Examen civique
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The French civic exam (examen civique)

Mandatory since 1 January 2026 (law no. 2024-42 of 26 January 2024). Information based on the arrêté of 10 October 2025.

Who has to take it?

  • CSP — first application for a multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle), after signing the integration contract (CIR).
  • CR — first application for a 10-year resident card (carte de résident). A CR pass also counts for a CSP application.
  • NAT — application for French citizenship by decree (naturalisation). You still have the assimilation interview at the préfecture.

Renewals are not affected. Exemptions: over 65 (CSP/CR), health or disability with the official medical certificate, some international protection holders and stateless people.

Format

40
multiple-choice questions, 4 options, 1 correct
45'
maximum time, on a computer or tablet
32/40
pass mark (80%)
28 + 12
knowledge + scenario questions
  • Questions are in French. No negative marking: a blank answer scores 0.
  • Knowledge questions come from the official lists published by the Ministry (questions only, no answers). The 12 scenarios are not published.
  • Unlimited retakes (paid each time, about €60–100). The pass certificate never expires.
  • Results within 24–48 working hours. Cheating: result cancelled and a 2-year ban.
  • Run by France Éducation International and CCI Paris Île-de-France.

How the 40 questions are distributed

Principles and values of the Republic
Motto and symbols 3 · Secularism (laïcité) 2 · Scenarios 6
11
Institutions and political system
Democracy and the right to vote 3 · How the Republic is organised 2 · European Union 1
6
Rights and duties
Fundamental rights 2 · Obligations and duties 3 · Scenarios 6
11
History, geography and culture
Historical periods and figures 3 · Territories and geography 3 · French heritage 2
8
Living in French society
Settling and residing 1 · Healthcare 1 · Working in France 1 · Parental authority and school 1
4

How this app helps you learn

Each feature is based on a method backed by cognitive science research.

Retrieval practice (retrieval practice)
Answering questions yourself beats re-reading. It is the basis of every practice mode.
Spaced repetition (spaced repetition)
Each question comes back right before you forget it: after 10 minutes, then 1, 3, 7, 16 and 35 days.
Confidence rating (confidence-based learning)
After each answer you say whether you were sure, unsure or guessing. A lucky guess does not count as learned.
Fixing misconceptions (hypercorrection effect)
Mistakes made with high confidence are the easiest to fix if you read the explanation straight away. The app collects them for you.
Recall instead of recognise (generation effect)
For familiar questions the options are hidden so you recall the answer yourself. Harder, but it sticks longer.
Test before you learn (pretesting effect)
Guessing 5 questions before reading a lesson — even wrongly — helps you notice and remember more.
Hidden key words (cloze / active reading)
In lessons, key words can be hidden so you recall them before tapping to check.
Memory pictures (dual coding)
Illustrations with key words and numbers let your brain store information both as words and as images.
Links and timelines (elaboration)
Matching and timeline games connect dates, numbers and people into a network of knowledge.
Interleaving (interleaving)
Smart review mixes themes in one session, like the real exam.
Plan to exam day (distributed practice)
New questions are spread evenly until your exam date, keeping the last 3 days for review and mock exams.

Strategy to pass

  1. Pick the right level (CSP / CR / NAT) in Settings — each level has its own question list.
  2. Read the Learn section for each theme (about 15 minutes per theme).
  3. Do the smart review every day (20–30 questions). Don’t skip days: spaced repetition makes it stick.
  4. Practise the scenarios: they are worth 12 points, and you need at least 4 of them even with 28/28 on knowledge.
  5. Once you have seen over 80% of questions: take a mock exam 2–3 times a week. You are ready at ≥ 36/40 three times in a row.
  6. Final week: turn off the English translation to get used to reading in French.

Independent app, not affiliated with the French Ministry of the Interior. Knowledge questions are copied word for word from the official lists; answers, explanations and scenarios are written by the app — check official sources if in doubt.

French civic exam: frequently asked questions

What is the French civic exam (examen civique)?

The examen civique, also called the French citizenship test or civic test, is a multiple-choice test on the values of the Republic, institutions, rights and duties, history and life in France. Since 1 January 2026 it is required for French citizenship, a 10-year resident card and a multi-year residence permit.

Who has to take the civic exam? Do renewals need it?

People applying for the first time for a multi-year residence permit (CSP) or a 10-year resident card (CR), and applicants for French citizenship by decree (NAT). Renewing a residence permit does not require it. You must pass before you apply.

How many questions are on the French civic exam, and how long is it?

40 multiple-choice questions in French, each with 4 options and one correct answer, in at most 45 minutes on a computer or tablet: 28 knowledge questions and 12 scenarios.

What is the pass mark for the French civic exam?

At least 32 correct answers out of 40 (80%). There is no negative marking; a blank answer scores 0.

What are the scenario questions (mises en situation)?

12 of the 40 questions describe an everyday situation (work, school, neighbours, public services) and ask for the right behaviour under the values of the Republic: 6 on principles and values, 6 on rights and duties. They are not published in advance.

Citizenship, resident card or multi-year permit: what is the difference?

Each level has its own official question list, longer at each level: 269 questions for CSP, 299 for CR and 348 for NAT (in this app’s question bank). A CR pass also counts for a CSP application.

How do I register for the French civic exam?

Register with a test centre approved by the Ministry of the Interior. CCI Paris Île-de-France and France Éducation International each have a search tool to find a centre.

How much does the French civic exam cost?

Each approved centre sets its own fee, usually about €60–100 per attempt.

When do I get the result, and can I retake it?

Results come within 24 to 48 working hours. The pass certificate never expires. If you fail, you can retake it as many times as needed, paying each time.

Who is exempt from the civic exam?

People over 65 (for CSP and CR), people with a health condition or disability certified on the official medical form, and some international protection holders and stateless people.

Where can I find French civic exam questions and answers for free?

The Ministry publishes the questions on formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr, without answers. This app is free and needs no account: 620 questions with explained answers, study notes, and 40-question mock exams in the official format.

French civic exam questions and answers →

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Smart review, scenarios and 40-question mock exams. Free, no account needed.

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