Examen civique (civic exam) — carte de résident (resident card)
Since 1 January 2026, the examen civique has been required for a first carte de résident. A notch above the CSP on the language side.
- 40
- questions
- 45 min
- max time
- 32/40
- to pass
Language level: B1
Try 5 real-format questions
Que représente Marianne ?
Who has to take the exam?
This concerns you if you are applying for a carte de résident for the first time (first issuance). Renewal, on the other hand, does not require the exam.
The required level of French
For the carte de résident, the required level is B1. Our explanations come in level B1.
Good to know. Under article R.413-12-1 of the CESEDA, passing the examen civique with the « carte de résident » mention also satisfies the condition for the carte de séjour pluriannuelle. So the CR attestation (certificate of success) is valid for the CSP — but the reverse is not true.
Ready to practise for Carte de résident?
Start for free — the demo is already set to your permit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the exam format?
40 QCM (multiple-choice) questions: 28 knowledge questions and 12 mises en situation (situational questions). 45 minutes maximum, pass mark of 32 correct answers out of 40 (80%).
What level of French do you need?
For the carte de résident, the required level is B1. Our explanations come in level B1.
Are the questions secret?
No. The knowledge questions are public and free on the ministry's website. We reproduce them with the source, and we add our answers, explanations and verified mises en situation.