khâgne

Khâgne is the name given to the humanities track of the French classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles (CPGE), a two-year post-secondary program designed to prepare students for the competitive entrance exams to France’s grandes écoles. It denotes the second year of the typical humanities sequence, following hypokhâgne. The program is especially associated with preparing for the École normale supérieure (ENS) and other elite institutes in the humanities and social sciences.

The khâgne curriculum is divided mainly into two options: khâgne classique and khâgne moderne. Khâgne classique emphasizes classical literature, Latin and Greek, philosophy, and ancient history, while khâgne moderne focuses on modern literature, philosophy, modern languages, and social sciences. Many lycées offer variants with stronger language or literature components. The program stresses rigorous training in reading, textual analysis, essay writing, and oral examination skills.

Assessment consists of written exams in philosophy, literature (in French and a modern language), history and geography, as well as language and translation tests; oral examinations also form a major part of the evaluation. The national entrance examinations are highly selective, and success leads to entry to ENS or other grandes écoles; less successful candidates may pursue other academic or professional pathways, including teaching qualifications.

The khâgne track is known for its demanding workload and intellectual rigor, intended to cultivate scholarly research, critical thinking, and advanced writing and argumentation. The term khâgne has historical roots in the nineteenth-century French lycée tradition and today designates the humanities-focused CPGE tracks central to elite higher education in France.