French civic exam score: 32/40 to pass and what if you fail

You need at least 32 correct answers out of 40 to pass the French civic exam (examen civique). That is a pass mark of 80%.

The format in brief:

40 multiple-choice questions, all in French;
28 knowledge questions and 12 scenario questions (mises en situation);
4 options per question, exactly one correct answer;
45 minutes maximum, on a computer or tablet.

Here is how the scoring works in detail, how the questions are split across the official themes, and, if you fall short, exactly what to do next.

How the scoring works

A correct answer is worth 1 point.
A wrong answer is worth 0 points.
A blank answer is also worth 0 points.

There is no negative marking. A wrong guess never costs more than an empty box, so the strategy writes itself: answer every single question. A blank is a guaranteed lost point, while a guess keeps at least a one-in-four chance of scoring.

When you are unsure:

Eliminate the options that are clearly wrong.
Pick the most likely remaining answer and move on.

The breakdown by theme

The composition of the exam is set by the arrêté of 10 October 2025:

Theme	Questions per exam
Principles and values of the Republic	11
Rights and duties	11
History, geography and culture	8
Institutional and political system	6
Living in French society	4

Principles and values plus rights and duties account for 22 of the 40 questions: more than half the exam. Master those two themes and you are already close to the 32 mark. For the full syllabus theme by theme, with revision advice for each, see our guide on what to revise.

Good to know: the official lists of knowledge questions are public, and their size depends on your procedure (CSP vs CR vs naturalisation comparison). The 12 scenario questions are not published, so you cannot memorise them: they test whether you understand the values and rules, not whether you learned answers by heart.

Managing your 45 minutes

With 45 minutes for 40 questions, you have just over a minute per question. That is enough if you keep a steady pace:

Knowledge questions are quick: if you know the answer, select it and move on.
Scenario questions take longer to read: they describe a real-life situation before asking the question. Save some time for them.
Never get stuck: pick the most likely answer and keep going. With no negative marking, you have nothing to lose.

If you fail

A fail is never final:

You can register again at any time and retake the exam as many times as necessary.
Once you reach 32, your attestation of success is valid forever: it never expires.
If a residence permit or naturalisation application is in progress, check the exact requirements with your préfecture or your operator.

To turn the next attempt into a pass, change your approach:

Identify your weak themes. Think back over the exam: which topics made you hesitate most?
Revise those themes first, with the matching parts of the livret du citoyen and practice by theme, starting with the two big blocks of 11 questions.
Train in real conditions: 40 questions, 45 minutes, no pauses, with a full mock exam.
Register again only when your scores are comfortably above 32, not scraping past it.

Are you ready?

Do not aim for 32 in training: aim higher. On exam day, stress, tiredness or a few unexpected questions can cost you points.

The reliable benchmark: scoring 35 out of 40 or more, consistently, on full timed mock exams. Consistently means across several mocks in a row, not one lucky run. With that safety margin, even an average day keeps you above the pass mark.

Frequently asked questions

Do wrong answers lose you points?

No. A wrong answer scores 0, exactly like a blank. There is no negative marking, so always answer every question, even when you are guessing.

How many times can you retake the civic exam?

As many times as necessary, with no limit, and you can register again at any time. Once you pass, the attestation of success never expires.