The Republic and its values
Understand the ideas behind principles such as liberty, equality and laïcité rather than learning words in isolation.
Online preparation · Examen civique
French Civic Exam Preparation Online
The civic exam asks you to understand French institutions, values and everyday civic life—and to answer questions in French. We’ll help you make sense of the topics, understand the wording and practise calmly under exam conditions.
What is the French civic exam?
Since 2026, the exam is required for certain first multi-year residence card and resident card applications, and for naturalisation or reintegration applications. It is a 40-question multiple-choice test in French, completed in 45 minutes. The official pass mark is 32 correct answers. There are different versions according to the procedure, and some people have exemptions or adjustments. Check the official guidance for your situation.
Institutions and rights
Make sense of who does what, and what rights and responsibilities mean in practice.
Life in France
Explore the historical, cultural and everyday contexts that the official programme covers.
How we prepare together
We use the official programme and published knowledge questions as a starting point. We also practise understanding unfamiliar wording and scenario questions, which are not published in advance. You learn why an answer makes sense and how to manage your time.
Understand
Explain the topic in clear language and connect it to a concrete example.
Practise
Work through original questions and situations, and review mistakes together.
Rehearse
Try timed sets in French and identify what to revisit before the exam.
The civic QCM and the naturalisation interview are different
The civic exam asks you to select answers. The entretien d’assimilation is a separate oral stage for naturalisation by decree, where you may need to explain your ideas in your own words. If that interview is also ahead of you, we can discuss the oral French it calls for; passing a QCM does not automatically prepare you for a conversation.
Civic preparation with Feel Good French
Déborah has taught political science as well as French, and her background informs this preparation. With a Feel Good French teacher, you can work on the institutions and ideas behind the civic questions while practising the French needed to answer them. Official guidance remains the source for your application requirements.
Questions you may have
Is the civic exam a French language test?
No. The civic exam checks civic knowledge through questions in French. A separate language level may also be required for your application.
Are all the exam questions published?
The official site publishes lists of knowledge questions. Scenario questions are not made public. We prepare by understanding the themes and practising original scenarios.
Does everyone applying for a residence card need it?
No. The rules distinguish first applications from renewals and include exceptions. Check the official government guidance for your own situation.
Further reading and official guidance
Explore another preparation route
Let’s make a clear plan for your next step
Tell us the exam you are considering, your deadline and where you feel confident or stuck. We can use a 20-minute discovery call to see what kind of preparation makes sense.
Book a 20-minute discovery call