Undergraduate Admissions, Evaluation 3: The written pieces
The written pieces represent the third evaluation of the application. They aim to better understand the candidate’s background, motivation, intellectual project for Sciences Po as well as his writing and thinking skills, thanks to a series of written productions, integrated into the application.
Please note:
- Candidates from the French secondary school system must write their written pieces in French, even if they apply for the Undergraduate College’s programmes in English or international dual degree programmes.
- Candidates from foreign secondary school systems (applying through the Sciences Po admissions website) have the choice of writing their written pieces in either French or English, depending on the language of the programme(s) they wish to enrol in at Sciences Po.
THE WRITTEN EXERCISES
The written pieces consist of three exercises:
- Motivations and project for Sciences Po
- An essay on one of five proposed themes
- Activities and interests
Please note: The questions of the written pieces may differ for some of the dual degrees with French universities, present on the Parcoursup platform. These questions will be updated when registration on Parcoursup opens.
Motivations
In this section, you should express clearly and thoughtfully your motivations for applying and your interest in the intellectual and educational project of Sciences Po. You must demonstrate a solid knowledge of our Bachelor’s degree curriculum, programmes and campuses.
You are expected to demonstrate your motivation for Sciences Po by answering three questions and to articulate a clear and considered answer for each of them:
- Where does your interest in the humanities and social sciences come from? How do the themes of instruction and teaching methods at the Sciences Po College match your academic ambitions? (2500 - 3000 characters including spaces)
- The Sciences Po College curriculum is offered on several campuses and via a variety of study programs. Specify the two program choices on which you would like to study and explain in detail your interest in each. (1500 - 2000 characters including spaces)
- Based on concrete examples drawn from your activities, experiences and/or personal interests, what commitments or projects would you like to pursue or develop in your academic career as a student at Sciences Po? How and why? (1500 - 2000 characters including spaces)
The essay
This section of the application gives candidates a chance to demonstrate their critical thinking and writing skills through an essay responding to one of following five subjects:
- Choose a 21st century musical or cinematographic work (film, series, animation, etc.) that you think should endure beyond our current generation. Explain and justify your choice.
- When you reflect on today's world and how it is changing, what gives you hope for the future and why?
- What event from the second half of the 20th century would you have liked to participate in? Explain what role you would play and why?
- 5% of your city's budget is now allocated to a project supported by 15-20 year olds. What initiative do you propose and what arguments do you mobilize to gather support for it?
- What statue would you like to have placed in the public space of your country? Write the speech a politician would give at its inauguration.
Guidelines for writing your essay:
Applicants should select and respond to one of the five questions proposed by Sciences Po within 3000-4000 characters (including spaces).
The text should be personal and written by you alone. A sincere and authentic response is expected of each candidate. The essay is not an academic exercise but a writing that focuses on your writing skills and personal reflection.
Activities and interests
This section is divided into four questions and allows candidates to present their background, activities and areas of interest (1500 characters including spaces maximum by for each answer):
- Please describe your animation or management or teamwork experiences ;
- Please describe your civic or voluntary engagement (charity organisations or other context) ;
- Please describe your professional experiences (work placements or internships) ;
- Describe sports, cultural activities, experiences abroad or additional languages spoken besides those studied at school.
Depending on their background, candidates have the opportunity to share their animation or management experiences, their civic or voluntary engagement, their professional experiences and internships, sports and cultural practices.
We encourage applicants to answer the question(s) that best enhance their extracurricular background.They are invited to articulate a real reflection on it and not to list their activities and are not required to answer all the questions.
Calculation of your mark
At the end of Evaluation 3, each of two independent examiners awards the candidate, a mark out of 10. This double assessment of the written pieces is totalled to give a mark out of 20 for the third evaluation of the admissions procedure. Both examiners have an excellent knowledge of the foreign education system and the Sciences Po Undergraduate College.
How Can I Prepare for the Written pieces?
Sciences Po considers each candidate as a unique combination of talents, interests and passions. Whatever your background, skills or previous experience, your writings allow you to highlight the solidity of your motivation and your career, as well as your writing and thinking skills.
It is very important, in order to prepare your exercice, that your writing be honest, sincere and that you have prepared them alone without any outside help. This could distort the exercise and penalize your grade.
PLEASE NOTE
Texts prepared with the help of a third party are recognisable and may have disciplinary consequences. An anti-plagiat software will be used randomly for the written pieces during the evaluation phase.
In case of suspicion of plagiarism, Sciences Po reserves the right to conduct an internal investigation and to refer the disciplinary commission in accordance with article R. 811-11 of the Education Code. Any sanctions could lead to the rescission of the admission decision.
