L'examen civique, réponses vérifiées / English
Multi-year residence permit, resident card, naturalisation
The French civic exam 2026, in English
Since January 1, 2026, a first multi-year residence permit, a 10-year resident card or French citizenship requires passing the civic exam. Forty questions, in French, 45 minutes, and you need 32 right answers.
The Ministry of the Interior publishes the questions, never the answers. Every app and site that gives you answers wrote them itself. Here each answer is followed by the sentence from the official text that proves it, in French and in English, so you can check instead of trusting.
Twelve official questions, answered
The question in French first, the way you will read it on the day, then the English.
Residence permit no. 114
En quelle année a débuté la Révolution française ?
In what year did the French Revolution begin?
Answer. In 1789.
The French Revolution begins in 1789, when the king summons the Estates General. The storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 becomes its symbol.
« La Révolution française (1789-1799) démarre avec la convocation des États généraux (le clergé, la noblesse et le tiers état) par le roi. »
“The French Revolution (1789 to 1799) starts with the king's summoning of the Estates General (the clergy, the nobility and the third estate).”
Residence permit no. 121
Quand a eu lieu la Seconde Guerre mondiale ?
When did the Second World War take place?
Answer. From 1939 to 1945.
The war begins on 1 September 1939 when Germany invades Poland. It ends in 1945, on 8 May in Europe and on 2 September in Asia.
« Dates clés Date de la Seconde Guerre mondiale : 1939-1945 Création de l’ONU : 1945 »
“Key dates. Second World War, 1939 to 1945. Creation of the UN, 1945.”
Residence permit no. 127
Depuis quelle année l'école publique est-elle gratuite ?
Since what year has public school been free?
Answer. Since 1881.
The Jules Ferry law of 1881 makes public school free. In 1882, another law makes it secular and compulsory.
« Elle généralise l’ école publique gratuite en 1881 et l’ école laïque et obligatoire en 1882, grâce aux lois de Jules Ferry. »
“It generalizes free public school in 1881 and secular, compulsory school in 1882, through the laws of Jules Ferry.”
Residence permit no. 130
Qui a fondé la Ve République ?
Who founded the Fifth Republic?
Answer. Charles de Gaulle, in 1958.
In 1958, General de Gaulle returns to power and proposes a new Constitution. The French adopt it by referendum in September 1958.
« Charles de Gaulle , chef du Gouvernement provisoire après la Libération, revient au pouvoir. Il propose une nouvelle Constitution, adoptée par référendum en septembre 1958. »
“Charles de Gaulle, head of the provisional government after the Liberation, returns to power. He proposes a new Constitution, adopted by referendum in September 1958.”
Resident card no. 131
En quelle année Napoléon Ier est-il devenu empereur ?
In what year did Napoleon I become emperor?
Answer. In 1804.
Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed emperor on 18 May 1804 and crowned on 2 December 1804. This marks the start of the First Empire.
« Le 1er Empire correspond à la période où Napoléon 1er est au pouvoir. Il commence le 18 mai 1804 , date à laquelle Napoléon est nommé empereur. »
“The First Empire corresponds to the period when Napoleon I is in power. It begins on 18 May 1804, the date on which Napoleon is named emperor.”
Resident card no. 133
De quand date l'appel à la résistance du général de Gaulle ?
When did General de Gaulle's call to resist date from?
Answer. 18 June 1940.
From London, General de Gaulle calls on the French, by radio, to continue the fight against Germany. This is known as the appeal of 18 June.
« Depuis Londres, le général Charles de Gaulle lance son célèbre appel du 18 juin 1940 à la radio . »
“From London, General Charles de Gaulle makes his famous appeal of 18 June 1940 on the radio.”
Resident card no. 145
En quelle année a commencé la Première Guerre mondiale ?
In what year did the First World War begin?
Answer. In 1914.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, on 28 June 1914, triggers the war. It is declared in August 1914.
« Le 28 juin 1914 , l’assassinat à Sarajevo de l’archiduc François-Ferdinand , héritier de l’empire d’Autriche-Hongrie, déclenche le début du conflit. »
“On 28 June 1914, the assassination in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, triggers the start of the conflict.”
Naturalisation no. 148
Depuis quand l'esclavage a-t-il été aboli en France ?
Since when has slavery been abolished in France?
Answer. Since 1848.
Slavery is abolished for the first time in 1794, then restored by Napoleon in 1802. It is permanently abolished in 1848.
« L’esclavage est aboli une première fois en 1794, puis est rétabli par Napoléon en 1802. La traite des noirs est abolie en 1815, puis l’esclavage est définitivement aboli en 1848. »
“Slavery is abolished for the first time in 1794, then is restored by Napoleon in 1802. The slave trade is abolished in 1815, then slavery is permanently abolished in 1848.”
Naturalisation no. 168
À quelle occasion a été construite la Tour Eiffel ?
For what occasion was the Eiffel Tower built?
Answer. For the 1889 World's Fair.
Engineer Gustave Eiffel builds the tower in two years for this fair, which also celebrates the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
« La Tour Eiffel se trouve à Paris. Elle est construite en 2 ans par l’ingénieur Gustave Eiffel pour l’Exposition universelle de 1889 qui fêtait les 100 ans de la Révolution française. »
“The Eiffel Tower is located in Paris. It was built in 2 years by engineer Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World's Fair, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.”
Residence permit no. 123
En quelle année a été créée la Communauté Économique Européenne (CEE) ?
In what year was the European Economic Community (EEC) created?
Answer. In 1957, with the Treaty of Rome.
Six countries, including France, create the EEC in 1957 to form a common market. It becomes the European Union in 1992.
« en 1957, ils fondent la Communauté Économique Européenne (CEE) avec le traité de Rome, pour former un marché commun ; »
“in 1957, they found the European Economic Community (EEC) with the Treaty of Rome, to form a common market.”
Resident card no. 156
Quelle est la population approximative de la France en 2025 ?
What is the approximate population of France in 2025?
Answer. About 68 million people (68.6 million as of 1 January 2025).
France has 68.6 million people, of whom 66.4 million are in hexagonal France and 2.3 million in the overseas departments.
« 68,6 millions d’habitants vivent en France (au 1er janvier 2025) : 66,4 millions en France hexagonale ; 2,3 millions dans les DROM (départements et régions d’outre-mer). »
“68.6 million people live in France (as of 1 January 2025). 66.4 million in hexagonal France. 2.3 million in the DROM (overseas departments and regions).”
Residence permit no. 141
Combien y a-t-il de régions en France métropolitaine ?
How many regions does metropolitan France have?
Answer. 13 regions.
France has 18 regions, 13 in mainland France and 5 overseas.
« Nombre de régions : 18 (13 en métropole et 5 en outre-mer). »
“Number of regions, 18 (13 in mainland France and 5 overseas).”
All 521 official questions, in French and English
12.90 EUR, EPUB and PDF to print
The three ministry lists, residence permit, resident card and naturalisation, every question answered with its official proof in both languages. Forty scenario questions with answers, the kind the ministry never publishes. And the places where the official sheets themselves get it wrong.
Free mock exam, 40 questions in 45 minutes, in French like the real one
Questions from the official lists of the French Ministry of the Interior, quotations from the civic training sheets, the Constitution and the 1789 Declaration, Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0. This is not a government site. The official sheets are free, in French, on formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr.
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