Free Practice Questions for Concours Gardien de la Paix

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Key Facts: Concours Gardien de la Paix Exam

Category B

French civil service classification for Corps d'encadrement et d'application

Décret n° 2004-1439

12 Months

Paid initial training period at École Nationale de Police (ENP)

DGPN Training Framework

Article 20 CPP

Agent de Police Judiciaire (APJ) statutory qualification

Code de procédure pénale

Coef 5

Weight of the oral jury interview (highest coefficient)

Arrêté du 8 mars 2022 modifié

100 MCQs

Practice questions aligned to official DGPN syllabus

OpenExamPrep Study Bank

The DGPN Concours Gardien de la Paix (Category B) selects frontline peace officers for the Police Nationale. Governed by the Arrêté of 8 March 2022 (as amended in 2024), this competitive exam evaluates practical problem-solving, institutional knowledge, penal law, ethics, fitness, and interview performance.

Sample Concours Gardien de la Paix Practice Questions

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

1Under the institutional architecture of the French Republic, which government ministry exercises direct executive authority over the Direction Générale de la Police Nationale (DGPN)?

A.Ministère de la Justice

B.Ministère de l'Intérieur et des Outre-mer

C.Ministère des Armées

D.Ministère de la Transition écologique et de la Cohésion des territoires

Explanation: The Direction Générale de la Police Nationale (DGPN) is an administrative directorate placed under the direct authority of the Ministère de l'Intérieur. While judicial police officers perform investigations under the legal direction of judicial magistrates (Ministère de la Justice), the organic, administrative, and logistical hierarchy of the Police Nationale belongs entirely to the Ministry of the Interior.

2What is the primary statutory criterion defining the geographic jurisdiction of the Police Nationale as opposed to the Gendarmerie Nationale in mainland France?

A.The Police Nationale is exclusively competent in coastal and border maritime zones

B.The Gendarmerie Nationale operates only along high-speed rail lines and national motorways

C.The Police Nationale has territorial competence in urban agglomerations, whereas the Gendarmerie Nationale covers rural and peri-urban areas

D.The Police Nationale is restricted to administrative traffic offenses, while the Gendarmerie handles all criminal investigations

Explanation: Under the Code de la sécurité intérieure (Article R. 122-1 et seq.), the territorial distribution of internal security forces assigns urban municipalities and large urban agglomerations (historically defined as communes with population exceeding 20,000 and urban crime characteristics) to the Police Nationale (zone police), while rural communes and peri-urban districts fall under the jurisdiction of the Gendarmerie Nationale (zone gendarmerie).

3Which high-ranking administrative authority exercises unified police prefectural powers over Paris and the inner-ring departments of the petite couronne (Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne)?

A.Le Préfet de Police de Paris

B.Le Maire de Paris

C.Le Procureur Général près la Cour d'appel de Paris

D.Le Directeur Général de la Police Nationale

Explanation: The Préfecture de Police de Paris has a unique historical status dating back to the Year VIII (1800). Governed today by Article R. 122-4 of the Code de la sécurité intérieure, the Préfet de Police exercises administrative and operational security authority not only in the City of Paris but also across the three inner-ring departments of the petite couronne (75, 92, 93, 94) and over Paris airports.

4What major departmental police structure was created across French departments to unify public security, judicial police, intelligence, and border police under a single command?

A.La Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure (DGSI)

B.Le Service Interministériel de Défense Civile (SIDC)

C.La Brigade de Répression du Banditisme (BRB)

D.La Direction Interdépartementale ou Départementale de la Police Nationale (DIPN / DDPN)

Explanation: Under recent administrative reforms finalized in 2023 and 2024, the French government established the Directions Départementales / Interdépartementales de la Police Nationale (DDPN / DIPN). This structural reform ended historical operational silos by unifying local public security (DDSP), judicial investigations (DTPJ), territorial intelligence (SDRT), and border police (PAF) under a single departmental director of the Police Nationale.

