Practise
⚠️ The answer options are not official. The Ministry publishes only the wording of the knowledge questions — not the 4 options or the correct answer. The options and explanations here were written by Settli from the official course material and may differ from the real exam. The 12 situational questions are never published. For registration and eligibility, check the official site and your préfecture.
How the exam works
| Questions | 40 multiple-choice (4 options, 1 correct) |
|---|---|
| Make-up | 28 knowledge questions + 12 situational questions |
| Duration | 45 minutes, on a computer at an approved centre |
| Pass mark | 32 correct out of 40 (80%) |
| Attempts | Unlimited · the certificate does not expire |
| Language level | A2 for the CSP, B1 for the CR (separate requirement) |
Does this apply to me?
Only first applications are concerned. Renewing a permit you already hold requires neither the exam nor proof of French. Permits outside the republican integration contract (CIR) are excluded: CESEDA Article L413-5 exempts holders of a "student" permit and people who have completed at least one year of higher education in France. Check your own case on ANEF or with your préfecture.
→ The full breakdown, checked against the legal text
Why the questions stay in French
The exam is taken in French only. Revising from a translation will not prepare you to read the questions on the day. So the questions and answer options stay in the original, and only the explanations are translated. The exam tests knowledge of French society, not your language level — so grasping the concepts in your own language is far faster.
The exam is taken in French only. Revising from a translation will not prepare you to read the questions on the day. So the questions and answer options stay in the original, and only the explanations are translated. The exam tests knowledge of French society, not your language level — so grasping the concepts in your own language is far faster.
Official question list (37 published here)
Below are the knowledge questions exactly as published by the Ministry of the Interior. The 4 options and the correct answer are not made public — they were written by Settli based on the official course material.
Sources
- Official question list (CSP)
- Official question list (CR)
- Official course material by theme
- General exam information
Do I need the civic exam to renew my permit?
No. The civic exam applies only to a first application for a multi-year residence permit or a resident card. Renewals are not concerned, and neither is the French language requirement.
How is the civic exam structured?
It is a 40-question multiple-choice test in French, lasting 45 minutes: 28 knowledge questions and 12 situational questions, with 4 options and one correct answer. You need 32 correct out of 40 (80%).
Are the official questions public?
Yes. The Ministry of the Interior publishes the knowledge question list free of charge on formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr, with a different list depending on the permit sought (CSP or CR). However the 4 options, the correct answer and the 12 situational questions are not published.
Are Settli's questions identical to the exam?
The question wording follows the official list exactly. The options, correct answers and explanations were written by Settli from the Ministry's official course material and may differ from the real exam.
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