Classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles

The Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Écoles (nicknames : Classes prépas or simply prépa) are highly selective French undergraduate studies which prepare students to the Grandes Écoles.

The scientific Classe Préparatoire (also called Math Sup or hypotaupe(1st year) and Math Spé or taupe (2nd year)) is a two-year course based mainly on intensive classes in mathematics, physics and chemistry. At the end of the second year, students take several exams to get admission to one of the engineering Grandes Écoles.

The litterary Classe Préparatoire (also called hypokhâgne (1st year) and khâgne (2nd year)) is a two-year course based mainly on intensive classes in literature, history and geography, languages and philosophy. They prepare for schools such as École Normale Supérieure and Ecole Centrale Paris.

Business studies Classe Préparatoire prepare competitive entrance exams to schools such as HEC, ESCP-EAP or ESSEC.

Cf. CPGE