TAGE 2 or TAGE MAGE:
which test should you take for your admissions route?

What are the TAGE 2 and TAGE MAGE?

These are two aptitude tests for management studies, published by FNEGE on separate websites. The TAGE 2 is presented as a selection test for management studies at Bac+2, in either initial degree programs or continuing education; the TAGE MAGE is presented for Bac+3 or Bac+4. Both are multiple-choice tests with no pass or fail: each institution decides how it uses the score.

The table below compares the formats and FNEGE rules, reviewed on October 15, 2026, without establishing equivalence between the two scores.

What determines which test to take?

First, your admissions route, then the school. Under the 2026 rules for the ECRICOME Tremplin Bac+2 and Bac+3 competitions, FNEGE’s logic test is the TAGE 2 for the Bac+2 route and the TAGE MAGE for the Bac+3 route; a GMAT or GRE score may be submitted instead for either. The same rules prohibit entering both competitions in the same year, so the test depends on the competition you are targeting, which in turn depends on your degree.

The test is not required everywhere. Under these rules, KEDGE and NEOMA require a logic test; EM Strasbourg, MBS, and Rennes School of Business do not, but may award a bonus to the academic average. This applies to the 2026 cycle and these regulations only; it says nothing about other schools’ programs.

The Tremplin pages say that 2027 pre-registration opened on October 13, 2026, and that the registration opening date will be announced. For that cycle, check the applicable requirements; the 2026 regulations are included here as historical context.

Outside ECRICOME, open the admissions page for your program and route. If it names a test, the choice is settled. If it accepts several, compare them based on your schedule and starting point, not a ranking of difficulty. The article on AST routes explains how to check the degree level.

How the six sections differ

Both tests measure three areas of aptitude: verbal skills, problem solving, and logical reasoning. But their six sections are named and structured differently. The TAGE 2 has two Calculation sections and two Logic sections; the TAGE MAGE has one of each, plus Minimum Conditions and Reasoning and Argumentation.

The TAGE 2 subtests page describes Lexiphrase as containing about 700 words and Paratexte about 1,000 words. Lexiphrase covers vocabulary, the odd one out, and sentences; Paratexte covers paragraphs and texts. These word counts therefore do not describe two single passages to read in the same way. Follow the instructions for each section of your chosen test to manage your pace.

Do you prepare for the Logic section in the same way?

Partly. On the TAGE MAGE, Logic is a single section on classifying numerical and spatial data, including a number-grid exercise. On the TAGE 2, it is split into two 10-question sections: matching two series, one in a row and one in a column, made up of numbers or letters; then completing sequences of three boxes by inferring what belongs in the fourth. FNEGE says the TAGE 2 sections require neither advanced math nor advanced logic.

The grid method transfers from one test to the other: describe each property separately, then check it against all relevant data before choosing. The format does not transfer: the TAGE 2 offers four answer choices, the TAGE MAGE five, and item layouts may differ. Check them using examples from your chosen test.

Use the TAGE MAGE Logic study sheet to learn the reasoning, then practice with TAGE 2 examples to get used to its format. The TAGE 2 FAQ points to the official book, L’Officiel du TAGE 2, and its “Prepare” section.

Is the shorter test easier?

The duration and number of answer choices are not enough to establish which test will be easier for you. Seventy questions with four choices versus ninety with five describes the format, not the level of difficulty. Dividing the total time by the number of questions gives an average of about 99 seconds per question on the TAGE 2 and 80 seconds on the TAGE MAGE; these are overall averages and do not tell you how much time each section actually requires.

According to FNEGE, the tests target Bac+2 and Bac+3/Bac+4 levels respectively. This indicates the intended audience, not how much preparation you will need. That depends on your starting point in the three aptitude areas.

How do you decide in practice?

For each application, first note the program, admissions route, named test, and deadline for receiving the score. If all applications name the same test, your choice is clear. The cited 2026 ECRICOME regulations state that TAGE scores from a test taken after the session closes will not be considered, so the test date is a constraint in its own right.

Then register for a session of the test you chose—not the other one—on its website or through the institution offering it: each site has its own sessions page and calendar. Attempts are limited to one per calendar quarter, and FNEGE’s published fees are the same for both tests. That does not make them interchangeable; confirm which test your application accepts.

If your applications name different tests, track them as separate entries instead of looking for one test to cover all of them; record the official source and verification date for each.