French civic exam: which mention to take, CSP, CR or naturalisation?
The civic exam has 40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes: 28 knowledge questions and 12 situational ones, and you need 32 correct answers to pass. There is one mention per permit you apply for: CSP, CR or naturalisation. Difficulty differs by mention, and a CR pass also counts for a CSP application.
Sources: the Ministry of the Interior's general information on the civic exam (read again on 24 October 2026) and the order of 10 October 2025 it cites. Hexaciv is not an official site. The official pages are in French. CSP is the multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) and CR the resident card (carte de résident).
One format, three mentions
- Shared format: 40 multiple-choice questions, one right answer out of four, 45 minutes at most on a tablet or computer, at least 32 correct answers (80%). The exam is in French.
- Two types of question: 28 knowledge questions and 12 situational ones, on the five themes of the civic training.
- What changes: the ministry says the difficulty level depends on the permit you apply for, and publishes an official list of knowledge questions per mention (CSP and CR are online; the naturalisation mention has its own page).
Which mention for which procedure?
| Your procedure | Mention to take |
|---|---|
| First multi-year residence card | CSP |
| First resident card | CR |
| Naturalisation | Naturalisation mention |
The ministry states that the CR pass certificate counts as a CSP pass certificate when you file your application in ANEF. If you may one day apply for the resident card, taking the CR mention directly therefore covers both cases. Two more points from the same page: the pass certificate has no expiry date, and you can take the exam at any time and as many times as needed. We found no official page saying that the naturalisation mention replaces the CR or the CSP: ask your prefecture before paying for a second exam.
How are the 40 points spread?
This blueprint comes from Le Français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), not from the ministry. The situational questions fall in the first two themes, and they are the ones that trip people up most: there is no official list to learn for them. Our guide on format, length and pass mark details the scoring, and who has to take the exam lists the permits concerned.
Preparing without paying
The ministry says preparation can be completely free and warns against paid sites, which carry a risk of fraud. The official lists of knowledge questions are free on formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Our 40-question mock exam is free and needs no account; it does not replace the official lists.
Test yourself: 3 questions
You passed the civic exam with the CR mention. Can you use it for a CSP application?
Right answer: yes, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
How many situational questions are in the exam?
Right answer: 12 situational questions and 28 knowledge questions.
Is the difficulty level the same for every mention?
Right answer: no, the ministry says the levels differ by permit.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the civic exam? 40: 28 knowledge questions and 12 situational ones.
What score do I need? 32 correct answers out of 40, which is 80%.
Is the CR mention valid for the CSP? Yes, according to the ministry, when you file your application in ANEF.
Can I retake the exam? Yes, at any time and as many times as needed, according to the ministry.
Sources
- Ministry of the Interior, general information on the civic exam: format, 28 + 12, pass mark, CR/CSP equivalence, retakes, no expiry of the certificate.
- Order of 10 October 2025 on the syllabus, tests and arrangements of the civic exam (text not re-read here: Légifrance blocks our tools).
The format is the same for every mention: practise in real conditions.
Take the free mock exam (40 questions, 45 minutes)