French Citizenship Civic Test 2026: Complete Guide

The french citizenship civic test 2026 is a 40-question, 45-minute written exam you must pass with 80% (32 out of 40) to be naturalized by decree. It became mandatory on January 1, 2026 for every applicant who files from that date forward. This guide walks you through the format, the five topics, the exam-day procedure and a realistic study plan.

What is the French citizenship civic test?

The test is a standardized written exam introduced by the French government decree of August 19, 2025, applicable from January 1, 2026. It replaces the "knowledge" portion of the old prefecture assimilation interview, which used to vary widely from one prefecture to another and was criticized for its subjectivity — the oral remains in place but no longer covers civic facts.

The Ministry of the Interior designed the new exam to measure, on a single nationwide grid, how well you understand Republican values, French institutions and the country's historical and cultural markers. It applies to every naturalization-by-decree application and to every declaration of French nationality by marriage filed on or after January 1, 2026.

Files submitted before that date still follow the old regime (assimilation interview without a formal multiple-choice test). If your filing date falls near the cutover, confirm with your prefecture which system applies to you. Our guide to the French naturalization process in 2026 breaks down each step of the wider procedure.

What changed on January 1, 2026:

• A single written format used everywhere in France, same grid for everyone.
• Pass threshold raised to 80%, compared with the earlier "satisfactory" level left to the prefect's judgment.
• A public question bank: the ministry publishes the 245 knowledge questions, so you can revise against a stable target.
• Twelve situational scenarios added to test practical judgment rather than rote memory.
• Digital convocation by default through the "ANEF naturalisation" online portal.

The reform aims to make grading more objective while raising the bar without turning naturalization into a competitive exam. A resident who consumes French media and speaks the language at B2 (the level required since the October 10, 2025 decree) can clear 80% with a few weeks of focused study. The same exam now feeds three different residence routes — see the differences between CSP, resident card and naturalization to place yours. For the full legal framework, see the French Ministry of the Interior and service-public.fr. The decree itself is published on Legifrance.

Format: 40 questions, 45 minutes, 80% to pass

Here is the official summary of the test.

Parameter	Value
Number of questions	40
Total duration	45 minutes
Pass threshold	80% (32 correct answers out of 40)
Format	Single-choice multiple-choice, 4 options per question
Knowledge questions	28
Situational scenarios	12
Official topics	5
Language	French only
Medium	Touchscreen at a prefecture or approved center
Grading	Automatic, immediate result

The 28 knowledge questions cover verifiable facts: the adoption date of the Constitution, the motto of the Republic, the role of each institution. Each has exactly one correct answer.

The 12 situational scenarios describe an everyday situation (at work, at school, in public) and ask you to pick the response that best aligns with Republican values. These are not legal traps. They test your judgment, not your knowledge of statutes.

Each question is worth one point. There is no penalty for a wrong answer and no speed bonus. Answer every question, even when you are unsure.

Recommended pacing: 45 minutes for 40 questions works out to one minute and seven seconds per item on average. Knowledge questions should take 30 to 45 seconds each. Scenarios take closer to 90 seconds because you have to read a short case of three to five lines. Keep three to five minutes at the end to review flagged questions. A summary screen appears at the end, lists all your answers and lets you change them before final submission. Always use it.

The 5 official topics

The exam covers five broad topics defined by the ministry. Each one weighs between 15% and 25% of the test.

1. Principles and values of the Republic — liberty, equality, fraternity, laicite (the French model of secularism), the Republican motto, symbols, anthem (La Marseillaise), flag, Marianne (the personification of the Republic). This is the most philosophical topic and concentrates the most scenarios.
2. Institutional and political system — the President, the Prime Minister, the Assemblee nationale, the Senat, separation of powers, the Conseil constitutionnel, elections, the role of mayors and regions.
3. Rights and duties — fundamental citizen rights, obligations (taxes, schooling until 16, national defense), justice, public services, social security, citizen remedies.
4. Living in French society — school, work, health, family, gender equality, respect for others, fighting discrimination, the environment.
5. History, geography and culture — key dates (1789, 1905, 1945, 1958), historical figures, mainland and overseas regions, UNESCO heritage, major cultural personalities.

The topic that trips up the most candidates is usually Topic 2 (institutions), because it demands precise numbers (577 deputies, 348 senators, a five-year presidential term renewable once). Right behind it are the scenarios in Topic 1, which are less intuitive than they look: the correct answer often protects a right while reminding the reader of a duty.

