Free Guide To The Official Norwegian Tests

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Free Guide To The Official Norwegian Tests[UPDATE]: Since 2014, the Norsk Prøve 2 and Norsk Prøve 3 tests have been replaced with a newer online Norsk Prøve (A1-A2, B1-B2) test.

To read more about these tests, head over to:

https://norwegianmentor.com/updated-information-to-the-official-norwegian-tests/.

 

The purpose of this post is to help you understand about the official tests available for the Norwegian language. Even if you live in Norway you could struggle getting information about how to prepare and apply for these tests. It’s the goal of this post to provide you the reader with enough information so that it helps you when you are ready to get certified for your knowledge of the Norwegian language.

If you find this information too long to read, you can also download the free ebook with all this information by clicking on the link below.

Download the free Guide To The Official Norwegian Tests

 

Why You Should Take The Tests?

There are some benefits if you take the Norwegian tests.

  1. You get certified as someone who understands Norwegian.
  2. The lessons will help you with reading/writing Norwegian.
  3. The certificate helps you when applying for jobs in Norway.
  4. The certificate helps you when applying for Norwegian citizenship.

 

The Norwegian Course

The best way to learn Norwegian is to attend a Norwegian course. Some of the courses are private while some of them are provided by the community (in Norway).

The community courses are for immigrants and you need to check with your kommune where you can attend these courses. If you qualify for these courses, then you can attend the classes for free. You also get the training materials for free. You also get a free attempt to the Norwegian tests.

So if this is possible, you should definitely register for such courses in your municipality. (Click here for some more information. You can also check the website for the Oslo kommune.)

You can find some private courses online and offline. You can also find some private teachers who teach Norwegian. However these can be quite expensive and you should be willing to pay some money for the tutions as well as for the Norwegian tests.

Whether you attend a community course or a private course, learning at a class is the best because you interact with other people who are learning Norwegian. Listening and speaking are one of the fastest ways to learn the Norwegian language.

 

The Norwegian Tests

There are basically three levels of the Norwegian tests.

  1. Norsk Prøve 1
  2. Norsk Prøve 2
  3. Norsk Prøve 3

You do not need to appear for all the tests in a sequence. So, for example, if you pass Norsk Prøve 3, you do not need to appear for the Norsk Prøve 2 test.

Note that these tests are held only in Norway. (Click here to find more information about the Norsk Prøve 2 and Norsk Prove 3 tests). You can appear for the tests either through a community course or privately.

If you appear through a community course the tests are free(for the first attempt). If you appear privately, the fee is 500 NOK per test. Note that the written and oral tests are separate which means 500 NOK for the written test and 500 NOK for the oral test.

The Norsk Prøve 2 and 3 exams take place three times a year. Tentatively at the end of January, May and October. Registration ends around 1 month prior to the exam dates. (Click here to get the latest dates for the tests).

 

Norsk Prøve 1

The Norsk Prøve 1 is the beginners level test. It is only available to students who are studying in a community course.

This is a test that is locally held in the class and on passing the test you get a local certificate.

Usually there is a written test and an oral test. You need to score around 65 percent in the written test and 90 percent in the oral test to pass.

The test is based on your understanding of basic Norwegian vocabulary and phrases.

 

Norsk Prøve 2

The Norsk Prøve 2 is the intermediate level test. It can be appeared through a community course or privately. This is a test that is nationally held and on passing the test you get a recognized certificate.

Norsk Prøve 2 will test your ability to use Norwegian on a basic level, i.e. that you can understand and use common words and expressions in familiar everyday situations. This means that you should be able to read short, simple texts and messages. You should also be able to talk about yourself and your family, your job, your education, your living situation and other familiar everyday topics using simple phrases and sentences.

You will get your admission letter a few weeks before the tests are held.

There is a written test and an oral test. Usually the written and oral tests are not held on the same day.

