Frequently asked questions about the Norwegian language test
Here you will find answers to some frequently asked questions about the Norwegian language test. This is just some particularly important information. You will find more information in greater detail under "Norwegian language test A1–B2" in the menu.
When and where is the Norwegian language test?
The test is held four times each year.
Your municipality (kommune) decides if a test is held where you live. Read more on your municipality's website or contact your municipality.
No. You can only take the Norwegian language test in Norway, at a test centre.
Yes, you can take the test at certain test centres.
Register for the test
Registration for the Norwegian language test opens approximately five weeks before the test. Your can register for the test during "the registration period", which lasts from Monday morning until Friday evening.
You can register for the test on this website, when registration is open.
Price and payment
Your municipality (kommune) decides the price. One part of the test often costs between NOK 400 and 1200, while all four often cost between NOK 1500 and 2500.
Your test centre decides which payment options they accept. Most take card payments and can send you an invoice.
That the registration is “binding” means that if you have registered, you must pay, even if you are unable to take the test.
You will not be able to take the test until you have paid for it.
Results
You can only appeal the result of the writing test.
The results are usually sent out after about three weeks. You get all your results at the same time. It is not possible to get your results earlier.
If you take the Norwegian test or a part of it several times, the best and last result will be on your transcript.
If you appeal the result of the writing test and then get a lower result than the one you appealed, the new result will be the final one on this writing test.
What is the test like?
“Adaptive” means suitable for.
The reading and listening tests are partly adaptive: You will not get a test that is specially made for you, but you will get an easy, intermediate or hard main test based on how many pretest questions you answered correctly.
The reading and listening tests have two pretests with about 7 questions in each. Afterwards, there is a main test with 15–25 questions.
At the oral examination you get four questions at the A1–A2 level, and three questions at the other levels. The written test has tree tasks at A1–A2 and A2–B1 and two tasks at B1–B2.
This varies from test to test and from one level to the next. You can have many mistakes and still get the result you are trying to achieve. You will not be told how many questions you answered correctly. You will only get a result.
The written tasks will include information about approximately how much you should write. It is ok to write more, but it is not necessary. You will not get a better or poorer result if you write more than the recommended number of words.
No. It is not necessary to use expressions such as “alfa og omega”, “til syvende og sist” and “slå to fluer i en smekk». What is important is to express oneself in understandable Norwegian.
No.
If you have special needs, you can apply for accommodations or adaptations.
Language and dialects
This is a test of Norwegian. Words and expressions from other languages are therefore regarded as mistakes, even if Norwegians often understand English, Danish, and Swedish.
But the most important thing is that the language is understandable, especially at levels A1 and A2. It may therefore be ok to use a few foreign words that resemble Norwegian words.
At B1 and B2 it is more important to say and write words correctly. At these levels you should try not to use foreign words and expressions.
You can use dialect at the oral test.
You must write «bokmål» or «nynorsk» at the writing test.