Culture training and test is also planned

The CIR programme is evolving so that the training provided also includes culture and history elements as part of the ‘civic’ training sessions from July, 2025.

The 2024 immigration law includes a requirement for CIR signatories to pass a test in this, but which they will be able to retake as many times as they wish. This test is the responsibility of the Interior Ministry, not Ofii, and will also be paid for.

The 2024 immigration law also requires a pass in one of these cultural/civic knowledge tests for a first multi-year card or a first example of one of the resident’s cards, from January 1, 2026.

The material covered will include French values (gender equality, freedom of speech…), rights and responsibilities, history, geography, culture, institutions and politics.

It is likely to be similar to that laid out in the booklet, Le Livret du Citoyen, which nationality applicants are invited to read before their obligatory prefecture interview, which includes some questions on this material.

It remains unclear exactly where and how people will be required to sit the tests, however they will be multiple choice and an 80% pass will be required.

The exemptions from the civic/culture test are the same as for the language tests. Over 65s are exempt.

Finding out more about the new tests 

American resident in France Peyman Pejman, who is self-taught in French, also gave The Connexion his tips after he experienced taking the Delf exam at several levels. A few years ago Mr Pejman passed A2 (to obtain a 10-year card) with an overall grade of more than 80%; then he did the same at B1 when applying for citizenship. He then focused on improving his French skills before attempting B2.

The real surprise came in the writing test.

“In the B1 exam, my grade for production d’écrit was 23/25. Imagine my surprise when the grade plummeted to 5/25 in B2! Still, I was pleased that I had passed the B2 as a whole.

“I asked for a meeting, making it clear that I was not contesting the examiner’s judgement, I just wanted to learn what I had done wrong so I could improve when time comes for C1. The examiners told me that in B1, it is acceptable to write the way you think or speak, as long as the grammar, vocabulary, and syntax are correct. In B2, however, examiners judge a text based on how a French person would write it. In other words, you must be thinking like a French person who learned writing like a French person.

What might be asked in culture tests?

Typical questions in the tests might include:

• What year did the French Revolution start?

• Who was Molière?

• Which king had Versailles built?

• Name some of the symbols of the French Republic.

• One of the Republic’s key values is laïcité – what does it refer to?

• Give some examples of liberté (part of the French motto).

• What are the two chambers of the French parliament called?

• How many years is the president elected for?

• What are the three main local government levels?

• Which are the major fleuves (rivers) and the highest mountain?