Written Test

The written test is divided into three parts: a comprehension test, a listening test and an essay test. The written test lasts for around 3 hours.

Comprehension Test

In the comprehension test, you are given a few paragraphs about advertisements, brochures, personal and public letters, brochures, announcements, menus, user manuals, announcements, newspaper articles, timetables or other simple written material.

You need to answer the questions after reading the paragraphs. The questions can be multiple choice or writing a few words.

Listening Test

In the listening test, you are given a sheet with the questions. Then an audio is played with some short sentences on topics such as personal relationships, work, shopping, transport, home, the immediate environment etc. You need to answer the questions after listening to the audio.

Note that you are given time to read through the questions before the test begins. You should use this to familiarise yourself with the questions. This makes it easier to find the answers in the audio. Note that the audio for each question is repeated just twice before moving on to the next question. The questions can be multiple choice or writing a few words.

Essay Test

In the essay test, there are two questions. One is to write a short summary (for example, an advertisement to sell your bicycle). The other is to write a larger essay or around 200 words (for example, how you celebrate Christmas).

Passing

You need to score at least 65 percent in each of the three parts of the written test. If you fail in any one of the parts (comprehension, listening, essay), then you fail the entire written test.

 

Oral Test

The oral test lasts for around 15 minutes. Usually it is held a day before (or after) the written tests.

In the oral test, you are paired with another student taking the test. There is a teacher who will ask the questions and an observer who will be assessing you.

There are three questions asked in the oral test.

  1. Tell something about yourself.
  2. The teacher gives a topic which the two students need to discuss (e.g. How do you stay in shape?).
  3. The teacher gives a topic which each student has to tell something about (e.g. What did you do in your vacation?) .

 

Norsk Prøve 3

The Norsk Prøve 3 is the advanced intermediate level test. It can be appeared through a community course or privately. This is a test that is nationally held and on passing the test you get a recognized certificate.

Norsk Prøve 3 will test your ability to use Norwegian independently, i.e. that you understand clear text and speech and are able to make yourself understood both when speaking and writing. This means that you must be able to understand the main points of a conversation in Norwegian. You should be able to deal with most everyday situations without any major problems and be able to understand the main points in radio and TV programs, for example the news. Additionally, you should be able to write a short, connected text on a topic of interest, or describing personal experiences and impressions.

You will get your admission letter a few weeks before the tests are held.

There is a written test and an oral test. Usually the written and oral tests are not held on the same day.

Written Test

The written test is divided into three parts: a comprehension test, a listening test and an essay test. The written test lasts for around 3 hours.

Comprehension Test

In the comprehension test, you are given a few paragraphs about advertisements, brochures, personal and public letters, brochures, announcements, menus, user manuals, announcements, newspaper articles, timetables or other simple written material.

You need to answer the questions after reading the paragraphs. The questions can be multiple choice or writing a few words.

Listening Test

In the listening test, you are given a sheet with the questions. Then an audio is played with some short sentences on topics such as personal relationships, work, shopping, transport, home, the immediate environment etc. You need to answer the questions after listening to the audio.

Note that you are given time to read through the questions before the test begins. You should use this to familiarise yourself with the questions. This makes it easier to find the answers in the audio. Note that the audio for each question is repeated just twice before moving on to the next question. The questions can be multiple choice or writing a few words.

Essay Test

In the essay test, there are two questions. One is to write a short summary (for example, an advertisement to sell your bicycle). The other is to write a larger essay or around 200 words (for example, how you celebrate Christmas).

Passing

You need to score at least 65 percent in each of the three parts of the written test. If you fail in any one of the parts (comprehension, listening, essay), then you fail the entire written test.

 

Oral Test

The oral test lasts for around 15 minutes. Usually it is held a day before (or after) the written tests.

In the oral test, you are paired with another student taking the test. There is a teacher who will ask the questions and an observer who will be assessing you.

There are three questions asked in the oral test.

