Almost every parallel-admission exam into a French business school requires a TAGE MAGE score, and often a TOEIC or TOEFL score on top of it. These two tests shape a meaningful part of your file, yet their real requirements are widely misunderstood. Here's what to actually aim for.
Why these tests are required in parallel admission
The TAGE MAGE measures logical, verbal, and quantitative reasoning — skills considered predictive of success in business school regardless of your academic background, which is exactly its value in parallel admission: it lets schools compare candidates from prep school, BUT, university, or engineering school on a common basis.
TOEIC or TOEFL certify an English level that gates access to certain tracks (international exchanges, dual degrees, English-taught programs). Some schools require it at the application stage, others only for final graduation — worth checking, since it changes how you should prioritize your prep.
TAGE MAGE scores expected by school
The TAGE MAGE is scored out of 600 points since the reform led by FNEGE, the official body that designs and administers the test (see the official TAGE MAGE FAQ 🔗 for the exact format and session calendar). There's no official eliminatory threshold, but usage by schools follows fairly consistent tiers year over year:
- Below 250-280: file generally still viable for less selective exams, but weakens your candidacy at the most sought-after schools.
- Around the national average (300-340): solid score for most parallel-admission exams outside the top tier.
- Above 380-400: positions you favorably for the most competitive schools (top 5-10 in rankings).
These benchmarks vary by exam (Passerelle, Ecricome, Advance, Accès) and by candidate year, so always check the exact scale published by your target exam.
TOEIC and TOEFL scores expected
Thresholds vary from school to school, but common benchmarks are a TOEIC score around 785-800/990 as a reasonable floor, with anything above 900 no longer being a weak point in your file; for TOEFL iBT, cited thresholds usually range from 80 to 100/120 depending on the school and track (especially for international exchange or dual-degree programs). Both tests are administered by ETS — the official ETS Global site 🔗 lists dates, fees, and test centers in France.
📊 Check your file: before obsessing over scores, make sure you've gathered every required document — see our AST application checklist.
How to prepare efficiently
For the TAGE MAGE, 6 to 10 weeks of prep at 3-4 sessions a week is usually enough, provided you take a full mock test early to spot your weakest sub-scores, focus effort on your two weakest sections rather than reviewing everything evenly, and redo timed mocks weekly to automate time management — often more decisive than raw question difficulty. For TOEIC/TOEFL, practice mostly targets the format rather than your English level if you're already comfortable; two to three weeks with past papers often gains 50-100 points.
What to do if your score falls short
A disappointing score doesn't sink your file if you act on it: retake the test (both are retakeable, and usually only your best score counts), compensate on other criteria (a strong academic record, solid cover letter, relevant experience can offset a weaker score where exams weigh rather than gate on it), or target exams less sensitive to test scores, since some weigh the interview or academic file more heavily.
⚠️ Careful: don't leave these tests until the last minute — TAGE MAGE results can take up to two weeks, which can put you past deadline for some applications if you wait too long.
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