Civic exam: an effective 30-day revision plan

The goal: exceed 32/40 with a safety margin

The civic exam lasts 45 minutes and requires 32 correct answers out of 40. Aiming for exactly 32 is risky: during practice, try instead to stabilise your score at 35 or 36. This gives you room for a difficult question or an avoidable error on the day.

This programme requires about 30 to 45 minutes each day. Before beginning, download the official list for your category: multi-year residence card, resident card or naturalisation.

Days 1 to 5: understand the format and values

On the first day, take a diagnostic multiple-choice test without revising. Classify each mistake under one of the five topics. On the following days, study the principles of the Republic: liberty, equality, fraternity, secularism, equality between women and men, and the rejection of discrimination.

By the end of day five, you should be able to explain each principle with a practical example. A memorised definition without understanding provides little help with scenarios.

Days 6 to 10: institutions and democratic life

Draw a simple diagram: President, Government, Parliament, courts, municipality, département and region. For each, write down its role and how it is appointed or elected. Add elections and the main political rights.

Do not overload your notes with detail. The goal is to distinguish powers: who passes legislation, who implements it, who reviews its application and who decides a dispute.

Days 11 to 15: rights and duties

Revise fundamental freedoms, compliance with the law, taxes, schooling, employment, parental authority and access to public services. Turn each rule into a scenario: “what should you do if...?”

At the halfway point, take a 40-question test in 45 minutes. Your intermediate target is 30/40. If one topic accounts for more than half of your mistakes, add two short sessions on it during the following week.

Days 16 to 20: history, geography and culture

Create a timeline limited to the major landmarks. Associate each date with its significance, not merely a number. For geography, locate metropolitan France, the overseas territories, the main geographical features and European neighbours. For culture, revise the symbols and major figures in the official syllabus.

Use spaced repetition: review a revision card the following day, three days later and then a week later. This method is more effective than one long session.

Days 21 to 24: living in France

Study everyday situations: doctor, school, employment, housing, banking, social security and emergencies. Ask yourself which service to contact, which rights to protect and which duties to observe.

Continue with five invented scenarios each day. Justify every answer in one sentence: “I choose this option because...”.

Days 25 to 27: mock exams

Take one complete exam each day under real conditions: 40 questions, 45 minutes, phone put away and no research. Then analyse the mistakes, as well as correct answers that were guesses.

Keep an error log with three columns: question, correct rule, reason for the mistake. Review only this log before the next test.

Days 28 to 30: consolidate, do not cram

Three days before the exam, return to your two weakest topics. Two days before it, take one final mock exam. The day before, review your revision cards for 20 minutes, then prepare your notice and identity document. A proper night’s sleep is better than a night of memorisation.

Progress table

| Stage | Target score | Action if the score is lower | | ------ | -----------: | ----------------------------------- | | Day 1 | Diagnostic | Classify mistakes by topic | | Day 15 | 30/40 | Add two targeted sessions | | Day 25 | 33/40 | Return to the error log | | Day 29 | 35/40 | Consolidate without changing method |

See also the five official topics and the most common mistakes.

Official source

• Civic training and exam portal

Article updated on 16 September 2026. Always use the syllabus corresponding to your exam category.