Do I need to take the civic exam?

The exam assesses your knowledge of the values and institutions of the French Republic. It consists of 40 multiple-choice questions covering the 5 official themes: principles and values of the Republic, the political system, rights and duties, history, geography and culture, and living in French society. You have 45 minutes to complete it.

The exam is taken when you make your first application for a multi-year residence permit (CSP or CR). It is part of the Contrat d'Intégration Républicaine (CIR) signed with the French State, and takes place in an accredited exam centre at a time notified by your préfecture.

You are exempt from the civic exam in the following situations:

• You are a citizen of an EU or EEA country
• You are 65 or older
• You have a disability or medical condition that prevents you from attending training or taking an exam (medical evidence required)
• You hold a French-language diploma at level B1 or above (DELF B1, DALF, TCF with the corresponding score…)
• You completed at least 3 years of education taught in French (in France or in a French-speaking country)

If you do not reach the required score, you may be directed to additional training. The system is designed to help you succeed, not to penalise you. Thorough preparation nevertheless remains the safest and most economical approach.

The most effective preparation is to practise exam-style multiple-choice questions organised by theme, and to take timed mock exams regularly. Prépa-Examen includes every officially published exam question, full mock exams (40 questions, 45 minutes), progress tracking by theme, and an in-depth AI explanation in English for every question — understand in English, train in French.