For a topic-by-topic breakdown with sample questions, read our guide on the five topics of the French citizenship test explained. Our deep dive on French Republic values and the citizenship test covers Topic 1, which many applicants underestimate because it sounds obvious on the surface.

How the test is administered

The test takes place at the prefecture or in a center approved by the ministry. You are convoked after filing your naturalization application; the case officer sends a date by mail or through the digital space of your case file.

On test day, you bring:

• A valid ID (passport or residence permit).
• Your convocation, printed or on your phone.
• Nothing else. No phone, no smartwatch, no personal documents.

Minute-by-minute walkthrough:

• 0 to 10 min: reception, ID check, personal items stored in a locker, assignment to a computer station.
• 10 to 15 min: interactive tutorial (three practice questions to get used to the touchscreen interface. These do not count).
• 15 to 60 min: 45 minutes of actual testing. A countdown displays the time remaining. You can revisit questions, change answers, and flag items for later review.
• 60 to 65 min: final submission, on-screen result, printed certificate of attendance.

The raw result (pass or fail) is immediate. The list of questions you missed is not shared, to keep the question bank confidential. You do receive an overall score out of 40 and a sub-score by topic, which helps target your revision if you need to retake. On a pass, the centre issues an official attestation — see our dedicated guide to the civic exam attestation: validity and price.

Accessibility: centers are equipped for candidates with disabilities. You can request in advance extra time (duration extended to 60 minutes), large-print interfaces, a screen reader, or a separate room for anxiety disorders. The request is made at convocation, with a medical certificate attached.

If there is a technical failure: if your computer station crashes mid-test, the supervising officer writes an incident report and the test is rescheduled within 15 days, free of charge. Answers validated before the crash are not saved; the retake starts from zero with a different draw of questions.

What happens if you fail?

Failure is not final. Here are the 2026 rules:

• Waiting period: 60 days before you can retake the test, counted from the date of your first attempt.
• Number of attempts: unlimited. Every retake is free.
• Impact on your file: your naturalization application stays active. It is simply paused until you pass. No automatic rejection.
• Validity of a passing result: two years. If your file takes longer to be processed (which happens), you will not need to retake the test inside that window.

If you fail twice, use the waiting period to pinpoint weak topics. A second failure on the same topic signals a blind spot in your revision, so do not start over from scratch. Our roundup of the 8 mistakes to avoid on the French citizenship test is worth rereading before a second attempt.

Effective retake strategy:

• Day 1 to 7 after failure: decompress, then read the topic sub-scores to identify the two weakest topics.
• Day 7 to 45: spend 70% of your time on those two topics. Already-mastered topics only need maintenance, not fresh deep study.
• Day 45 to 60: take two or three complete mock exams under real conditions (45 minutes timed, no notes, no breaks). If you clear 85% on a mock, you have a solid shot at 80% on the real thing, because simulation is always slightly harder.

How long should you study?

Study time depends mostly on your prior familiarity with French institutions and your reading fluency. Here are the benchmarks we observe across thousands of Cocorico users prepared since January 2026.

Profile	Recommended study time
10+ years in France, schooled in France	2 to 3 weeks, 20 min/day
Recent arrival (3 to 9 years), French B2+ (the required level)	4 to 6 weeks, 30 min/day
French B1 (raise to B2 in parallel)	8 to 10 weeks, 30 to 45 min/day + DELF B2
Low exposure to institutions, French A2 to B1	12 weeks, 45 min/day + dedicated language work

Most candidates underestimate the workload. You have to memorize around 300 precise facts (dates, numbers, names) and internalize Republican logic to handle scenarios. A week of cramming will not cut it.

The good news: the test is public and stable. The 245 knowledge questions of 2026 will mostly carry over into 2027 (the ministry announced an annual rotation of less than 10% of items). Your study investment pays off directly and lasts.

Three signals that your preparation is sufficient:

• You score 85% or higher on three consecutive mock exams spaced at least 48 hours apart.
• You can name without hesitation October 4, 1958 (Constitution of the Fifth Republic) and December 9, 1905 (law separating Churches and State).
• Facing a brand-new scenario, you reason from principles (laicite, equality, liberty) rather than pattern-matching to a case you saw during revision.

