Civic exam: multi-year permit mention or resident card mention?
When you register for the civic exam, you choose a mention: multi-year residence permit (CSP), resident card (CR) or naturalisation. Choosing well saves you from taking the exam twice.
What is the same for every mention
- 40 multiple-choice questions: 28 knowledge questions and 12 situational questions;
- 45 minutes maximum;
- 32 correct answers out of 40 to pass;
- a pass certificate that never expires.
What changes: the knowledge questions
The Ministry of the Interior publishes an official list of knowledge questions for each mention. The lists partly overlap but are not identical, so revise the list for your mention.
Which mention to choose?
- You apply for a first multi-year permit: CSP mention.
- You apply for a first resident card: CR mention.
- You apply for naturalisation: naturalisation mention.
A smart move: aim for the resident card?
According to the Ministry of the Interior, a resident card pass counts as a multi-year permit pass. The reverse is not provided for. If you plan to apply for a resident card later, passing the CR mention directly can save you a second exam.
Practise on the right mention
On LeCivique, you choose your mention before each mock exam: the knowledge questions come from that mention's list, with 12 situational questions, just like on exam day.
Read next
Practise the questions by theme
Related articles
Revise for the civic exam in 4 weeks: a week-by-week plan
A simple 4-week plan to reach 32/40 on the French civic exam: themes to revise, pace, mock exams and mistakes to avoid.
CIR, civic training and civic exam: what is the difference?
The republican integration contract, its 24 hours of civic training and the 40-question civic exam: how they connect and how they differ.
Renewing a residence permit: do you need the civic exam?
The civic exam is required for a first multi-year permit or resident card, not for a renewal. The cases explained simply.