5Which of the following correctly identifies the three active hierarchical corps (*corps actifs*) of the French Police Nationale?

A.Corps des Préfets, Corps des Magistrats, Corps des Greffiers

B.Corps de conception et de direction, Corps de commandement, Corps d'encadrement et d'application

C.Corps des Officiers, Corps des Sous-officiers, Corps des Militaires du rang

D.Corps de surveillance, Corps d'intervention spéciale, Corps d'administration générale

Explanation: The active personnel of the Police Nationale are organized into three statutory civil service corps under Décret n° 95-654: (1) Corps de conception et de direction (Commissaires de police, Category A+); (2) Corps de commandement (Officiers de police: Capitaines, Commandants, Category A); and (3) Corps d'encadrement et d'application (Gardiens de la paix, Brigadiers-chefs, Majors, Category B).

6How does the fundamental constitutional principle of secularism (*laïcité*) apply to an active police officer in the French Police Nationale while on duty?

A.The officer must observe strict religious neutrality and is strictly forbidden from displaying religious symbols or expressing philosophical beliefs

B.The officer may wear visible religious insignia provided it does not interfere with tactical gear or helmet fitting

C.The officer is exempt from neutrality requirements when patrolling in municipal areas with diverse religious populations

D.The officer may openly express personal religious opinions during public briefings as long as they do not endorse political parties

Explanation: Under Article 1 of the Constitution of 1958, the Law of 9 December 1905 on the separation of church and state, and Article R. 434-29 of the Code de la sécurité intérieure, public servants (and police officers in particular) are subject to a strict duty of neutrality (*principe de neutralité*). While performing their duties, officers are strictly prohibited from manifesting their religious beliefs or wearing visible religious insignia.

7What is the primary operational vocation of the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité (CRS)?

A.Conducting undercover financial and corporate tax audits across European jurisdictions

B.Carrying out consular security and armed embassy protection overseas

C.Maintaining public order (*maintien de l'ordre public*), crowd control, highway patrol, and emergency alpine/beach rescue

D.Administering penitentiary establishments and supervising high-security correctional facilities

Explanation: Created by decree in December 1944, the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité (CRS) constitute the mobile reserve of the Police Nationale. Their primary vocation is the maintenance and restoration of public order (*maintien et rétablissement de l'ordre public*) during demonstrations and civil disturbances, supplemented by highway safety supervision and specialized rescue units in mountains (CRS Montagne) and summer coastal beaches (nageurs-sauveteurs).

8Which specialized central directorate of the Police Nationale is primarily responsible for border surveillance, immigration control, and international transit hub security?

A.La Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire (DCPJ)

B.La Direction Nationale du Renseignement Territorial (DNRT)

C.Le Service Central des Courses et Jeux (SCCJ)

D.La Direction Nationale de la Police aux Frontières (DNPAF)

Explanation: The Direction Nationale de la Police aux Frontières (DNPAF) is the directorate of the Police Nationale tasked with border checks, combating irregular immigration networks, dismantling illegal worker smuggling rings, and ensuring security across international airports, maritime ports, and designated cross-border rail terminals.

9Which foundational French constitutional text states in Article 12 that 'the guarantee of the rights of man and citizen necessitates a public force' (*la garantie des droits de l'homme et du citoyen nécessite une force publique*)?

A.Le Code civil de 1804

B.La Déclaration des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen de 1789

C.Le Préambule de la Constitution de 1946

D.L'Ordonnance de 1958 relative à la magistrature

Explanation: Article 12 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 26 August 1789 explicitly proclaims: 'La garantie des droits de l'homme et du citoyen nécessite une force publique : cette force est donc instituée pour l'avantage de tous, et non pour l'utilité particulière de ceux auxquels elle est confiée.' This establishes the constitutional foundation for police authority in France as a public service operating for the collective good.

