You didn’t reach 32/40. It’s frustrating, but it’s not the end of the world. Thousands of candidates fail the French civic exam on their first attempt — and the good news is that the retake process is straightforward. Here’s everything you need to know to bounce back.
- No waiting period — you can retake immediately
- Unlimited attempts — there’s no cap on retakes
- Fee per attempt — approximately 69 euros each time
- Failure not recorded — the prefecture only sees your success
- Only cheating results in a 2-year ban
What Happens Immediately After You Fail
When you complete the exam and don’t reach the 80% threshold (32/40), here’s what happens:
- You receive a notification that you did not pass — typically available on your candidate portal within 12-48 hours
- No detailed breakdown — you won’t see which specific questions you got wrong. You’ll only know your total score
- Your failed result is NOT communicated to the prefecture — only successful attestations are issued. The prefecture has no way of knowing you failed
- You can register for a new attempt immediately — no cooling-off period required
The Real Cost of Failing
While there’s no administrative penalty for failing, there is a financial one:
| Attempts | Total cost | Time lost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (pass) | ~69 euros | 0 extra weeks |
| 2 (fail + pass) | ~138 euros | 1-3 extra weeks |
| 3 (2 fails + pass) | ~207 euros | 2-6 extra weeks |
Beyond the money, each failed attempt delays your immigration application. If your prefecture appointment is approaching, a failed exam can mean rescheduling — potentially adding months to your process.
Why Did You Fail? The 5 Most Common Reasons
1. Time management
45 minutes for 40 questions. Many candidates spend too long on difficult questions early on, then rush through the last 10-15 questions. Solution: move quickly, flag uncertain ones, and return if time permits.
2. The 12 scenario questions
The 28 knowledge questions come from a published bank — you can study them in advance. But the 12 scenario-based questions are unpublished and test your ability to apply French values to real situations. If you focused only on memorisation, these will catch you off guard.
3. Vocabulary confusion
French administrative language is precise. Confusing peut (can/may) with doit (must), or toujours (always) with parfois (sometimes) can flip the meaning of a question entirely.
4. Underestimating the exam
Many candidates assume it’s easy because the concepts seem straightforward. The difficulty isn’t the content — it’s reading 40 questions in administrative French under time pressure, especially if French isn’t your first language.
5. Wrong exam version preparation
The CSP (A2), CR (B1), and Naturalisation (B2) versions draw from different question banks. Make sure you’re studying the right set of questions for your version.
How to Prepare Better for Your Retake
Step 1: Identify your weak areas
Even without a detailed score breakdown, think about what tripped you up: Was it vocabulary? Specific themes? Time management? The scenarios?
Step 2: Focus on what matters
For the knowledge questions: drill the published question bank until you can answer them automatically, without mentally translating. For the scenarios: understand the patterns — discrimination, laicite, civic duties — and always ask « What would the Republic’s answer be? »
Step 3: Take 3+ full mock exams
Before registering for your retake, score 35+ consistently on full 40-question, 45-minute simulations. If you’re hovering around 30-32, you’re not ready yet.
Step 4: Use multilingual resources
If your French isn’t strong, don’t force yourself to study in French only. Understand the concepts in English first, then practice answering in French. This two-step approach is faster and more effective.
Frequently Asked Questions About Retaking
Immediately. There is no mandatory waiting period. However, you need to register for a new session and wait for an available date at your chosen centre.
No. Only your successful attestation is issued and visible. Failed attempts are not communicated to immigration authorities.
Not necessarily. Questions are randomly selected from the published bank (plus 12 new scenarios). You may get some overlap, but expect different questions.
Yes, if your situation has changed (e.g., you now need the naturalisation version instead of CSP). Register for the correct version for your new attempt.
Related Guides
- French Civic Exam 2026: Complete Guide
- How to Pass the Civic Exam as an English Speaker
- Exam Vocabulary FR-EN
- Guide en francais : que faire en cas d’echec
Official sources: service-public.fr | formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr | Register for the exam
Last updated: September 2026