Our detailed plan on how to prepare for the French citizenship test in 1 month gives you a day-by-day schedule if your window is tight. Readers with more runway can explore our method on spaced repetition for the French citizenship test, which cuts total revision time roughly in half for the same level of retention.

Best preparation methods

Three broad options coexist in 2026. Here is a neutral comparison.

Books and official PDFs. The ministry publishes a free 80-page booklet with all 245 knowledge questions. Pro: free, complete. Con: no feedback, no worked-through scenarios, linear reading that is poorly suited to active memory.

In-person classes. Some associations (CIMADE, France Terre d'Asile, local social centers) offer free or low-cost civic classes. Pro: human interaction, contextual explanations. Con: fixed schedules, few repetitions, uneven coverage depending on the instructor.

Revision apps. Several apps launched in 2026 to exploit the multiple-choice format. Pros: spaced repetition, personal statistics, audio, unlimited drills. Con: uneven quality, with some answer keys containing errors.

Our comparison on the best way to study for the French citizenship test (apps vs PDF) details the strengths and weaknesses of each format by profile.

Combine at least two formats: a reading source (booklet or official site) for the big picture, and an app for active memorization through repeated quizzes. One weekly timed mock exam under real conditions seals the method.

The four most common study mistakes:

• Reading the booklet end to end without active quizzing in between. Retention drops to 20% within 48 hours if you do not test your memory.
• Revising only the topics you find interesting. You will lose easy points on the neglected ones.
• Ignoring the scenarios. They represent 12 out of 40 points, so 30% of the score: 80% is unreachable without them.
• Taking a mock exam too early. A failed mock at the start of your preparation is demoralizing and yields no useful signal. Wait until you have covered 60% of the material.

If you are aiming not just to pass but to clear a comfortable margin (90% and above), add one extra question per day from our bank of 50 French citizenship test questions and answers, which surfaces the most frequent traps.

Frequently asked questions

Is the French citizenship civic test free?

Yes. The test is entirely free, including retakes after a failure. Do not pay any intermediary who claims to "register" you for the test: your convocation arrives automatically once your naturalization file is submitted. The only fee tied to the application is the 55-euro tax stamp (timbre fiscal) due when you file a complete dossier.

Who is exempt from the civic test?

Exempt candidates include: holders of a French higher-education degree (bachelor's or equivalent), people who completed compulsory schooling in France, and applicants over 65 at the time of filing. Holders of a French CAP or BEP (vocational secondary diplomas) are not exempt in 2026. Verify your case on service-public.fr.

Are calculators or dictionaries allowed?

No personal materials are allowed in the room: no calculator, no dictionary, no phone, no notes. The test interface requires no calculation. Questions are written in standard French at roughly A2 to B1 reading level — the same exam serves the three immigration statuses (CSP, CR, naturalization), so the wording stays accessible to everyone — without legal jargon. If a word trips you up, build civic vocabulary ahead of time through our guide on French citizenship vocabulary and pronunciation.

Can you contest a failing result?

Yes, within two months of notification, through an administrative appeal (recours gracieux) filed with the prefect and, if needed, a contentious appeal before the administrative court (tribunal administratif). In practice, appeals rarely succeed because grading is automatic and questions are vetted by a scientific committee. An appeal is mainly justified in case of a documented technical incident on test day.

Can the test be taken in a language other than French?

Never. The civic test is exclusively in French, precisely because it checks your linguistic and cultural integration. A B2 level in French (oral and written) is also required separately for naturalization (since the arrêté du 10 octobre 2025), via a recognized diploma (DELF B2, TCF or DCL at the matching level) or a French degree. Cocorico offers English and Mandarin subtitles during revision, but the official test remains 100% in French.

Start revising smarter today

The french citizenship civic test 2026 is not insurmountable: the format is stable, the questions are public, and grading is automatic and fair. What makes the difference is study regularity and a method that targets your weak spots instead of re-reading the whole booklet blindly.

Cocorico is an app built specifically for this test. It covers the 245 official knowledge questions and 40 original scenarios, with native French audio, English and Mandarin subtitles, spaced repetition and a readiness score that estimates your pass probability in real time. Pricing is a one-time payment: €14.90 for 1 month, €24.90 for 3 months, or €39.90 for 6 months. No subscription, 14-day refund guarantee.

Start with a free trial of 5 lessons per topic, then run a complete mock exam to measure your starting level. In 45 minutes you will know exactly where to focus. Good luck with your naturalization.