10Under Article 12 of the French Code de procédure pénale (CPP), under whose operational direction is the judicial police (*police judiciaire*) placed in each judicial district (*ressort*)?

A.Le Procureur de la République

B.Le Préfet de Département

C.Le Bâtonnier de l'Ordre des Avocats

D.Le Commissaire Divisionnaire chef de circonscription

Explanation: Under Article 12 of the Code de procédure pénale (CPP), the judicial police is placed in each judicial district under the direction of the Procureur de la République. It is also placed under the supervision (*surveillance*) of the Procureur Général and under the disciplinary control (*contrôle*) of the Chambre de l'instruction of the Cour d'appel.

About the Concours Gardien de la Paix Exam

The Concours Gardien de la Paix is the primary Category B competitive civil service examination for entering the French Police Nationale within the Corps d'encadrement et d'application. Administered by the Direction Générale de la Police Nationale (DGPN) under the authority of the Ministère de l'Intérieur, successful candidates undergo 12 months of paid operational and legal training at a police academy (École Nationale de Police - ENP). Gardiens de la paix serve on the front lines of public security, judicial investigations, border control, and public order, exercising powers as Agents de Police Judiciaire (APJ 20) to enforce laws, assist victims, and protect democratic institutions.

Exam sponsor: Direction Générale de la Police Nationale (DGPN), Ministère de l'Intérieur. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

The Concours de Gardien de la Paix is governed by the Arrêté du 8 mars 2022 (amended by Arrêté du 18 mars 2024) and organized by the DGPN. It features a single comprehensive admission phase: written cas pratique based on a dossier (2 hours, coefficient 4), general culture and foreign language multiple-choice tests (1 hour, coefficient 3), psychotechnical testing (2 hours, unweighted diagnostic for the jury), physical fitness tests comprising the Parcours d'Habilité Motrice [PHM] and Test d'Endurance Cardio-Respiratoire [TECR] (coefficient 4, eliminatory score < 7/20), and a final oral interview with a jury assessing motivation, republican values, and situational judgment (25 minutes, coefficient 5, eliminatory score < 5/20).

Time Limit

Written tests: Cas pratique (2 h), QCM culture & langue (1 h), Psychotechniques (2 h); Physical & Oral: 25 min interview

Passing Score

Competitive rank-based list within session quotas; mark below 5/20 on cas pratique or oral interview, or below 7/20 on physical tests is eliminatory

Exam / Certification Fees

Free / No examination fee

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Approximately 10%–15% competitive selection rate depending on annual ministerial quotas. Candidates must achieve both passing marks above eliminatory thresholds and rank within the authorized quota of posts for national or Île-de-France allocations. This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

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

Official sources

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%

Connaissances institutionnelles, valeurs républicaines et institutions policières

Organisation of the Police nationale (DGPN, DIPN, CRS, PAF), Préfecture de Police de Paris, constitutional framework, republican secularism (laïcité), judicial vs administrative police, and the French penal court system.

30%

Droit pénal de base, infractions et pouvoirs de police judiciaire

Classification of offences (contraventions, délits, crimes), legal framework for identity checks (Article 78-2 CPP), apprehension and custody (interpellation, garde à vue, APJ 20 powers), legitimate defence (Article 122-5 CP), and firearms use framework (Article L. 435-1 CSI).

20%

Déontologie policière, sécurité publique et interventions

Code of police ethics (Code de déontologie R. 434-1 et seq. CSI), general regulations (Règlement général d'emploi de la Police nationale), graduated use of force, identification badge (RIO), reception and assistance to crime victims, and anti-discrimination standards.

20%

Actualité, raisonnement logique et maîtrise des procédures opérationnelles

Operational situational reasoning, flagrante delicto procedures (flagrance), incident logs (mains courantes), infringement reporting (PV de contravention, PVe), road traffic security (Code de la route), and emergency intervention protocols.

