Civic exam
Civic exam questions for the French resident card
The official stems for the resident card level, grouped by theme, with the right answer and the source of every explanation.
Independent site, not linked to the French Interior Ministry, the préfectures or the exam centres.
1.Is it allowed to publicly insult someone because they are different (disability, physical appearance, sex, etc.)?
- · Yes, in the name of freedom of expression
- · Yes, if it is said on social media
- · No, unless the person is a foreigner
- ✓ Answer: No, it is an insult punished by law
Publicly insulting someone because of their disability, sex, origin or religion is an offence: it can be punished by up to one year in prison and a 45,000 euro fine.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « L’égalité (3/3) »
2.The political system of France is:
- · A monarchy
- · A dictatorship
- ✓ Answer: A democratic republic
- · An empire
France is a republic: power is exercised by representatives elected by the people, not passed on by inheritance. It is also a democracy based on universal suffrage.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La démocratie et la République (1/2) »
3.Which of these are official symbols of the French Republic?
- · The rooster, the Eiffel Tower and the beret
- ✓ Answer: The tricolour flag, the Marseillaise and Marianne
- · The fleur-de-lis and the crown
- · Baguette, cheese and wine
The official symbols of the Republic are the blue, white and red flag, the national anthem (La Marseillaise), Marianne, the motto and the national holiday on 14 July.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Les symboles de la République »
4.What is the place of the French language in the Republic?
- · It is optional in public administration
- · It has equal status with regional languages
- · It is reserved for the courts
- ✓ Answer: It is the only official language, written into the Constitution
French is the language of the Republic (Article 2 of the Constitution). It is used at school, in public administration and in the courts, which gives everyone equal access to their rights.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La langue française »
5.What is La Marseillaise?
- · A culinary speciality of Marseille
- · The name of a regional festival
- ✓ Answer: France's national anthem
- · A medieval poem
La Marseillaise is the national anthem. Composed in 1792, it takes its name from volunteers from Marseille who sang it in Paris. It is played at official ceremonies and sports events.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « L’hymne français »
6.In which year was the law separating the Churches and the State passed?
- · 1789
- · 1882
- · 1958
- ✓ Answer: 1905
The law of 9 December 1905 separates the Churches and the State: the State does not recognise, pay or subsidise any religion, and guarantees the free exercise of worship.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Histoire de la laïcité »
7.Which right is guaranteed by laïcité (secularism)?
- · The right not to pay taxes
- ✓ Answer: Freedom of conscience
- · The right to a public holiday for each religion
- · The right to impose one's religion on others
Laïcité guarantees freedom of conscience, that is, the freedom to have a religion or not and to practise it while respecting public order.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La définition de la laïcité (1/2) »
8.Why must the principle of laïcité (secularism) be respected at school?
- · To abolish religions in France
- · To force pupils to believe in God
- ✓ Answer: To protect pupils from any pressure and treat them equally
- · To reserve school for non-believers
Laïcité at school protects pupils from proselytism and pressure, lets them form their own opinions freely and guarantees equal treatment for all, girls and boys.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La laïcité à l’école (2/2) »
9.Does a person have the right not to believe in any religion?
- ✓ Answer: Yes, having no religion is a right
- · No, everyone must choose a religion
- · Yes, but only after the age of 18
- · No, unless they are a civil servant
Freedom of conscience also protects the right not to believe, or to stop believing. In France, many people say they have no religion.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La définition de la laïcité (2/2) »
10.Which of the following is a form of civic participation?
- · Refusing to answer letters from the town hall
- ✓ Answer: Volunteering in a neighbourhood association
- · Never keeping informed about local life
- · Paying someone to vote in your place
Volunteering in an association, taking part in a neighbourhood council or voting when entitled to are forms of civic participation. Everyone, French or foreign, can get involved.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La fraternité (2/2) »
11.What does freedom of expression guarantee?
- · The right to spread false accusations
- · The right to call for violence
- · The right to insult a public official
- ✓ Answer: The right to say, write and publish one's opinions
Freedom of expression (Article 11 of the 1789 Declaration) guarantees the right to speak, write and publish freely, except for abuses defined by law: defamation, insults, incitement to hatred.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Le blasphème »
12.What is a residence permit (titre de séjour) for?
