The Complete Guide to the French Civic Exam
What the examen civique covers, the three exam types, the official question lists, the facts that come up again and again, and how to prepare efficiently — all on one page. Understand in English, train in French.
Take a free mock exam →① The exam at a glance
Since 1 January 2026, a first application for a multi-year residence permit (CSP), a 10-year resident card (CR) or French naturalisation requires passing this exam. The 40 questions = 28 knowledge questions + 12 situational questions, four options each with a single correct answer, entirely in French, on a tablet or computer in an official exam centre.
The pass mark is 80% — you can only afford 8 mistakes, which is higher than most people expect. The flip side: the knowledge questions come from public, fixed lists (section ③ below), so a well-prepared candidate passes comfortably.
② Three exam types — which one?
| CSP (multi-year permit) | CR (10-year card) | Naturalisation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Foundation | Higher: finer points, closer distractors | Highest: broadest scope |
| Official list | Public (191 questions) | Public (209 questions) | Not published |
| Certificate validity | CSP only | Valid for CR and CSP | Required for naturalisation (for residence cards, check with your préfecture) |
| Format & pass mark | Identical: 40 questions · 45 minutes · 32/40 to pass | ||
A tip many people miss: the CR certificate is also valid for a CSP application — the reverse is not true. If a 10-year card is in your plans, prepare once at CR level and keep both doors open. The certificate never expires: you can pass now and use it later.
③ The official question lists are public
The Interior Ministry has published the knowledge questions: 191 for the CSP and 209 for the CR — in French only, without answers or explanations. We've turned both into numbered pages (in French; pair them with the English explanations in our practice). Tap a card to view a list:
Liste officielle CSP : les 191 questions
Multi-year permit · the full official list, numbered
View the list →Liste officielle CR : les 209 questions
10-year resident card · the full official list, numbered
View the list →Naturalisation : les questions à maîtriser
No public list · the 368-question core to master
View the list →All of these official questions — plus situational practice — are in our question bank, each with an in-depth English explanation and a memory tip.
French language requirements 2026: A2, B1 or B2?
Beyond the civic exam, a language level is now required: A2 for the CSP, B1 for the resident card, B2 for naturalisation. What the TCF IRN tests and who is exempt
Read the language guide →④ What the five themes actually cover
Principles and values of the Republic
The motto Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, the flag and anthem, Marianne, 14 July — and above all laïcité (secularism): the State is religiously neutral, everyone is free to believe, not believe or change religion, conspicuous religious signs are banned in state schools, and civil servants must remain neutral. Understand the concept, don't just memorise the word.
Institutions and the political system
Who does what: the President (5 years, Élysée, appoints the PM), the Prime Minister (Matignon, leads the government), National Assembly (577 deputies, 5 years) + Senate (6 years), the mayor runs the commune, the préfet represents the State. Election questions are guaranteed: voting at 18, universal suffrage, separation of powers. Plus EU basics: the euro, the European Parliament, Europe Day on 9 May.
Rights and duties
The 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man is the foundation. Frequent questions: freedom of expression and its limits (insults, defamation, hate speech are illegal), gender equality, monogamy, divorce as a right of both spouses, legal abortion, the death penalty abolished. Duties: obeying the law, paying taxes, education from 3 to 16, assisting a person in danger. The options look alike — read closely.
History, geography and culture
The biggest theme and the easiest place to lose — or secure — points. Dates and figures must be memorised cold (cheat sheet below). Geography: Paris the capital, the Seine, the Atlantic west, the Mediterranean south, Corsica, overseas departments (Martinique). Culture: Hugo, Molière, Édith Piaf, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower (1889).
Living in French society
The everyday theme: emergency numbers (15 medical / 17 police / 18 fire / 112), your médecin traitant first for non-urgent care, the Carte Vitale, the SMIC minimum wage, working from 16, declaring a birth within 5 days, only civil marriage at the town hall is legally recognised, school compulsory 3-16, free and secular. These precise details feed both knowledge and situational questions.
