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Exam parts, scoring, costs and dates for each exam, with a link to the official source behind every fact.

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Civique · Examen civique (civic exam)

Since 2026-01-01 you must pass this multiple-choice exam for a first multi-year card, a first resident card or naturalisation.

Official website
How to bookExam centreNo waiting time is published; it depends on the centre. Places can be limited — book early.
Exam parts2· 90 minQuestions de connaissance · Mises en situation
Pass mark80 %32 of 40 correct (80%)

Examen civique (civic exam) (Civique, Ministère de l’Intérieur · CCI Paris Île-de-France · France Éducation internatio) has 2 parts: Questions de connaissance, Mises en situation. Pass mark: 32 of 40 correct (80%). Cost: Registration fees are set by the centre (following ministry recommendations) and differ between centres. Result: CCI Paris Île-de-France centres send results within 24 to 48 working hours. Checked 2026-09-29.

Dates, places and waiting times

No national dates: book a session at an approved centre of CCI Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation international, choosing the mention CSP, CR or naturalisation. source

  1. 1Bookat an approved exam centre in France
  2. 2ExamNo national dates: book a session at an approved centre of CCI Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation international, choosing the mention CSP, CR or naturalisation
  3. 3ResultCCI Paris Île-de-France centres send results within 24 to 48 working hours
  4. 4CertificateThe pass certificate has no expiry date.

Where

Approved centres throughout mainland France and overseas. Maps: CCI centre finder and France Éducation international map (via Service-Public.fr). source

Waiting & results

No waiting time is published; it depends on the centre. Places can be limited — book early. source

CCI Paris Île-de-France centres send results within 24 to 48 working hours. source

Cost & retakes

Registration fees are set by the centre (following ministry recommendations) and differ between centres. CCI: fees not refundable. source

Retake as many times as needed before you apply; pass mark 32 of 40. source

At a glance

WhoFirst carte de séjour pluriannuelle or carte de résident (non-EU, CIR signatories); naturalisation and reintegration by decree[1]
Format40 multiple-choice questions in French, 4 options, 1 correct[2]
Mix28 knowledge questions + 12 situations (mises en situation)[2]
Time45 minutes maximum, on a tablet or computer[2]
Pass mark32 of 40 correct (80%)[3]
ValidityNo expiry; retakes allowed as often as needed[3]
Where / priceApproved centres of CCI Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation international; fee set by the centre[4]

Exam parts90 min in total

Questions de connaissance45 min
Mises en situation45 min
Questions de connaissanceKnowledge · 28 questions
Within the 45 minutes
Format
Multiple choice on a tablet or computer
Questions / tasks
28 questions
Task types
Knowledge of the 5 themes: principles and values of the Republic; institutions and politics; rights and duties; history, geography and culture; living in French society.
Scoring
1 correct answer of 4; the official question lists (CSP, CR, naturalisation) are public
Allowed aids
None[2]
Mises en situationKnowledge · 12 questions
Within the 45 minutes
Format
Multiple choice on a tablet or computer
Questions / tasks
12 questions
Task types
Practical situations from daily life in France, linked to the same themes: what is the right reaction or step?
Scoring
1 correct answer of 4; these questions are not published
Allowed aids
None[5]

Scoring, results and retakes

1

32 correct answers

You pass with at least 32 correct answers out of 40 (80%).[2]

2

Level depends on the card

There are separate versions (mentions) for the multi-year card (CSP), resident card (CR) and naturalisation. A CR pass also counts as a CSP pass.[2]

3

Result time (CCI centres)

At CCI Paris Île-de-France centres results are sent within 24 to 48 working hours.[6]

4

Pass certificate never expires

The attestation de réussite (pass certificate) has no validity limit and is not needed again when you renew your card.[2]

5

Retake as often as needed

You can take the exam again as many times as necessary before you apply.[3]

What is really tested

Derived from the official task descriptions and level descriptions — not from leaked questions.

Knowledge questions: learn the official list

  • The ministry publishes the official knowledge questions for CSP, CR and naturalisation — study the list for your card.
  • Themes: Republic’s principles and values (liberté, égalité, fraternité, laïcité…), institutions, rights and duties, history/geography/culture, daily life.
  • Questions are in French: learn the key French terms, not only their translation.
  • The CR list is longer and harder than the CSP list.
Source [7]

Situations: apply the values

  • 12 of the 40 questions are situations; they are not published.
  • Think about equality, secularism (laïcité), rights and duties in everyday cases: work, school, services, neighbours.
  • The official formation-civique fiches explain the rules behind such situations.
Source [2]

Rules you need to know

Routes & levels2
Required since 2026-01-01

A first multi-year card (CSP) or resident card (CR) needs the civic exam plus French at A2 (CSP) or B1 (CR). Renewals do not need it.[8]

Naturalisation: pass before you apply

Candidates for naturalisation or reintegration by decree take the naturalisation mention and must pass it before applying. Nationality by declaration (marriage, descent, siblings) does not need it.[9]