- · Voting in presidential elections
- · Replacing the passport to travel anywhere
- ✓ Answer: Proving a foreign national's right to live in France
- · Automatically obtaining French nationality
A residence permit proves that a foreign national is lawfully resident in France. It must be valid and match the person's situation; renewal must be requested at least 3 months before it expires.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Les démarches relatives au séjour en France »
13.Freedom of movement allows everyone to:
- · enter any home
- ✓ Answer: come and go freely within the country
- · drive without a licence
- · ignore lockdown rules
Freedom of movement allows people to travel freely in France, in particular with a valid residence permit. It can be limited by law, for example for security or public health reasons.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La liberté »
14.On which website can you find the symbol of the French Republic?
- ✓ Answer: On official State websites, such as elysee.fr
- · Only on political parties' websites
- · On souvenir shop websites
- · On no website, it is banned online
The Marianne logo appears on official State websites, such as those ending in gouv.fr, and the presidency's site, elysee.fr, presents the symbols of the Republic. Parties may not use it as a logo.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Marianne »
15.Complete these words of La Marseillaise: "Aux armes […]! Formez vos bataillons" (To arms […]! Form your battalions)
- · soldats (soldiers)
- · enfants (children)
- ✓ Answer: citoyens (citizens)
- · amis (friends)
The chorus of La Marseillaise begins: "Aux armes, citoyens! Formez vos bataillons! Marchons, marchons!" (To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! March, march!). It was composed in 1792.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « L’hymne français »
16.Complete the words of La Marseillaise: "Allons enfants de la patrie […]" (Arise, children of the fatherland […])
- · Liberté, liberté chérie (Liberty, cherished liberty)
- · Formez vos bataillons (Form your battalions)
- ✓ Answer: Le jour de gloire est arrivé (The day of glory has arrived)
- · Que la fête commence (Let the party begin)
The first verse of La Marseillaise opens: "Allons enfants de la Patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé!" (Arise, children of the fatherland, the day of glory has arrived!). "Liberté, liberté chérie" comes from a later verse.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « L’hymne français »
17.Under individual freedom, which statement is correct? A person can:
- · force their adult child to marry
- · forbid their spouse from working
- · read their spouse's mail without consent
- ✓ Answer: freely choose the person they live with
Individual freedom includes choosing one's partner, whatever their sex, marrying or not, and ending a union. Marriage requires the free consent of both spouses.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Les libertés au sein du couple »
18.Regarding the practice of religion, which statement is correct?
- · It is banned in public spaces
- · It is compulsory for citizens
- ✓ Answer: Everyone may practise it while respecting public order
- · It must be declared at the town hall
In France, everyone may practise their religion and show it in public spaces, provided they respect the law and public order. No one can be forced to practise.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La laïcité dans l’espace public »
19.As a parent, can you refuse to let your child take part in PE classes at school because they are mixed?
- ✓ Answer: No, curriculum classes are compulsory
- · Yes, for religious reasons
- · Yes, if the child is a girl
- · Yes, with a simple note to the teacher
Sport is part of the curriculum set by the State and mixed classes are the rule at school. A class cannot be refused for religious reasons; only a justified medical reason allows an exemption.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La laïcité à l’école (1/2) »
20.What is the motto of France?
- · Unité, Travail, Progrès (Unity, Work, Progress)
- · Paix, Justice, Solidarité (Peace, Justice, Solidarity)
- · Dieu, Patrie, Roi (God, Fatherland, King)
- ✓ Answer: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity)
France's motto, "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité", was born during the French Revolution and has been official since 1848. It is written in Article 2 of the Constitution.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La devise française »
21.Repudiating one's wife (unilateral divorce by the husband) is:
- ✓ Answer: prohibited and without legal effect in France
- · allowed if the husband alone decides
- · possible before the mayor
- · valid if both families agree
Repudiation, a unilateral decision by the husband, is contrary to equality between women and men. In France, only a divorce provided for by law can end a marriage.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « L’égalité (2/3) »
22.Taxes finance public spending. Which statement is correct?
- · Only French citizens pay taxes
- · Everyone pays exactly the same amount
- · Taxes fund the political parties of one's choice
- ✓ Answer: Everyone contributes according to their means
Article 13 of the 1789 Declaration provides for a common contribution shared according to each person's means. Taxes fund public services (schools, hospitals, police) and solidarity.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Les obligations en tant que résident français »
23.Is it allowed to burn a French flag in public?
- ✓ Answer: No, it is an offence (outrage) punished by law
- · Yes, it is just an opinion
- · Yes, if the flag belongs to you
- · Yes, only on 14 July
Destroying or degrading the tricolour flag in public is an offence punished by a fine, of up to 7,500 euros during an event organised by the public authorities.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Le drapeau français »
24.What does the State do to fight discrimination?