⑤ The cheat sheet to memorise
Key dates
| 1789 | French Revolution begins · Declaration of the Rights of Man (26 August) · storming of the Bastille (14 July) |
|---|---|
| 1848 | Final abolition of slavery (not 1789!) · universal male suffrage |
| 1881-1882 | Jules Ferry laws: school free, secular and compulsory |
| 1905 | Separation of Church and State (the legal basis of laïcité) |
| 1914-1918 | First World War (11 November = WWI armistice) |
| 1939-1945 | Second World War (8 May = victory in Europe) |
| 1944 | French women obtain the right to vote |
| 1958 | Fifth Republic founded (current system, de Gaulle) |
| 1981 | Death penalty abolished (under Mitterrand, driven by Badinter) |
| 2002 | Euro enters circulation |
Institutions in one line each
| President | 5-year term · Élysée · appoints the PM · head of the armed forces |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Matignon · leads government action |
| National Assembly | 577 deputies · 5 years · direct election |
| Senate | senators serve 6 years · indirect election |
| Préfet | represents the State in the department (not elected) |
| Mayor | runs the commune · celebrates civil marriages · 6-year term |
⑥ Situational questions: unpublished, but predictable
The 12 situational questions are not published. They test what you would do in everyday situations:
- A neighbour plays loud music late at night — what's the right response?
- You witness someone being harassed in the street — what should you do?
- Can a parent refuse mixed swimming lessons at school on religious grounds?
- A colleague is treated unfairly at work because of their accent — what can they do?
- You're offered a job with no written contract — what should you watch out for?
The universal rule: the correct option is almost always the one that is lawful, respects others' rights, and goes through proper channels (talk first, then police or the relevant institution). Wrong options are typically "retaliate", "ignore it" or "settle it privately". If you truly understand the rules from the five themes, these are easy points.
⑦ How to prepare: three steps + a 6-week plan
- Start with a mock exam to find your level. Don't memorise the list top to bottom — find your weak themes first. Once signed in, you can see your score per theme.
- Targeted practice on weak themes + review every mistake. Understand concepts through the English explanations (laïcité makes sense in one paragraph), then drill the French wording to build exam vocabulary.
- Back to full timed mock exams. 45 minutes for 40 questions is just over a minute each. Book the real exam once your mock average is stable above 35/40.
| Week 1 | Diagnostic mock exam → check your per-theme scores, identify your two weakest themes |
|---|---|
| Weeks 2-3 | Targeted practice on weak themes; review mistakes the same day; read the explanations for anything unclear |
| Week 4 | One full pass over all themes; clear your mistakes list |
| Week 5 | A full mock every other day — scores should climb to 33-35 |
| Week 6 | One mock a day, stable at 35+; the day before the exam, review mistakes only and sleep early |
Short on time? Same method, compress weeks into days. Two tips: don't look up every word (the gist is enough to answer, and dictionaries burn your study time), and always practise on the French wording — there's no translation on exam day.
⑧ On exam day
- Bring a valid ID (residence permit or passport) and arrive early;
- The exam runs on a computer or tablet with a 45-minute countdown; no dictionary, phone or other aids;
- Scan each question for keywords first: qui (who), quand (when), combien (how many), que faire (what to do);
- Pace: about a minute per question — don't get stuck, secure the points you're sure of first;
- Hesitating between two options on a situational question? Pick the more "lawful, respectful, proper channels" one;
- Mindset: the bar is 32/40, so you have 8 mistakes to spare — if your mocks are stable at 35+, exam day will feel easier.
💡 You can pass even with limited French
Multiple choice only — no speaking, no writing. The knowledge questions are public and fixed; the situational ones are common sense. One hour a day with the right method gets you there.
Start practising for free →⑨ Frequently asked questions
My French is limited — can I really pass?
Yes. There is no speaking or writing, only multiple choice. The knowledge questions can all be practised in advance, and the situational ones rely on judgement. Understand in English, train on the French wording — that's the efficient path.
What if I fail?
You can retake the exam as many times as needed; a fail is not recorded in your file. Rebooking usually takes a month or more, so aim for a stable 35/40 in mocks before booking.
Does the certificate expire?
No — it's valid indefinitely. Pass now, use it later.
I'll need both a CSP and later a CR — do I take the exam twice?
No. Take the CR exam once: its certificate is also valid for the CSP (the reverse is not true).
Where do I take the exam?
In an official exam centre. Locations and registration details are on our exam centres page.
Is the practice in English?
The questions are in French — exactly like the real exam — and every question comes with an in-depth English explanation and a memory tip. The mock exam is free with no account; once signed in you also get per-theme scores, practice by theme and automatic review of your mistakes.
Prepare in real exam conditions
2,000+ questions : every officially published question + unpublished situational practice · each knowledge point asked several ways · full mock exams · practice by theme · automatic mistake review · English explanations throughout
Start a free mock exam →