Life In France

EXAMEN CIVIQUE (updated March 2026)

39/40 - My Honest Guide to the Examen Civique

A personal account. No fluff, just what actually helped.

Why I'm Writing This

When I started preparing, I couldn't find many honest personal accounts of what the examen civique actually feels like from the inside. So here's mine (10 years card), and my husband's too (he took the naturalisation version and also scored 39).

This isn't a copy of the official website. It's what I actually experienced, what questions came up, what tripped me up, and what made it click.

Spoiler: it's more manageable than it sounds.

What to expect from Examen Civique?

Mandatory from January 2026 for anyone applying for a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle, a carte de résident, or French naturalisation.

Language - French
40 questions - 28 knowledge + 12 situational scenarios
45 minutes on a computer or tablet
Pass mark: 32/40 (80%)
5 themes:
1. Values of the Republic
2. Institutions & Politics
3. Rights & Duties
4. History & Geography
5. Living in French Society

How I Prepared

Two resources did most of the work:

📖 Livret du Citoyen - the official citizen booklet, clear and comprehensive.

📋 Official question list

I read both cover to cover, then tested myself theme by theme. With a baby and with other things happening as well, it took no more than 3 days.

The knowledge questions are published - no surprises there. They are mostly from the official list of questions. The situational questions are the trap.
The 12 situational questions are not published, but if you understand the values behind French law, they become intuitive.

Example -

A municipal library makes all books free for commune residents - is this laïcité or égalité + access to culture?
Polygamy: if someone married abroad, can they marry again in France? (Only if they divorce their first partner)

📋 Official question list + Some other questions (naturalization edition)

Examen_Civique_Naturalisation mars 2026.xlsx

Questions That Actually Came Up (My Exam)

These are the questions I remember from my own test:

What is the Constitution?
Who was Auguste Renoir?
Can employers discriminate against women in hiring?
Discrimination scenarios - 4 or 5 of them, very direct
Number of regions in France
Role of the department
Who led the French Resistance?
Which countries share a land border with metropolitan France?
What is France d'outre-mer?
Name a famous French singer
Is abortion legal in France?
Who can access contraception?
When did the euro arrive in France?
Who can vote in European elections?
Requirements for the permis de conduire
Legal age of majority
What are usagers allowed to do at the mairie?
What is the purpose of a titre de séjour?
Can someone be punished for a crime without a trial?
Give an example of a crime
Most touristic department in France

The DDHC - One Word Per Article

La Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du citoyen

This is what helped me remember the articles. I attached one keyword to each:

Article 1-Égalité Article 2-Liberté
Article 3-Souveraineté Article 4-Limite
Article 5-Loi Article 6-Volonté générale
Article 7-Arrestation Article 8-Peines
Article 9-Innocence Article 10-Opinion
Article 11-Presse Article 12-Force publique
Article 13-Impôt Article 14-Consentement
Article 15-Comptes Article 16-Séparation
Article 17-Propriété

Questions From My Husband's Exam

He found it easy - also 39/40. Here's what he remembers:

The République's devise
Napoleon I became emperor - 1804
A former French colony - Madagascar
Simone Veil and the IVG law
Who was Simone de Beauvoir
Discrimination in hiring based on origin
Social security created in - 1945
Most well-known ski region
Main port - Le Havre
Who controls the government - the Premier ministre
Organisation of French society - État, région, département, commune
Journée de l'Europe - 9 mai
If you suspect employment discrimination - contact the Défenseur des droits
Mandat du conseil municipal - 6 ans
État de droit - power belongs to the people
Population of France 2025 - approximately 68 million
Meaning of Article 1 of the DDHC
A municipal library makes all books free for commune residents - is this laïcité or égalité + access to culture?
Polygamy: if someone married abroad, can they marry again in France? (Only if they divorce their first partner)
Principe de confidentialité in healthcare
Can a foreigner create a business in France? (No particular conditions)
Where do you register a child's birth?
Who painted "Les Nymphéas"? - Claude Monet
What does 14 juillet represent?
A person who believes in no god - Athée (atheist)
Who must be neutral - the État
Can someone vote if not registered on the electoral list?
Who does the maire select - the conseil municipal
Helping someone in danger - it's an obligation
Driving without a licence is an infraction
Can your landlord cut off your water? - No, illegal and subject to a fine

Examen blanc

Final Thoughts

The exam is fair. It tests values, not tricks. If you understand why France works the way it does - the separation of powers, laïcité, equality before the law; the answers feel logical rather than arbitrary.

My husband and I both scored 39. The questions we missed were cultural figures. They always are.

Start with the Livret du Citoyen. Read the official question list. Test yourself out loud. And remember - 80% is the bar. You don't need to be perfect.

Bonne chance.

Official resources

📋 Official question list (CR level): https://formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr/examen-civique/liste-officielle-des-questions-de-connaissance-cr/
📋 Official question list (CSP level): https://formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr/examen-civique/liste-officielle-des-questions-de-connaissance-csp/
📖 Livret du Citoyen: https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sites/minint/files/medias/documents/2023-01/livret-du-citoyen.pdf
🌐 Formation Civique official site: https://formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr

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