2/sqrt(6)).
9In R^3 equipped with the standard Euclidean norm, what is the distance from the point A(1, 2, 3) to the affine plane P with Cartesian equation 2x - y + 2z - 9 = 0?
A.1
B.2
C.3
D.sqrt(3)
Explanation: The distance from a point A(x_0, y_0, z_0) to a plane ax + by + cz + d = 0 is d(A, P) = |a x_0 + b y_0 + c z_0 + d| / sqrt(a^2 + b^2 + c^2). Substituting the coordinates gives |2(1) - 1(2) + 2(3) - 9| / sqrt(2^2 + (-1)^2 + 2^2) = |2 - 2 + 6 - 9| / sqrt(9) = |-3| / 3 = 1.
10According to the spectral theorem (théorème spectral) for real Euclidean vector spaces, every real symmetric matrix S in S_n(R):
A.Is invertible with strictly positive determinant
B.Is diagonalisable in an orthonormal basis of R^n, and all of its eigenvalues are real
C.Has strictly positive eigenvalues and zero trace
D.Can be triangularised over R but not necessarily diagonalised
Explanation: The spectral theorem asserts that any real symmetric matrix S is orthogonally diagonalisable: there exists an orthogonal matrix P in O_n(R) such that P^T S P is a diagonal matrix with all diagonal entries being real eigenvalues.

About the Concours CCINP Exam

The Concours Commun INP (CCINP, historically known as the Concours Communs Polytechniques or CCP until 2018) is the largest national competitive entrance examination for students in French Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Écoles (CPGE) across the scientific filières: MP (Mathématiques-Physique), MPI (Mathématiques-Physique-Informatique), PC (Physique-Chimie), PSI (Physique et Sciences de l'Ingénieur), TSI (Technologie et Sciences Industrielles), and TPC (Technologie, Physique et Chimie). Administered from Toulouse, CCINP serves as the direct admission gateway to more than 30 public engineering schools belonging to the National Polytechnic Institutes—including Grenoble INP (Ense3, Ensimag, Phelma, Pagora, Génie Industriel, Esisar), Bordeaux INP (ENSEIRB-MATMECA, ENSMAC, ENSTBB, etc.), Clermont Auvergne INP (ISIMA, Polytech Clermont, SIGMA), Toulouse INP (ENSEEIHT, ENSIACET, ENSAT), and Lorraine INP (ENSEM)—and acts as a shared examination bank (banque d'épreuves) for approximately 40 additional prestigious engineering institutions and military academies, such as ENAC, ENSAI, ENSG Géomatique, the École de l'Air et de l'Espace, and Saint-Cyr. Registration takes place via the SCEI national portal between 8 December 2025 and 12 January 2026 with a shared common dossier fee of 240 € (waived entirely for boursiers). Written examinations take place across approximately 130 centres nationwide, in overseas territories, and abroad from 20 to 23 April 2026. Admissibility results are announced on 3 June 2026, followed by oral examinations and TIPE presentations running from 22 June to 18 July 2026, culminating in final admissions on 22 July 2026. This practice question bank provides an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation covering the shared core of the CPGE scientific curriculum.

Exam sponsor: Concours Commun INP (CCINP / SCEI). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Written phase (écrits) over four days, 20–23 April 2026, in about 130 centres across the French académies, the DOM-TOM and abroad, for the MP, MPI, PC, PSI, TSI and TPC streams. Each filière sits Mathématiques, Physique-Chimie (or Physique and Chimie), a filière-specific science paper such as Sciences Industrielles de l'Ingénieur or Modélisation et ingénierie numérique, Informatique, Français-Philosophie and Langue vivante A, with an optional Langue vivante B. Français-philosophie, langue vivante and one to two science papers are mutualised with the e3a-Polytech bank and sat once. Admissibilité is published on 3 June 2026 at 18:00; orals and the TIPE run from 22 June to 18 July 2026, and admission results appear on 22 July 2026 at 20:00.

