concours
competitive examination / contest
Intermediate Noun Masculine
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Pronunciation
/kɔ̃.kuʁ/
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Cultural Note
The concours system is central to French meritocracy. Entry to grandes écoles, civil service positions, and teaching posts all require passing competitive exams. Only a fixed number of candidates pass each year, regardless of individual scores.
📝 Example Sentences
Elle prépare le concours d'entrée à Sciences Po.
She is preparing for the Sciences Po entrance exam.
Le concours de la fonction publique a lieu en mars.
The civil service exam takes place in March.