Aggregation of history

The aggregation of Histoire is a Concours French of the Secondary education created in 1830.

Conditions of inscription

Can be registered with the contest the holders:

of a Control, whatever the discipline
of the complete CAPES of history/geography with training course included
of the CAPLP

Tests

Tests of admissibility:

4 tests 7 hours each one, is:

3 tests of history, whose 2 essays and a comment of document
1 essay of geography

Each written test of history fall obligatorily into a different period.

Practice exams and oral:

3 oral tests of 1:00 each one, is:

1 comment of document of history of the program
1 comment of document of geography to the program
1 lesson of supplementary history entitled now " history générale".

Two oral tests in history

1. The explanation of documents. (some extracts of the report/ratio of the jury of aggregation 2006 appeared in the review Historian-Geographers .)

This test requires a constant and methodical work, because like the other tests of the contest, it parallel to requires an intensive and rigorous preparation the preparation of the writing. It is thus necessary to be involved as of the re-entry, and not precipitately, with the advertisement of the results of the writing.

Some councils:

1. The previous day the test, it is essential to go to the library of the Sorbonne to examine carefully the books and the documents which are proposed: majority of the subjects (iconographic texts, documents, plans…) can be explained with the works placed at the disposal of the candidates. Many cartographic and iconographic documents are available, in particular collections of transparencies (many charts) and the whole of the collection of photographic Documentation (too much little used by the candidates).

2. When the subject is drawn, it is advisable to take care well to read it with attention as well as the title which accompanies it (it is often a key of explanation or orientation of the comment). It is thus necessary to read and read again the document and not to precipitate blindly on the works placed at the disposal of the candidate.

3. The management of the time of the test. It is advisable to manage the time of the test well. The 25 minutes must be methodically used: the jury appreciates balance and the " classicisme" talk. These 25 minutes must be rationally used, in particular in the cutting of the exposed one: an introduction not too long, without useless digressions or general information, presenting and clearly identifying the document proposed and the problems which underlie the explanation.

4. Control vis-a-vis the questions. One has to expect the questions, to prepare them, while constituting during the six hours of preparation, of the complementary cards about the characters, the events, the context, the definitions, in particular institutional…

2. The lesson of general history

This test is reserved to the candidates having made a success of the written tests. The supplementary lesson constitutes undoubtedly a delicate test because, as its name indicates it, one can question you on a question carrying of prehistory at our days. You have six hours to prepare your lesson with an access quasi unlimited to any work located in Paris. With you to know your traditional, but more especially, exact localization of certain rare works in order not to receive your book too late. The test proceeds traditionally with the Sorbonne, and the college library conceals already many treasures.

the spirit of the question except program is multiple. Not question obviously of asking all the candidates to have an exhaustive knowledge of all the questions. On the other hand, if one does not ask you for a whole knowledge, one asks you to know where information is and to make the sorting between truth and the forgery, the important one and superfluity, and to be very pointed on the last historical debates on the studied topic. It is more one test of historian who of professor of history. The urgency (6 hours, it is very short) constitutes an important component and makes it possible to evaluate the capacities of adaptation of the candidate a question a priori unknown. As always in history, it is necessary to leave the general to go towards the private individual, and to go up the wire of the bibliographies while generally leaving basic works.

the completed preparation, arrives the test of the lesson. The latter is made as a public (often provided) and in front of a learned assembly of university professors sorted on the shutter covering the four great periods. By principle, the latter make any remark, neither positive, nor negative during the test. It is the rule. The lesson lasts 35 minutes. In the tread of this lesson, the jury questions the candidate during 15 minutes on the put question. Once again, the jury must remain of marble even if the candidate is mistaken.

Publications related to aggregation

With the installation of two new questions of history each year, the production of works and articles is always impressive. The interminable lists of bibliographical references have the merit to precisely take stock on a whole piece of historiography. Certain editors benefit however from this “captive market” to put on the market of the works of less quality, from where need for the students for remaining very vigilant. The professors guide the latter and generally these bibliographical traps avoid to them.

External bonds

To pass the aggregation of history

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