Time Limit

3 to 4 hours per written paper over 4 days; 30 to 40 minutes per oral test

Passing Score

Competitive national ranking; admissibilité cutoff for oral entry, followed by school-specific coefficient weighted admission rankings.

Exam / Certification Fees

240 € (common dossier fee shared with e3a-Polytech; 0 € for boursiers du gouvernement français)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

30%

Mathématiques

Linear algebra and endomorphism reduction (characteristic and minimal polynomials, eigenvalues, diagonalisation, trigonalisation, Jordan blocks), inner product spaces (Euclidean/Hermitian structure, Gram-Schmidt orthogonalisation, orthogonal projections, symmetric endomorphisms, spectral theorem), analysis of functions (uniform and normal convergence of series of functions, continuity, differentiability), power series (radius of convergence, expansions), Fourier series (Dirichlet conditions, Parseval identity), multivariate differential calculus (gradient, Jacobian, Hessian, local and constrained extrema), and discrete probability (discrete random variables, expectation, variance, generating functions, Markov/Chebyshev inequalities).

25%

Physique

Electromagnetism in vacuum and linear dielectric/magnetic media (Maxwell's equations, electrostatic and magnetostatic energies, Poynting vector, boundary conditions), electromagnetic wave propagation (monochromatic plane waves, dispersion relations, linear and circular polarization, reflection and transmission at plane interfaces, skin depth in conductors), thermodynamics (open thermodynamic systems, mass and enthalpy/entropy balances, first and second laws, phase transitions, Clausius-Clapeyron equation, heat engines and refrigerators, Carnot efficiency), wave optics (Michelson interferometer, path difference, spatial and temporal coherence, two-slit Young's interference, thin-film interference), and introductory quantum mechanics (1D time-independent Schrödinger equation, infinite potential well, particle in a box, energy quantization, de Broglie relation).

15%

Chimie

Aqueous solution chemistry (pH calculations for strong/weak acids and bases, buffer mixtures, precipitation equilibria and solubility product Ks, coordination complex equilibria and conditional constants), electrochemistry (Nernst equation, standard potentials, Pourbaix E-pH diagrams and domains of predominance/immunity/corrosion/passivation, galvanic cells and electrolysis overpotentials), chemical kinetics (rate laws, integrated rate equations, Arrhenius activation energy, steady-state approximation / AEQS), and organic chemistry mechanisms (nucleophilic substitutions SN1 and SN2, eliminations E1 and E2, electrophilic addition to alkenes, Markovnikov selectivity, stereochemical consequences).

15%

Sciences Industrielles & Informatique

Linear continuous invariant systems (SLCI: Laplace transforms, transfer functions, pole-zero mapping, step response of first and second order systems, damping factor, natural frequency), frequency response analysis (asymptotic and actual Bode diagrams, Nyquist diagrams, phase and gain stability margins), block diagram algebra and closed-loop transfer functions, algorithmic thinking in Python (binary search / dichotomy, sorting algorithms, algorithmic complexity O(n), basic dynamic programming memoization), and relational database querying (SQL SELECT, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY, HAVING, primary/foreign keys).

15%

Français-Philosophie & Langue Vivante

CPGE Français-Philosophie methodology (structured dissertation argumentation, dialectical progression, thesis-antithesis-synthesis, textual synthesis / résumé de texte word count constraints and enunciative fidelity), classical and modern philosophical concepts (ethics, epistemology, nature and technology, freedom and determinism), and modern language English comprehension (advanced grammatical structures, subject-verb inversion, modal nuances, academic vocabulary, and false friends / faux-amis).

