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What is école maternelle (nursery school)?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: The first school, for children aged 3 to 6. École maternelle takes children from 3 to 6. They learn to live together, and French if they do not speak it yet. 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 first school, for children aged 3 to 6La première école, pour les enfants de 3 à 6 ansCorrect answer. École maternelle takes children from 3 to 6. They learn to live together, and French if they do not speak it yet.
- ✗ The school for children aged 6 to 11L'école pour les enfants de 6 à 11 ansThat is the cours élémentaire (primary school).
- ✗ The school for children aged 11 to 15L'école pour les enfants de 11 à 15 ansThat is collège.
- ✗ The school for all young people aged 15 to 18L'école pour les jeunes de 15 à 18 ansThat is lycée.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Qu'est-ce que l'école maternelle ? ». 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 que l'école maternelle ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Le système éducatif” (French).
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