Practice for the listening test
Practice by listening to spoken Norwegian, for example on the radio. You can also do the sample tasks.
The listening test lasts 30-60 minutes. The length of the test depends on which pre-tests and which main test you get.
The tasks of the listening test are modelled on real conversations and messages because it is important to manage daily life outside the classroom.
To get a good result on the test, you should:
- practice listening to and understanding Norwegian,
- familiarize yourself with the content and structure of the test, and the types of tasks used in the test,
- practice by doing the sample tasks for the listening test.
Tasks in the listening test
The test measures language skills, not memory. That is why the listening texts are short. The longest audio files last 90 seconds, but most of the files last between 10 and 30 seconds.
In a normal environment there will be a lot of background noise when you have a conversation or when you listen to something. On the test, there will be no such noise. Some tasks sound like phone conversation.
There are never more than two participants in a dialogue, normally a man and a woman, so it is easy to hear who says what.
Sounds indicating a pause or thinking, such as “eehhh” or “tja” are used more in everyday speech than in the listening tasks.
The speech is adapted to the skill level. Especially at lower levels, people speak slowly and clearly. We expect candidates at higher levels to be able to handle somewhat faster speech.
At B2 level you are expected to understand some moderated dialects.
You will hear listening texts twice
In a normal conversation, you can ask someone to repeat something that you did not understand. You cannot do this in the test. Therefore the question and the listening text are played twice for most tasks (all tasks at skill level A1-B1). Texts for B2 level are played only once.
Sample tasks
There are different task types in the listening test, depending on what language skill level you are on. Listen to the question carefully before you give your answer.
The sample tasks can help you prepare for the types of tasks you will meet in the test and practice how to answer the questions.
These tasks are only examples. You will not find these tasks in the test, but you will get similar tasks.
When you do the sample tasks, you will see how many tasks you answered correctly. You will not get a result (level).
The sample tasks are only available in Norwegian.
When you open the link to a set of sample tasks, you can choose to do them in bokmål or nynorsk.
The listening test and the sample tasks are done on a computer. The sample tasks might not work on a mobile or tablet.
The main test at level A1-A2 has tasks at level A1 and A2. (But you might get tasks at B1 level in the pre-tests.)
In the list below, you will find examples of the task categories you will meet at level A1 and A2.
Some of the sample tasks are easier than A1, but most are at level A1 or A2. If you are at A1 level, you probably will not answer the A2 tasks correctly.
Some tasks contain difficult words. You might solve tasks even if you do not know all the words.
The task categories you will meet at level A1-A2 are:
- Click in the picture and calendar
- Sample tasks: Click in the picture and calendar (level A1-A2)
- Choose the correct picture
- Sample tasks: Choose the correct picture (level A1- A2)
- Multiple choice
- Sample tasks: Multiple choice tasks (level A1-A2)
- Sample tasks: Multiple choice tasks (level A1-A2)
The main test at level A2-B1 has tasks at level A2 and B1. (But you might get A1 tasks in the pre-tests.)
In the list below, you will find examples of the task categories you will meet at level A2 and B1.
If you are at A2 level, you might not solve the B1 tasks.
Some tasks contain difficult words. You might solve tasks even if you do not know all the words.
The task categories you will meet at level A2-B1 are:
- Click in the picture and calendar
- Sample tasks: Click in the picture and calendar (level A2)
- Choose the correct picture
- Sample tasks: Choose the correct picture (level A2)
- Multiple choice
- Sample tasks: Multiple choice tasks (level A2-B1)
- Theme series
- Sample task: Theme series
The main test at level B1-B2 contains tasks at levels B1 and B2. (But you will get A1 and A2 tasks in the pre-tests.)
In the list below, you will find examples of the task categories you will meet at level B1 and B2.
If you are at B1 level, you will probably not answer the B2 tasks correctly.
Some tasks contain difficult words. You might solve tasks even if you do not know all the words.
The task categories you will meet at level B1-B2 are:
- Multiple choice – plays twice
- Sample tasks: Multiple choice tasks (level B1) (played twice)
- Multiple choice – plays once
- Sample tasks: Multiple choice tasks (level B2) (played only once)
- Fill in the blanks
- Sample tasks: Fill in the blanks
Tips for working with listening tasks
The tasks of the listening test are modelled on real conversations and messages because it is important to manage daily life outside the classroom. To improve your listening skill, we suggest that you listen to as much “real” Norwegian language as possible. Listen to normal conversations, audio files for textbooks, podcasts, radio and TV programs, etc.
Listen to the question and the listening text. At levels A1 to B1 you will hear both the question and the listening text twice. Tasks at B2 level will be played only once. You answer by clicking on / choosing the correct answer.
Some multiple choice tasks have one text with two questions.
Some multiple choice tasks are part of a series which have the same theme, and the same question and answer options.
Sample tasks (in Norwegian only):
Listen to the question and the listening text.
You will hear both the question and the listening text twice.
You answer by clicking on thecorrect picture or clock.
Sample tasks (in Norwegian only):
Listen to the question and the listening text.
You will hear both the question and the listening text twice.
You answer by clicking on the right spot in the picture, or on the correct day or month of the calendar.
Sample tasks (in Norwegian only):
You will hear four texts about someone’s experiences.
For each task you will answer the same question, and you will choose between the same options.
The same answer may be correct more than once.
Sample task (in Norwegian only): Theme series
In this task you will hear four people talking about the same topic. You hear each person only once.
There are two questions for each person:
- Who is this person?
- What does this person express?
You answer the questions while you listen.
When you click on the arrow, you will see six options. You answer by choosing the correct option.
You have about half a minute to read the options before the first person starts talking.
Sample task (in Norwegian only): Fill in the blank
Practice by listening to spoken Norwegian
To improve your listening skills, we suggest that you listen to as much “real” Norwegian language as possible.
You can, for example, listen to:
- everyday conversations,
- audio files for textbooks,
- podcasts,
- radio and TV programs (especially news broadcasts and programs that include statements by politicians)
- messages (for example from a teacher or from someone at work).