Preparing for the Concours CCINP Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Competitive national ranking; admissibilité cutoff for oral entry, followed by school-specific coefficient weighted admission rankings.
  • Assessment: Written phase (écrits) over four days, 20–23 April 2026, in about 130 centres across the French académies, the DOM-TOM and abroad, for the MP, MPI, PC, PSI, TSI and TPC streams. Each filière sits Mathématiques, Physique-Chimie (or Physique and Chimie), a filière-specific science paper such as Sciences Industrielles de l'Ingénieur or Modélisation et ingénierie numérique, Informatique, Français-Philosophie and Langue vivante A, with an optional Langue vivante B. Français-philosophie, langue vivante and one to two science papers are mutualised with the e3a-Polytech bank and sat once. Admissibilité is published on 3 June 2026 at 18:00; orals and the TIPE run from 22 June to 18 July 2026, and admission results appear on 22 July 2026 at 20:00.
  • Time limit: 3 to 4 hours per written paper over 4 days; 30 to 40 minutes per oral test
  • Exam / certification fees: 240 € (common dossier fee shared with e3a-Polytech; 0 € for boursiers du gouvernement français) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
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Concours CCINP: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master linear algebra proofs and reduction theorems: thoroughly practice finding eigenvalues, verifying eigenspace dimensions for diagonalisability, and computing matrix powers using P * D * P^(-1).
2Develop rapid fluency in Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic boundary conditions, especially Poynting vector calculations and skin depth formula delta = sqrt(2 / (mu * sigma * omega)).
3Treat thermodynamic open systems methodically: always establish steady-state mass and enthalpy balances (first law: Delta H = Q + W_ind) before calculating entropy creation and isentropic efficiencies.
4In aqueous chemistry, memorize master formulas and practice using logarithmic approximation methods for pH, buffer capacity, complexation constant beta_n, and solubility products.
5Work through SLCI Bode and Nyquist criteria systematically: identify corner frequencies (pulsations de coupure), asymptotic slopes (-20 dB/dec per pole), and read phase margins at 0 dB gain crossover.
6For Français-Philosophie, master dialectical structuring (thèse, antithèse, synthèse) and avoid descriptive plot summary; always anchor arguments in rigorous textual and philosophical concepts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Concours CCINP and which engineering schools does it recruit for?

The Concours Commun INP (formerly known as the Concours Communs Polytechniques or CCP until 2018) is France's largest competitive examination for CPGE scientific students. It provides direct recruitment into over 30 schools affiliated with the National Polytechnic Institutes (Grenoble INP, Bordeaux INP, Toulouse INP, Clermont Auvergne INP, and Lorraine INP) and serves as an examination bank (banque d'épreuves) for roughly 40 additional partner schools, including ENAC, ENSAI, ENSG, and military academies such as the École de l'Air and Saint-Cyr.

How is the official CCINP examination formatted?

The official concours consists of rigorous, multi-hour written problem papers (épreuves écrites de 3 à 4 heures) tailored to each scientific filière (MP, MPI, PC, PSI, TSI, TPC) held over four days in April, followed by oral interrogations (oraux) and the TIPE project defense in June and July. It does not use multiple-choice questions. This practice bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation created to help students test core concepts across mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, and the humanities.

What are the registration dates and fees for the 2026 session?

Candidates register on the national SCEI portal (scei-concours.fr) between 8 December 2025 and 12 January 2026. The examination fee is a 240 € common dossier fee shared jointly with the e3a-Polytech bank. The registration fee is completely waived (0 €) for French government scholarship recipients (boursiers de l'État).

When do the written and oral sessions take place in 2026?

Written examinations (épreuves écrites) are held from 20 to 23 April 2026 across roughly 130 exam centres in France and abroad. Admissibility results are published on 3 June 2026 at 18:00. Oral examinations (épreuves orales) and TIPE defenses take place in Paris and regional centres from 22 June to 18 July 2026, with final admission lists published on 22 July 2026 at 20:00.

Which academic filières can take the Concours CCINP?

CCINP is open to second-year CPGE students (spés) in the MP (Maths-Physique), MPI (Maths-Physique-Informatique), PC (Physique-Chimie), PSI (Physique-Sciences de l'Ingénieur), TSI (Technologie et Sciences Industrielles), and TPC (Technologie, Physique et Chimie) tracks.

Why is this question bank presented in English and in multiple-choice format?

While the official CCINP examinations are written in French and composed of open-ended, multi-step problem sets, this practice bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation. It allows candidates to rapidly drill fundamental definitions, quantitative problem-solving skills, error traps, and CPGE syllabus theorems in an accessible, interactive digital format.