French Civic Exam 2026: 20 Example Questions
Practice questions with answers for English speakers
Theme 1: Principles and Values of the Republic (4 questions)
Q1. What is the national motto of France?
✅ Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity)
This motto has been the official motto of France since the French Revolution and is inscribed on all public buildings.
Q2. What does « laïcité » (secularism) mean in France?
✅ The separation of religion and the State
Laïcité guarantees freedom of belief while ensuring the State remains neutral on religious matters. It is enshrined in the 1905 law.
Q3. What are the three colors of the French flag?
✅ Blue, White, and Red
The tricolor flag has been the national emblem since the Revolution, combining the colors of Paris (blue and red) with the royal white.
Q4. What is the national anthem of France?
✅ La Marseillaise
Written by Rouget de Lisle in 1792, it became the national anthem in 1795.
Theme 2: Institutional and Political System (4 questions)
Q5. Who is the head of state in France?
✅ The President of the Republic (Le Président de la République)
The President is elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term.
Q6. What are the two chambers of the French Parliament?
✅ The National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) and the Senate (Sénat)
Together, they form the Parliament, which votes on laws and controls government action.
Q7. Who appoints the Prime Minister?
✅ The President of the Republic
The President appoints the Prime Minister, who then leads the Government and implements national policy.
Q8. At what age can you vote in France?
✅ 18 years old
All French citizens aged 18 and above can vote in elections.
Theme 3: Rights and Duties (4 questions)
Q9. Is voting mandatory in France?
✅ No, voting is a right but not an obligation
While strongly encouraged, voting is not legally mandatory in France (unlike Belgium or Australia).
Q10. What is a fundamental duty of every person living in France?
✅ To respect French laws
Everyone in France, regardless of nationality, must comply with French legislation.
Q11. Is education compulsory in France?
✅ Yes, from age 3 to age 16
School attendance is mandatory. It is free in public schools.
Q12. What is « l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes »?
✅ Gender equality — a fundamental principle in France
Women and men have equal rights in all areas: work, family, political life. This is guaranteed by law.
Theme 4: History, Geography, and Culture (4 questions)
Q13. When was the French Revolution?
✅ 1789
The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 is the symbolic starting point. July 14 is now France’s national holiday.
Q14. What is the Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen?
✅ The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789)
A foundational document of the Republic, it established fundamental rights and freedoms still upheld today.
Q15. What is the capital of France?
✅ Paris
Paris is the political, economic, and cultural capital of France.
Q16. What happened on May 8, 1945?
✅ The end of World War II in Europe
May 8 commemorates the Allied victory over Nazi Germany and is a national holiday.
Theme 5: Living in French Society (4 questions)
Q17. What number should you call in case of a medical emergency in France?
✅ 15 (SAMU) or 112 (European emergency number)
15 connects to the medical emergency service (SAMU). 112 works across all EU countries.
Q18. What is the « carte vitale »?
✅ The French health insurance card
It provides access to the French healthcare reimbursement system (Sécurité sociale).
Q19. Is it allowed to wear visible religious symbols in French public schools?
✅ No, conspicuous religious symbols are prohibited in public schools
The 2004 law prohibits wearing conspicuous religious signs in public primary and secondary schools, in application of laïcité.
Q20. What does « Journée de Défense et Citoyenneté » (JDC) mean?
✅ A mandatory civic day for all young people in France
All young French nationals must attend this one-day civic education session around age 16.
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Sources
Legifrance.gouv.fr — French immigration law
Service-public.fr — Official administrative procedures
Parcours Civique — Civic exam preparation platform