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What are the schools called that pupils join after elementary school?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: The collèges (middle schools). After elementary school, pupils go to the collège, from 11 to 15 years old. The collège has 4 levels: 6e, 5e, 4e and 3e. At the end, the pupil takes the brevet. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Le système éducatif” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “Le système éducatif” (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
- ✗ The universitiesLes universitésUniversity comes after the lycée.
- ✗ The lycées (high schools)Les lycéesThe lycée comes after the collège, from 15 to 18 years old.
- ✗ The écoles maternelles (nursery schools)Les écoles maternellesMaternelle comes before elementary school, from 3 to 6 years old.
- ✓ The collèges (middle schools)Les collègesCorrect answer. After elementary school, pupils go to the collège, from 11 to 15 years old. The collège has 4 levels: 6e, 5e, 4e and 3e. At the end, the pupil takes the brevet.
What the source says
« le collège (de 11 à 15 ans). Il y a 4 niveaux : 6e, 5e, 4e et 3e. »
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: « Comment s'appellent les établissements que les élèves intègrent après l'école élémentaire ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question comes from the list of the naturalisation version of the exam (PDF relayed by Le Français des affaires, read on 14 October 2026; the Ministry's own page for this list did not answer). The list's wording: “Comment s'appellent les établissements scolaires que les élèves intègrent après l'école élémentaire ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Le système éducatif” (French).
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