- · It tolerates it in private companies
- ✓ Answer: It punishes it by law and supports victims
- · It lets each mayor decide
- · Nothing, it is a private matter
The law recognises more than 25 prohibited grounds of discrimination and provides penalties. The State runs action plans against racism and sexism, and the Défenseur des droits (rights ombudsman) helps victims.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « L’égalité (3/3) »
25.What does Marianne represent?
- · The Virgin Mary
- ✓ Answer: The French Republic
- · Queen Marie Antoinette
- · The European Union
Marianne, wearing the Phrygian cap, represents the Republic and the sovereignty of the people. Her common first name recalls that the Republic is based on the will of the people.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Marianne »
26.What is freedom of association?
- · The obligation to join a trade union
- ✓ Answer: The right to create or join an association
- · The right to set up a tax-free business
- · A ban on gatherings of more than two people
Freedom of association, guaranteed by the law of 1 July 1901, allows anyone, French or foreign, to create an association, join it or leave it freely.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La fraternité (2/2) »
27.What is liberty?
- ✓ Answer: Thinking, speaking and acting without harming others
- · Doing whatever you want with no rules
- · Imposing your ideas on those around you
- · Escaping the law when you are a foreigner
Liberty is guaranteed by the 1789 Declaration: everyone may think, express themselves and live as they wish. Its only limit is not to prevent others from doing the same.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La liberté »
28.On which document can you see Marianne?
- · On euro banknotes
- · On a metro ticket
- · On a bank statement
- ✓ Answer: On the national identity card
The figure of Marianne appears on the national identity card, on administrative documents such as the tax return, on stamps and on some coins.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « Marianne »
29.An employer refuses to hire women in their company. What does the law say?
- · It is allowed in a private company
- · It is allowed if the company is small
- · It is allowed for management positions
- ✓ Answer: It is prohibited and punished discrimination
Refusing to hire someone because of their sex is discrimination. The Criminal Code punishes it with up to 3 years in prison and a 45,000 euro fine, and the victim can contact the Défenseur des droits.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « L’égalité (3/3) »
30.One of the values of the republican motto is equality. What does this mean?
- · Everyone receives the same amount of money
- · French people have more rights than foreigners
- ✓ Answer: The law is the same for everyone
- · Elected officials are above the law
Under Article 6 of the 1789 Declaration, the law "must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes". No one can be favoured or disadvantaged by it.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « L’égalité (1/3) »
31.At a state school, who may wear very visible religious symbols?
- ✓ Answer: Neither pupils nor staff: it is prohibited
- · Only secondary school (lycée) pupils
- · Only teachers
- · All pupils, if they wish
Since the 2004 law, pupils in state primary and secondary schools may not wear conspicuous religious symbols. Teachers and other staff are bound by strict neutrality.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La laïcité à l’école (1/2) »
32.Under the principle of laïcité, what does the neutrality of the State mean?
- · The State chooses citizens' religion
- · The State bans all religions
- ✓ Answer: The State neither favours nor funds any religion
- · The State mainly funds the majority religion
Neutrality means that the State does not recognise, pay or subsidise any religion and treats all beliefs, religious or not, in the same way.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La définition de la laïcité (1/2) »
33.What may a member of the public do at a town hall?
- · Demand to be served by an official of their religion
- ✓ Answer: Wear a religious symbol while following the service's rules
- · Proselytise at the counter
- · Refuse to show their face for an identity check
Neutrality applies to public officials, not to users: a member of the public may wear a religious symbol. They must still respect how the service works, for example when their identity is checked.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La laïcité dans les services publics »
34.Who must respect the principle of religious neutrality in a préfecture (the State's administrative office in a département)?
- · Members of the public carrying out a procedure
- ✓ Answer: The staff who work there
- · Only the préfet
- · No one, it is not compulsory
Public officials, from counter staff to the préfet, must remain neutral and show no religious belief at work. Members of the public are not bound by this neutrality.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La laïcité dans les services publics »
35.Does laïcité require public officials to be neutral towards members of the public?
- · No, they may wear any religious symbol
- ✓ Answer: Yes, they must show no religious belief
- · No, except on Sundays
- · Yes, but only in schools
At work, public officials may not wear any religious symbol or proselytise. This neutrality ensures that every member of the public is treated in the same way.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La laïcité au travail »
36.What does the principle of laïcité guarantee?
- ✓ Answer: The freedom to believe or not to believe
- · The superiority of one religion over others
- · The obligation to practise a religion
- · Public funding of places of worship
Laïcité guarantees freedom of conscience, equality of all before the law whatever their religion, and the neutrality of the State, which funds no religion.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La définition de la laïcité (1/2) »
37.Do you have the right to change your religion?
