agrégés

The agrégation is a national competitive examination in France for the recruitment of teachers in secondary education and, in some disciplines, for positions in higher education. Candidates who pass the agrégation obtain the title of agrégé in a given discipline, a credential that is widely regarded as a mark of high specialization and pedagogical skill. The exam is organized by the relevant ministries and is administered in multiple disciplines, including humanities, sciences, and languages.

The process generally comprises a written phase and an oral phase, with variations by discipline and variant (external or internal). The external agrégation is open to candidates who hold a degree in the subject, while the internal agrégation is designed for teachers already in service who seek advancement. Written tests typically assess advanced knowledge of the field and the ability to present complex material, while the oral examinations include demonstrations of teaching, analysis of texts or phenomena, and defense of methodological choices.

Fields and variants: The agrégation covers a wide range of disciplines, from literature, philosophy, history, and languages to mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, and computer science, among others. Each discipline defines its own subject matter, exam format, and passing criteria.

Impact and status: The agrégation remains a prestigious credential within the French educational system. It signals a high level of subject mastery and is associated with eligibility for higher responsibility within education systems. In contemporary practice, university appointments more commonly require doctoral research, but the agrégation continues to be a recognized path for senior teaching roles in secondary education and, in certain contexts, in higher education.