How many mistakes can you make?
The code exam has 40 questions. To pass you need at least 35 correct answers — so you can get 5 questions wrong at most. On the 6th mistake, you fail. The result is binary — pass or fail — and you receive your score out of 40, usually by email within a day of the test.
What counts as a mistake?
Each question has one or several correct answers. It only counts as right if you tick every correct box and no wrong one: an incomplete answer or one extra box counts as a full mistake. There are no half-points. So read every question to the end — the traps often hinge on a single word (“you must”, “you may”, a distance, a priority).
What happens if you fail?
Failing is not final. You can retake the exam: just book a new slot, with each attempt costing €30. There is no cap on the number of code attempts. Analyse the themes where you lost points and rework them before re-registering. Check the current rules and fees on securite-routiere.gouv.fr.
How do you give yourself the best chance?
The 35-out-of-40 threshold can be prepared for: practise timed mock exams under the same conditions as the real day (40 questions, limited time per question). Spot your weak themes from your statistics and focus on them rather than reviewing everything. When you regularly clear 37 out of 40 in mocks, you’re ready.
In short: 40 questions, 5 mistakes allowed, 35 correct answers to pass. Every question is all-or-nothing, so read them in full — and practise under exam conditions until you clear 35 with ease.