| Year. | Candidates who inscribed their Names. | Candidates examined. | Candidates admitted to the Polytechnic. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | 567 | 468 | 183 |
| 1833 | 367 | 304 | 110 |
| 1834 | 627 | 541 | 150 |
| 1835 | 729 | 633 | 154 |
| 1837 | 629 | 508 | 137 |
| 1838 | 533 | 410 | 131 |
| 1839 | 530 | 531 | 135 |
| 1842 | 709 | 559 | 137 |
| 1843 | 802 | 559 | 166 |
| 1844 | 746 | 531 | 143 |
| 1845 | 780 | 559 | 136 |
Giving an average of one student for four candidates examined, so that it is impossible to imagine that there is any lack of ability in those selected.
A similar result appears to follow from some other more recent statistics.
| Year. | Number of Candidates who inscribed their Names. | Number declared admissible to the Second Examination. | Number admitted. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1852 | 510 | 216 | 202 |
| 1853 | 494 | 222 | 217 |
| 1854 | 519 | 238 | 170 |
| 1855 | 544 | 232 | 170 |
In judging, however, of these numbers, it should be borne in mind that, a very large number of the candidates who succeed have tried more than once; the successful of this year have been among the unsuccessful of last year, so that the proportion of individuals who succeed to individuals who fail, is, of course, considerably larger than one to four. Of the 170 candidates admitted in November, 1855, 117 had put down their names for the examination of 1854, and 53 only had not been previously inscribed. Of the 117 who put down their names, 19 had withdrawn without being examined at all, 71 had been rejected on the preliminary examination, 27 had been unsuccessful at that of the second degree; 98 of the 170 came up for the second time to the examination.
[12] In 1856 there were only 15 professors; there are now two additional professors for history, the study of which has been recently introduced at the school.
[13] Formerly two professors of the school were also members of the Council of Discipline, but the professors have now no voice in matters of discipline.
[14] The examination chamber is a small room in the school buildings, near the library, ornamented with portraits of Vauban, and of D’Argenson, under whose ministry the original schools at La Fère and Mézières were founded. At a large table under these portraits, and extending across the room, General Morin, President, and four officers, members of the jury, were seated. The sixth member sat at a small table in front, near the blackboard, at which the student stood. The Commandant, the Director of Studies, and the other officers of the school were seated also in this part of the room.
The student who was first examined was questioned partly by the examiner, partly by the president, and gave his answers, working problems and drawing illustrations on the board as he went on. He was asked questions as to the details of the steam-engine, and as to the method of casting cannon. The German teacher of the School put him on to construe from a German book, and tried him in speaking; he succeeded just passably in both. The whole occupied about three-quarters of an hour.
The second student, after answering similar scientific questions, had opportunity given him to show his knowledge, which was considerable, of the geology of the neighborhood; and having lived in foreign countries, he was able to make a very good display of his knowledge of German, Spanish, Italian, and English.