The examen civique is France’s new civics test for naturalisation. In force since 1 January 2026, it is a required step for most adults on the path to French citizenship. Here is what the exam is, who it applies to, and what it covers.
What is the examen civique?
The examen civique is a 40-question civics test set by the Ministère de l’Intérieur and delivered through France Éducation International approved centres. Introduced by décret n° 2025-648 and active from 1 January 2026, it checks your knowledge of the French Republic: its values, institutions, history, geography and everyday civic life. It replaced the more informal interview-based civic knowledge check that previously applied in the naturalisation process.
Who must take the examen civique?
Most adults applying for French naturalisation must pass the examen civique from 1 January 2026. The test is separate from, and sits alongside, the B2 French language requirement that also applies to naturalisation. Passing one does not exempt you from the other.
What is the format of the examen civique?
The exam is 40 multiple-choice questions completed in 45 minutes. Each question has four options and one correct answer. The 40 questions break down into two types:
- 28 knowledge questions (questions de connaissance): drawn at random from the official published list of 258 questions released by the Ministère de l’Intérieur as open data on data.gouv.fr.
- 12 situational questions (mises en situation): scenario-based questions assessed separately, which are not part of the published question list.
What score do you need to pass?
You need at least 32 of 40 correct, or 80%. There is no mandatory sub-section within the exam, so the strategy is simply to maximise your total across all 40 questions.
What topics does the examen civique cover?
The knowledge questions are organised into five official themes:
- Principes et valeurs de la République: France’s motto, its national symbols (the tricolour, the Marseillaise, Marianne, the Eiffel Tower), the principle of laïcité and the foundational values of the Republic.
- Système institutionnel et politique: the institutions of the State, the separation of powers, elections at every level, and how the Government and Parliament function.
- Droits et devoirs: the rights and civic duties of people living in France, from fundamental freedoms to tax obligations and road rules.
- Histoire, géographie et culture: key moments and figures in French history, the country’s geography, and its cultural heritage. This is the largest theme in the official question weight.
- Vivre dans la société française: everyday life in France, including healthcare, schools, the workplace and administrative procedures.
Are the exam questions available in advance?
Yes. The 258 official knowledge questions are publicly available as open data on data.gouv.fr, published by the Ministère de l’Intérieur under the Licence Ouverte 2.0. You can study every one of them before your exam. The 28 questions on your actual paper are drawn from this list at random. The 12 situational questions are separate and are not in the published list.
How does the app help you prepare?
The app contains all 258 official knowledge questions with a clear explanation for every answer, in French. You can also switch explanations to English in Settings. The timed mock draws questions from all five themes and scores you against the real 32-of-40 standard, so you know exactly where you stand before test day. Flashcards cover the facts that come up most reliably: the national symbols, key institutional roles, historical dates and the rules of civic life.
The questions are the official ones from the public list; the answers and explanations are written independently and cross-model verified. This app is independent and not affiliated with the Ministère de l’Intérieur. Official information and the approved preparation route are at formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr.