Civic exam: multi-year residence permit, resident card, naturalisation
French civic exam: practise calmly, in your own language.
40-question practice exams like on the day, and letter templates for the prefecture (préfecture).
From 7,90 € TTC for one procedure, 14,90 € for all three, one-off payment.
The guides are in French. In the practice exam and the letters, the translation appears under the French text, because the exam takes place in French.
What is the French civic exam?
The civic exam (examen civique, also called the French civics test) is a multiple-choice test on French values, institutions, rights and duties, history, geography and everyday life, the same programme for the three procedures, naturalisation included. It has 40 questions and lasts 45 minutes at most. You need at least 32 correct answers to pass. It is taken on a computer or tablet in an approved centre.
Since 1 January 2026 it is required before you apply for a first multi-year residence card, a first resident card (carte de résident) or French citizenship by decree (naturalisation). Renewals are not concerned and some people are exempt: see exemptions (in French). The tool Am I concerned? (in French) shows which rule applies. Only your prefecture can decide your own case.
The exam is in French. Questions, answers and instructions are all in French, so you must recognise the French words, not only understand the idea.
What you find on this site
Free mock exam (in French)
A practice exam in the real format, with a timer. Start it without an account.
Practice packs (in French)
For more mock exams and detailed explanations: Essentiel from 7,90 € TTC for 60 days, or Pack for 14,90 € TTC for 90 days. You pay once. There is no subscription.
Letters to the prefecture (in French)
Letter templates for your residence or naturalisation file, for example to ask about your application. They are filled in in your browser; your data is not kept on our servers.
Tools (in French)
Free tools for your file: date calculator, document checklist, photos to PDF, file check.
French first, translation underneath
Because the real exam is in French, we do not turn it into an English test. In the mock exam each question appears in French, as on the day, with the English translation under it. You learn the meaning and get used to the French wording at the same time. Letters work the same way: they are in French, because the prefecture reads French, and the translation helps you understand them.
Knowledge questions come from the lists published by the Ministry of the Interior; situational questions are written by us from the law. This site is a private service, not linked to any administration or examination centre, and it does not register you for the exam: you register with an approved centre.
Questions and answers
Can I take the French civic exam in English?
No. The test is in French. Our practice exam shows the English translation under each French question, but the real exam has none.
Who has to pass the civic exam?
People applying for a first multi-year residence card, a first resident card or naturalisation by decree. Read the civic exam guide (in French) and the exemptions (in French).
What if I do not reach the pass mark?
You can retake it. The page retaking the exam (in French) explains what the public sources say.
Is the practice test the same as the real one?
Same format, but a good score does not guarantee a pass. It helps you find weak topics and get used to the timer. See also what the situational questions look like (in French).
Do I need to pay?
The mock exam is free and needs no account. Packs are paid once, without subscription; see the prices page (in French). If you already have a code, enter it here.
Is this advice for my own case?
No, only general information. For your situation, ask your prefecture.