- · No, it is prohibited by law
- · Yes, with a religious leader's consent
- · No, except in case of marriage
- ✓ Answer: Yes, everyone is free to change religion
Freedom of conscience includes the right to change religion or give up all religion. No one may be forced or threatened because of this choice.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La définition de la laïcité (2/2) »
38.What does laïcité represent?
- · One religion among others
- · A mere political opinion
- · A rule specific to primary school
- ✓ Answer: A principle of the French Constitution
Laïcité is not an opinion but a constitutional principle: Article 1 of the Constitution states that France is a secular Republic. It guarantees freedom of conscience and State neutrality.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La définition de la laïcité (1/2) »
39.What is forbidden by the Charter of laïcité at school?
- ✓ Answer: Challenging a class on religious grounds
- · Pupils talking about religion among themselves
- · Studying the history of religions
- · Having a personal religion
The Charter of laïcité at school states that no pupil may invoke a religious or political belief to challenge a part of the curriculum. It also bans conspicuous religious symbols.
Where to check: Formation civique, fiche « La laïcité à l’école (2/2) »
40.What does Article 1 of the French Constitution say?
- · France is a constitutional monarchy
- · The language of the Republic is French and English
- ✓ Answer: France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic
- · Catholicism is the State religion
Article 1 states that France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic, which ensures equality of all before the law and respects all beliefs.
Where to check: Constitution du 4 octobre 1958 (Légifrance)
Principles and values of the Republic
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questions in this theme
Resident card (official list)
The civic exam questions for the French resident card (carte de résident) come from an official list published by the Interior Ministry on its civic training site, separate from the multi-year permit list. Like that one, it holds only the stems of knowledge questions: no options, no answers and no scenario questions. Our bank reuses 209 of these stems under the Licence Ouverte, translates them here, and pairs each one with a right answer, three wrong options and a sourced explanation. The tool above lists them theme by theme, with the answer in green. The resident card paper has 40 questions in 45 minutes, 12 of them scenarios, and you pass with 32 correct answers. It is taken in French only. It applies to a first resident card, for example as the spouse of a French citizen, through family reunification or as an EU long-term resident, alongside French at level B1. A certificate at this level is also accepted for a multi-year permit.
Did I pass the civic exam?
Result
Fail
| Pass mark | 32 of 40 (80%) |
| Your score | 75% |
| Missing | 2 more correct answers |
Answers, dates and costs by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
A list that goes deeper into notions
The official list for the resident card level assumes you have settled in France for the long term. It has fewer practical questions and more that ask you to explain a principle or place an event in time. These stems from our bank set the tone.
- "What does the rule of law guarantee?" Answer: Respect for fundamental rights and equality before the law.
- "What does freedom of the press guarantee?" Answer: The right to publish information without prior authorisation.
- "Since when has the euro been the single currency?" Answer: Since 2002.
- "Taxes finance public spending. Which statement is correct?" Answer: Everyone contributes according to their means.
- "What is the principle of confidentiality in healthcare?" Answer: Medical confidentiality protects the patient's information.
None of these can be guessed from daily life alone. Each needs at least one reading of the matching civic training sheet, which is why every explanation in the tool names the sheet or text to check. For an expat, these sheets are also the best way into the vocabulary of French public life: words such as État de droit, laïcité or préfet have no exact English equivalent, and the exam will use them as they are.
Who needs this list
The resident card level applies to people applying for their first 10-year resident card. The most common routes are these.
| Route to the card | Time condition |
|---|---|
| Spouse of a French citizen | 3 years of marriage |
| Family reunification | 3 years of legal residence |
| Parent of a French child | 3 years on a private and family life permit |
| EU long-term resident | 5 years of unbroken legal residence |
People over 65 and refugees applying for the refugee resident card do not sit the exam. The details of each route and the date you can apply are on the French resident card page, and the rules on time spent abroad on the EU long-term resident card page.
Where the list is longest
History, geography and culture has the most stems, yet supplies only 8 questions on the day. Institutions include many stems on the European Union, for a single European question in the paper. So do not learn everything to the same depth: aim to understand every notion, and memorise precisely the most heavily drawn themes, principles and values (11 questions) and rights and duties (11 questions).
From the list to the real paper
Reading the list is not enough: on the day the stems arrive shuffled, in French, with four options and a clock. After a first pass in the tool above, sit the resident card civic exam mock test, drawn with the official mix. If history costs you points, the history, geography and culture page gathers its key landmarks.