Registration2
How to register

Register with an approved centre of CCI Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation international. Have your AGDREF foreigner number ready (not for EU citizens) and choose the right mention: CSP, CR or naturalisation.[11]

FEI naturalisation pre-registration: 5 steps

Create your “Examen civique” space, choose a centre, validate the pre-registration, confirm via the e-mail, then set a password.[4]

Costs & payment1
Fee set by the centre

Registration fees are set by the exam centre (following ministry recommendations) and can differ between centres. At CCI centres registration is final and fees are not refunded.[11]

Adapted exams1
Adjustments for health or disability

With a medical certificate you can get adjustments, or an exemption if assessment is impossible. The 45 minutes can only be extended under an approved medical adjustment.[9]

Exemptions1
Who is exempt

Beneficiaries of international protection and some nationals under bilateral agreements. For CSP/CR also: people aged 65+, health or disability (medical certificate), visa categories without CIR, subsidiary protection and stateless people and their families.[10]

Good to know2
Free official preparation

formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr offers the programme, fiches by theme and the official knowledge lists. You do not need to pay for practice questions.[2]

Naturalisation: citizen’s handbook

For the naturalisation mention, official resources are the Livret du citoyen (citizen’s handbook), the exam framework and the list of knowledge questions.[9]

On the exam day

  1. 1
    Digital exam at the centre

    The exam is taken on site on a tablet or computer, in French, 45 minutes maximum.[2]

  2. 2
    About 67 seconds per question

    40 questions in 45 minutes. Answer the ones you know first if the system lets you move between questions.[2]

  3. 3
    AGDREF number and mention

    Make sure you registered with your AGDREF number and for the right mention (CSP, CR or naturalisation).[11]

Recent and planned changes

  1. In forceCivic exam becomes compulsory

    Since 2026-01-01 a first CSP, a first CR and naturalisation require passing the civic exam (law of 2024-01-26; décret 2025-648 of 2025-07-15; arrêté of 2025-10-10 on the programme and organisation).[1]

  2. In forceExemption procedure

    An arrêté of 2025-12-30 sets the procedure for exemptions from the civic exam.[1]

Frequently asked questions

What are the parts of Examen civique (civic exam)?

Questions de connaissance (Within the 45 minutes) · Mises en situation (Within the 45 minutes).

What is the pass mark for Examen civique (civic exam)?

32 of 40 correct (80%) source

How much does Examen civique (civic exam) cost?

Registration fees are set by the centre (following ministry recommendations) and differ between centres. CCI: fees not refundable. source

How do you register for Examen civique (civic exam)?

No national dates: book a session at an approved centre of CCI Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation international, choosing the mention CSP, CR or naturalisation. source

How long do you have to wait for Examen civique (civic exam)?

No waiting time is published; it depends on the centre. Places can be limited — book early. source

When do you get the result of Examen civique (civic exam)?

CCI Paris Île-de-France centres send results within 24 to 48 working hours. source

What happens if you fail Examen civique (civic exam)?

Retake as many times as needed before you apply; pass mark 32 of 40. source

Where can you take Examen civique (civic exam)?

Approved centres throughout mainland France and overseas. Maps: CCI centre finder and France Éducation international map (via Service-Public.fr). source

Official sources

Checked on 2026-09-29. Rules change — the official page always wins.

  1. [1]
  2. [2]
    Informations générales sur l’examen civique Ministère de l’Intérieur (formation civique)
  3. [3]
  4. [4]
  5. [5]
    Liste officielle des questions de connaissance – CSP Ministère de l’Intérieur (formation civique)
  6. [6]
    Examen civique Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France)
  7. [7]
    Liste officielle des questions de connaissance – CR Ministère de l’Intérieur (formation civique)
  8. [8]
    Le parcours d’intégration républicaine Ministère de l’Intérieur (DGEF)
  9. [9]
    Naturalisation française : comment passer l’examen civique ? Service-Public.fr (DILA) · page date 2026-07-16
  10. [10]
  11. [11]
    Examen civique – S’inscrire Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France)

Prepare with this in mind

Exam tips from EUpassway · editorial, not official rules

1Study the list for your card

CSP, CR and naturalisation each have their own official list. Start with the one you need.

2Aim for 36+, not 32

32 of 40 leaves room for only 8 mistakes. Practise until you score well above that.

3Practise situations with the fiches

Situation questions are not published. Use the official fiches to understand the rule behind each topic.

4Pass it before you file

The pass certificate does not expire, so take the exam early and keep the attestation with your file.

5Do not pay for questions

The ministry says preparation can be completely free; the official lists and fiches are online.

Practise in exam formatMock sets and official sample examsOpen Exam training videosPlaylists for this levelOpen Exam vocabularyWord lists with audioOpen Official documentsSample exams, rules, word listsOpen

Practise each part — sample questions with answers

Key facts in one pageExamen civique (civic exam)French word listsQuestions and answers

Compiled with AI assistance from official pages (France Éducation international, Le français des affaires, service-public.fr, the Ministry of the Interior and other official sources) · not yet reviewed by a teacher · the official page always wins