  1. Tell something about yourself.
  2. The teacher gives a topic which the two students need to discuss (e.g. How do you stay in shape?).
  3. The teacher gives a topic which each student has to tell something about (e.g. What did you do in your vacation?) .

 

References

  1. Folkeuniversitetet Norwegian tests
  2. Folkeuniversitetet Test dates
  3. Information for immigrants
  4. Norwegian for Immigrants
  5. Oslo Kommune

To learn Norwegian fast from a Norwegian teacher, check out Norwegian Class 101.

You can get a Norwegian Beginner's Course for free at Mystery of Nils.

16 thoughts on “Free Guide To The Official Norwegian Tests”

  1. ty so much for this Kevin. been looking for a summary for several weeks now…and this is the best information i have ever found…

    Reply
  2. Clear and simpel! now I can say that I do have a good and basic information about the test i am going to take.
    Thank u so much

    Reply
  3. Hey kevin! Hmmm can I ask you something? Is there any requirements for a person to be able to take the exam for prøve 3? Like the person who’s going to take the exam should have been 500hrs in school? (Number of time in school requirement) And how many times does a person can try to take the exam for prøve 3. Because someone told me that there is only one chance to take the exam? Is it true? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Carla,

      As far as I know, if you are attending the free Norwegian classes provided by the kommune, then you need to attend a certain amount of classes as well as pass a pre-test to quality for a FREE attempt for the prøve 3 test. But if you are going to give the exam independently (by paying a certain fee) then I do not think there is any such restriction.

      Also if you are attending the free Norwegian classes by the kommune then your FIRST FREE attempt for prøve 3 is provided by them. But there is NO LIMIT to how many times you can try to take the exam for prøve 3.

      But note that there is a separate written and oral test. The written test is divided into three categories. If you fail in any one then you fail the complete written test.

      You can also just give either the written or the oral test if you want.

      Reply
  4. Tnxs much for this kevin, it is very informative and useful. Im planning to take norskprove3 can you refer me the links for any practice test? I would really appreciate it.

    Reply
  5. For anyone who reads this.

    If you are taking these tests privately because you came into Norway as a skilled worker, you do not have the right for the free courses or the free first attempt. These are exclusively for family-reunion and asylum seekers. Skilled workers I think are evaluated as able to provide for themselves as they most likely have a job when they come in or very soon have a full time job.

    Reply
    • Greetings! I am Jay from the Philippines, a Physiotherapist currently waiting for my professional recognition from The Norwegian Health Directorate. In God’s willing, I hope i get an approval, my next step would be to prove I have the language proficiency to practice. This requires me to take and pass Bergenstest B2 level…Can you guide me on the process of reviewing and registration? Do I necessarily need to be in Norway to learn and to take the exam.? This my greatest worry for now with regards to my application, because if it is so, it will entail a lot of finances.. Thank you so much and more powers. ??

      Reply
    • Greetings! I am Jay from the Philippines, a Physiotherapist currently waiting for my professional recognition from The Norwegian Health Directorate. In God’s willing, I hope i get an approval, my next step would be to prove I have the language proficiency to practice. This requires me to take and pass Bergenstest B2 level…Can you guide me on isthe process of reviewing and registration? Do I necessarily need to be in Norway to learn and to take the exam.? This my greatest worry for now with regards to my application, because if it is so, it will entail a lot of finances.. Thank you so much and more powers. ??

      Reply
    • Greetings! I am Jay from the Philippines, a Physiotherapist currently waiting for my professional recognition from The Norwegian Health Directorate. In God’s willing, I hope i get an approval, my next step would be to prove I have the language proficiency to practice. This requires me to take and pass Bergenstest B2 level…Can you guide me on isthe process of reviewing and registration? Do I necessarily need to be in Norway to learn and to take the exam.? This my greatest worry for now with regards to my application, because if it is so, it will entail a lot of finances.. Thank you so much and more powers. ??

      Reply

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