Home › Civic exam questions › Under the laïcité rules at school, what is forbidden?
Under the laïcité rules at school, what is forbidden?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: Wearing a sign that visibly shows your religion. Wearing a sign or clothing that visibly shows your religion is forbidden. This rule is in the charter and in the internal rules of public schools. Pupils keep their freedom to believe.
Sources: Sheet “La laïcité à l'école (1/2)” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ Talking about religion with other pupilsParler de religion avec les autres élèvesPupils can talk about religion among themselves, respecting others.
- ✗ Believing in a religion or not believing in oneCroire en une religion ou ne pas y croireLaïcité protects the freedom to believe or not to believe.
- ✓ Wearing a sign that visibly shows your religionPorter un signe qui montre sa religion de façon visibleCorrect answer. Wearing a sign or clothing that visibly shows your religion is forbidden. This rule is in the charter and in the internal rules of public schools. Pupils keep their freedom to believe.
- ✗ Learning the history of religions in classApprendre l'histoire des religions en coursSome lessons cover the existence of religions and their history.
What the source says
« Parmi ses règles, il est interdit de porter un signe ou un vêtement qui montre sa religion de manière ostensible, c’est-à-dire de manière à être vu. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Dans les règles de la laïcité à l'école, qu'est-ce qui est interdit ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the resident card (CR). The Ministry's wording: “Qu'est ce qui est interdit par la Charte de la laïcité à l'école ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “La laïcité à l'école (1/2)” (French).
All 40 “Principles and values of the Republic” questions on the CR list
One question corrected is a start. Now see where you stand: 40 timed questions, corrected in English, French or Arabic.
Our rule of thumb: book only after 34 out of 40 on two mock exams. The official pass mark is 32 out of 40. A fail means registering and paying again.
Take the free mock exam (40 questions)