Real-life scenarios in the French civic exam: examples and method
Updated on October 7, 2026 · 6 min read
Of the 40 questions in the civic exam, 12 are real-life scenarios (“mises en situation”): an everyday situation, and you must choose the behaviour that complies with French law and the values of the Republic. Unlike the 28 knowledge questions, they are not published. Yet they make up 30% of the exam, and the pass mark allows only 8 mistakes.
What a scenario question looks like
The question describes a concrete situation (at work, at school, in the family, with the administration) and offers several reactions. Only one respects the law. They mainly cover the principles and values of the Republic and rights and duties: equality, secularism, freedom, rejection of discrimination, respect for institutions.
The examples below are written by Civinora for practice. They are not official questions: the real scenarios are not published.
6 typical examples, with answers
| Situation | Right reaction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You work at the town hall reception desk. Can you wear a visible religious symbol while on duty? | No. | Public servants must remain neutral when performing their duties (secularism). Members of the public remain free. |
| Your employer offers a female colleague a lower salary than yours for the same job, because she is a woman. | This is illegal: she can challenge it. | Equal pay for women and men is a legal obligation. |
| A family wants to marry their 17-year-old daughter without her consent. | This is illegal. | Marriage requires the free consent of both spouses and a minimum age of 18. Forced marriage is punished by law. |
| Your child is 8. Can you decide that they will not go to school or receive any education? | No. | Education is compulsory from 3 to 16 for all children, girls and boys. |
| A landlord refuses to rent you a flat because of your origin. | This is discrimination punished by law: you can contact the Défenseur des droits. | Rejecting discrimination is a fundamental right. |
| On election day, your spouse wants to vote in your place without a proxy. | This is illegal. | Voting is personal and secret. Only an official proxy allows someone to vote for you. |
The method: 4 reflexes that almost always work
- The law comes before tradition, religion or family pressure: the right answer is the one that respects the law;
- equality first, especially between women and men, and between people whatever their origin;
- public services are neutral and open to all: the official is neutral, the user is free;
- if there is a problem, you turn to the institutions (town hall, police, courts, Défenseur des droits): you never take justice into your own hands.
Read the whole situation and every answer before choosing: wrong answers often look “reasonable” at first sight. And since scenarios apply the ideas behind the knowledge questions, mastering the official question bank remains the best preparation.
Start with the knowledge questions
They are 28 of the 40 questions and give you the ideas behind the scenarios. Test yourself on 15 official questions, free and without signing up.
Take the free testFrequently asked questions
How many scenario questions are there in the civic exam?
12 out of 40. The other 28 are knowledge questions drawn from the published official bank.
Are the scenario questions published?
No. Only the knowledge questions are public. Examples found online, including on Civinora, are practice exercises, not official questions.
How should I revise the scenario questions?
By mastering the principles they apply (equality, secularism, rights and duties) and practising on typical situations. The golden rule: choose the reaction that complies with the law.