The civic exam questions
The civic exam is a multiple-choice questionnaire of 40 questions on the values, institutions and history of France. Here is its format, the main topics covered and examples to help you prepare.
The exam format
The civic exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, to be answered in 45 minutes on a digital platform. You need at least 32 correct answers out of 40 to pass. Results are given within 24 to 48 working hours, and the certificate is valid for life.
The 5 main topics
- The values of the Republic: liberty, equality, fraternity, secularism.
- The institutions: President, Government, Parliament, local authorities.
- Rights and duties: voting, taxes, equality between women and men.
- The history and geography of France and Europe.
- Life in France: symbols, public services, daily life.
Sample questions
The questions cover basic knowledge, for example: what is the motto of the French Republic? Who elects the President of the Republic? What is celebrated on 14 July? These examples are given for guidance only: for the CSP and CR categories, the Ministry of the Interior publishes the official lists of questions.
Where to find the official questions
The Ministry of the Interior publishes two official lists of knowledge questions: one for the CSP category (multi-year residence permit) and one for the CR category (resident card). They are openly available: this is the question bank published by the ministry, the best revision there is for these two categories.
For the NAT category (naturalisation), no list of questions has been published: the reference is the Livret du citoyen, issued by the Direction générale des étrangers en France (Ministry of the Interior). So you are not looking for a list that you are missing: it does not exist for anyone. Be wary of any website claiming to share “the official NAT list”.
In all three cases, the syllabus is the same: the 5 main topics above. The ministry also publishes topic sheets, which cover this syllabus area by area. Civic training itself (the CIR) is delivered exclusively by the OFII: MYSTORY is an exam centre, we welcome you to take the exam.
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Frequently asked questions
Your questions
How many questions are in the civic exam?
40 multiple-choice questions, to be answered in 45 minutes. You need at least 32 correct answers to pass.
Are the civic exam questions public?
Partly. The Ministry of the Interior publishes the official list of knowledge questions for two categories: CSP (multi-year residence permit) and CR (resident card). If you are taking one of these two categories, you revise using the question bank published by the Ministry of the Interior. For the NAT category (naturalisation), no list is published: the reference is the Livret du citoyen, and the syllabus remains the 5 main topics.
Are the questions different depending on my application?
The format is identical for all three categories (CSP, CR, NAT) (40 MCQs in 45 minutes, 32 correct answers to pass) but the scope and difficulty vary with the application: the naturalisation category is the most complete. This is also why the revision sources differ: official lists of questions for CSP and CR, the Livret du citoyen for NAT.
How can I prepare effectively?
By working on the 5 main topics, and revising from the right source: the official list of questions if you are taking the CSP or CR category, the Livret du citoyen if you are taking the NAT category. Everything is published by the Ministry of the Interior. MYSTORY holds the exam at its exam centre in Rosny-sous-Bois (93), open Monday to Saturday; civic training itself (CIR) is provided exclusively by the OFII.