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Free citizenship civics test: start with your weak themes

A useful free test gives more than a score. It shows weak themes, explains mistakes and helps you move towards a mock exam and the official 2026 citizenship civics format.

Take the free assessmentFind what I need to reviewSources and limits

Last updated: 3 August 2026

12 questions A free assessment to start without an account.
40 questions The official format to aim for in a full exam.
32 / 40 The minimum score for the citizenship civics exam.
5 themes Values, institutions, rights, history-culture and life in society.

What the free test checks

Cap Nationalité's free test starts with 12 questions. It quickly shows whether your mistakes concern institutions, secularism, rights and duties, history or life in French society.

It is not the official exam. It is a useful starting point before a longer mock exam, so you can study the right topics.

Free practice test and official civics exam: the difference

Approved centres organise the official civics exam. Cap Nationalité does not take bookings, set the fee or issue official certificates.

The free test helps you study the required themes and understand mistakes before booking or retaking the exam. It does not replace the exam centre.

Remember the 2026 format

  • The official exam has 40 questions in French.
  • There are 28 knowledge questions and 12 scenarios.
  • You have up to 45 minutes.
  • You need at least 32 correct answers out of 40.
  • One of four answer choices is correct.
  • The questions cover five main civic training themes.

How to use a free test with corrections

  • Answer first without searching online.
  • Check the theme of each mistake, not just the right answer.
  • Read the related official point in the Citizen's Handbook or civic training notes.
  • Practise more questions on that theme before taking the full test.
  • When your score becomes steady, take a 40-question mock exam.

What score should I aim for on the free test?

Do not treat a 12-question assessment as an exact equivalent of the official 32/40 mark. It uses fewer questions. An average score may simply reveal one weak theme.

The main goal is to know what to study first. If most mistakes concern institutions, review Parliament, Government and local authorities rather than just the Republic's symbols.

When should I take a civics mock exam?

The free assessment helps you start quickly. Take a mock exam after reviewing corrections, when you want to check your level in a format closer to the real test.

Follow these steps: short assessment, focused study, corrected questions, then a full 40-question mock exam.

What the free test does not promise

  • It does not give your exact exam-day questions.
  • It does not replace the official published knowledge questions.
  • It does not publish official scenarios that are not public.
  • It is not a pass certificate.
  • It does not replace checking your application route on Service-Public.

Practice examples

Practice example — not a published official question

Institutions

Who passes laws in France?

  1. Parliament
  2. The prefect
  3. Only the town hall
  4. The court

Correct answer: A.

Parliament passes laws and consists of the National Assembly and Senate. This checks a basic point of French institutions.

Practice example — not a published official question

Republican values

Secularism mainly means that:

  1. The State chooses an official religion
  2. The State is neutral and protects freedom of conscience
  3. Religions are banned
  4. The law changes according to beliefs

Correct answer: B.

Secularism protects belief and non-belief and requires State neutrality. It does not allow anyone to reject common law.

Practice example — not a published official question

Rights and duties

Why are taxes important?

  1. They fund public services
  2. They replace elections
  3. They remove social rights
  4. They are optional for citizens

Correct answer: A.

Taxes fund public services and national solidarity, among other things. This is a duty linked to life in society.

What to remember

  • The free test finds weak themes before you move to the full format.
  • The official exam has 40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes. You need at least 32 correct answers.
  • A short-test score is useful when it leads to focused study.
  • Cap Nationalité helps you practise. It does not replace an approved exam centre.

Official sources and limits

This page summarises the public exam format and explains how to use a free test for preparation. Cap Nationalité is independent. It does not promise guaranteed success or exact exam questions. How Cap Nationalité works

Service-Public: taking the civics examService-Public: 2026 civics exam updateService-Public: French citizenship by decreeFrance Éducation International: candidate information
How to prepareOrganise assessment, multiple-choice study and interview practice.2026 civics examFormat, score, official themes and how to prepare.Citizenship mock examUnderstand the 40-question mock exam before you start.Practical situationsLearn to reason without confusing practice examples with published questions.Principles and valuesReview the motto, secularism and republican principles.Political institutionsUnderstand French institutions and democracy.Rights and dutiesReview freedoms, duties and civic responsibilities.History, geography and cultureOrganise historical, geographical and cultural knowledge.Living in French societyReview daily life, work and school.French level in 2026Understand B1, B2, proof of level and the civics exam.Free French level testCheck your French around A2, B1 or B2 without official certification.Citizenship interviewCommon questions, personal answers and mistakes to avoid.Practice multiple-choice questions with correctionsMultiple-choice examples with answers and corrections.Register for the civics examApproved centres, official registration and an exam checklist.Civics exam feesUnderstand fees, extra costs and what to check before booking.Civics exam PDFsFind useful official documents and use them correctly.Civics exam and marriageCheck whether the civics exam applies to your citizenship route.Citizen's handbookUse the handbook to study without memorising every page.

Take the free assessment

Start with the assessment without an account. Find weak themes before taking a full mock exam.

Take the free assessmentFind what I need to review

Common questions

Is the free civics test official?

No. It is independent private practice. Take the official exam at an approved centre. You receive a pass certificate if you reach the required score.

Do I need an account to start?

No. The free assessment starts without an account. An account can help you save more detailed progress later.

Is the free test enough before the exam?

No. It finds weak themes. Before the exam, also study official sources and practise a full 40-question test.

Does the free test give corrections?

Yes. Use it to find themes to review and understand mistakes, rather than just getting a quick score.

Are the questions the same as on exam day?

No. Cap Nationalité questions are practice. The ministry's published knowledge questions are a reference, but official scenarios are not public.

What score should I aim for?

You need 32 out of 40 in the official exam. On the free 12-question assessment, use the result mainly to find themes to review.

Cap Nationalité is an independent private service. It is not a French government site and does not guarantee success or the exact exam-day questions.

The Cap Nationalité team maintains this guide using checked official sources. We review content when rules or cited sources change. To report a correction, use the contact page .