Preparing for the Concours Gardien de la Paix Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Competitive rank-based list within session quotas; mark below 5/20 on cas pratique or oral interview, or below 7/20 on physical tests is eliminatory
Assessment: The Concours de Gardien de la Paix is governed by the Arrêté du 8 mars 2022 (amended by Arrêté du 18 mars 2024) and organized by the DGPN. It features a single comprehensive admission phase: written cas pratique based on a dossier (2 hours, coefficient 4), general culture and foreign language multiple-choice tests (1 hour, coefficient 3), psychotechnical testing (2 hours, unweighted diagnostic for the jury), physical fitness tests comprising the Parcours d'Habilité Motrice [PHM] and Test d'Endurance Cardio-Respiratoire [TECR] (coefficient 4, eliminatory score < 7/20), and a final oral interview with a jury assessing motivation, republican values, and situational judgment (25 minutes, coefficient 5, eliminatory score < 5/20).
Time limit: Written tests: Cas pratique (2 h), QCM culture & langue (1 h), Psychotechniques (2 h); Physical & Oral: 25 min interview
Exam / certification fees: Free / No examination fee Official sources

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Concours Gardien de la Paix: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master the distinction between police administrative (preventative, under administrative authority like the Préfet) and police judiciaire (repressive, under judicial authority like the Procureur de la République).

2Memorize the exact legal conditions for identity checks under Article 78-2 of the Code de procédure pénale (flagrance, prevention of public order disturbance, judicial prosecutor requisition, and border area checks).

3Learn the strict five statutory conditions for firearm usage under Article L. 435-1 of the Code de la sécurité intérieure (absolute necessity, strict proportionality, legitimate defence, warnings when possible).

4Understand the police code of ethics (Code de déontologie, R. 434-1 to R. 434-33 CSI), notably the wearing of the Référentiel des Identités et de l'Organisation (RIO) and the duty of reserve and exemplary conduct.

5Practice operational case resolution (cas pratique) by analyzing situational dossiers, extracting pertinent facts, and drafting clear, professional reports adhering to administrative police style.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Concours Gardien de la Paix and what career rank does it grant?

The Concours Gardien de la Paix is a competitive recruitment examination organized by the DGPN for the French civil service (Category B). Passing candidates are appointed as élève gardiens de la paix in the Corps d'encadrement et d'application of the Police Nationale, receiving paid training at an École Nationale de Police (ENP).

What are the eligibility requirements for the external concours?

Candidates must hold French citizenship, possess full civic rights, have a clean criminal record (bulletin n° 2 du casier judiciaire), be aged between 17 and 45 years on January 1st of the competition year, meet physical fitness standards, and hold a Baccalauréat (Level 4 diploma) or possess 3 years of equivalent qualifying professional experience.

How are the exam components scored and what are the eliminatory thresholds?

Under the Arrêté du 8 mars 2022 as amended by the Arrêté du 18 mars 2024, the tests are grouped into a single admission phase: Cas pratique (coef 4, eliminatory mark < 5/20), QCM de culture générale (coef 2) and QCM de langue étrangère (coef 1) taken together within one hour, physical fitness PHM & TECR (coef 4, eliminatory mark < 7/20), and the oral interview with the jury (coef 5, eliminatory mark < 5/20). Psychotechnical tests are compulsory but unmarked, serving as a diagnostic aid for the jury.

What judicial powers does a Gardien de la Paix hold upon graduation?

Upon completing police academy training and taking the statutory oath, a Gardien de la Paix is accredited as an Agent de Police Judiciaire (APJ) under Article 20 of the Code de procédure pénale (CPP), empowering them to establish offences by verbal report, verify identities, apprehend suspects in flagrante delicto, and assist Officiers de Police Judiciaire (OPJ).

What is the difference between national and Île-de-France quota tracks?

Candidates can choose either the national competitive track or the Île-de-France track. The Île-de-France track often features more available positions but carries a statutory commitment to serve in the Paris and Île-de-France region for a minimum duration (traditionally 5 to 8 years) following graduation.