Civic exam simulations
Prepare for the 2026 civic exam — with company.
The exam is a real requirement, but it isn't something to dread — and for most members it becomes the reason they finally start speaking French out loud. Sessions are full of people mangling the same sentences, correcting each other kindly, and finding that a language you practise with friends stops being frightening.
Why 2026 matters
A new requirement for every long-term resident.
From 2026, passing the civic exam is part of the path to long-term French residency. It's less a test of trivia than an invitation to understand the country you're making your home. The volume of material can feel like a lot at first — that's normal, and everyone here felt it too. The Friendship House has spent months turning the official requirements into something you can work through calmly, in small pieces, without wondering whether you're studying the right things.
How it feels to study here
Learning that sticks, in good company.
No dense textbooks and no lectures. You move through short modules on French history, culture, and civic life, with friendly feedback and small wins along the way. Many members do this together — in the house on a Saturday morning, or online in the evening — swapping memory tricks and laughing at the questions that trip everyone up. You come out ready for exam day, and rather more at home in the country you're living in.
Step-by-step prep
Your path to exam day.
Step 1
Start wherever you are
A short, private warm-up shows you what you already know. Nobody sees your score, and there's no such thing as starting too late.
Step 2
Learn at your own pace
Work through short interactive lessons whenever you have twenty minutes, and skip what you've already got.
Step 3
Practise the real thing
When you're ready, take a full timed simulation — alone at home, or in a group session where you say the answers aloud in French to people who won't wince.
Step 4
See how far you've come
You'll get a friendly breakdown of your results and a Friendship House certificate of readiness worth being proud of.
Success metrics
How our first cohort got on.
Every member of our pilot cohort passed their official mock exam on the first attempt.
Members spend around 40% less time studying — largely by sharing notes with each other.
95% said they felt "highly confident" by the end of the simulation series.