The examen civique is the civics test on the path to French naturalisation. It has been in force since 1 January 2026 and is set by the Ministère de l’Intérieur. The format is straightforward: 40 questions, 45 minutes, a pass mark of 80%.
How many questions are on the examen civique?
The examen civique is 40 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four options and exactly one correct answer. The test runs for 45 minutes, with no break between sections.
What score do you need to pass?
You pass by answering at least 32 of the 40 questions correctly, which is 80%. There is no separate mandatory topic or minimum per section: only the total correct across the paper counts. With 40 questions and a threshold of 32, you can miss up to 8 and still pass.
What five topics does the examen civique cover?
The official knowledge questions are organised into five themes, each carrying a set number of questions in the mock format:
- Principes et valeurs de la République (6 questions): the national motto, national symbols, laïcité, and the founding principles of the Republic.
- Système institutionnel et politique (8 questions): the institutions of the French state, the separation of powers, elections and how government works.
- Droits et devoirs (6 questions): the rights and duties of people living in France.
- Histoire, géographie et culture (13 questions): French history, geography and culture.
- Vivre dans la société française (7 questions): everyday civic life, health, work, school and administrative procedures.
The history, geography and culture theme is the heaviest at 13 questions, making it the single biggest lever on your total score.
Where do the official questions come from?
The knowledge questions are published by the Ministère de l’Intérieur (Direction générale des étrangers en France) and released as open data on data.gouv.fr under the Licence Ouverte 2.0. The official question list is publicly accessible at formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. The questions themselves are official; answers and explanations in study materials are written independently by the publisher.
How is the examen civique scored?
Scoring is one point per correct answer, with no negative marking for wrong answers. The only figure that matters is your total out of 40. The practical implication: it is worth attempting every question, since a blank answer and a wrong answer cost the same.
How does the examen civique fit into the naturalisation process?
The examen civique was introduced by décret n° 2025-648 and has been mandatory for naturalisation applicants since 1 January 2026. It sits alongside the B2 French language requirement in the naturalisation dossier. Both the language level and the civics result are assessed before the prefecture decides on the application.
What is the best way to prepare for the examen civique?
Work through all five topic areas in order, giving extra time to history and culture given its 13-question weight. The knowledge questions come from the official published list, so studying each question with its correct answer and understanding the reasoning behind it is the most direct preparation. Timed practice under the 45-minute clock helps build the pace needed to answer 40 questions without rushing the final section.