Social studies test
Read about the test
If you ar applying for permanent residence permit, you can take the test in social studies. The test is also a part of the introduction programme for immigrants.
Duration
The test lasts a maximum of 1 hour (60 minutes). The test should be in a language you understand well. If you want to use the test to apply for Norwegian citizenship, the test must be taken in Norwegian.
Languages
If you are going to use the test results to apply for Norwegian citizenship, you must take the test in Norwegian.
The social studies test can be taken in one of 23 different languages. You choose the language when you take the test at the test center. You can also have the questions read out in one of 10 languages.
You do not need to choose a language when you register for the test. You choose your language when you take the test at the test center.
The social studies test can med taken in one of the following laguages:
- Albanian
- Amharic
- Arabic
- Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- Dari
- English
- French
- Kurdish (Sorani)
- Norwegian (bokmål and nynorsk)
- Pashto
- Persian (Farsi)
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Somali
- Spanish
- Swahili
- Thai
- Tigrinya
- Turkish
- Ukrainian
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
You can listen to the questions by playing an audio file in on of the following languages:
- Arabic
- Dari
- English
- French
- Norwegian (bokmål and nynorsk)
- Pashto
- Somali
- Sorani
- Tigrinya
- Urdu
Get help from an interpreter
If the test is not available in a language you understand well, you can apply to take the test orally or with the help of an interpreter.
If you need an interpreter, you must submit an application to your test centre. Contact your test centre / municipality as soon as you register for the test.
Who must take the test?
You may have both the right and the obligation to take the test. Some candidates are entitled to one free social studies test. If you are under tuition in the municipality, your test center will assist you in registering for the test.
Your municipality knows whether you are entitled to a free test. Contact your municipality for prices and dates for the test.
If you are not entitled to a free trial, you can register yourself.
This is how the test is structured
The test consists of 38 questions. Most of the questions are multiple choice, where each question has three options, only one of which is correct. There will also be questions showing a picture, where you will need to place the marker in the right place.
The questions you will see in the test are drawn from the curriculum in Norwegian and social studies for adult immigrants.
You must have 26 correct answers to pass the test.
Only 34 of the questions in the test are scored. This is because we are testing four new questions in the test. Whether you answer these four test questions correctly or incorrectly will not affect your final score.
Rights and obligations
The test can be adapted or accommodated in various ways. Accommodations could include, for example, extra time or being allowed to sit in a separate room when taking the test.
You must contact your test centre as soon as possible, and no later than three days after registering for the test.
You are not allowed to use any notes, internet pages, or electronic aids during the test. If you use or try to use these, it is considered cheating.
The following are some examples of cheating:
- Using false ID
- Using or bringing electronic devices, smart glasses, smart watches or mobile phones
- Using web pages or computer programs other than the test application (e.g. Word, Notepad)
- Using a dictionary or notes brought to the test centre
- Communicating with anyone other than test centre employees during the test
- Copying or memorizing answers or texts from others, and using them in your own answer (plagiarism)
- Pasting text into the Norwegian language writing test (this will automatically count as cheating)
Cheating and attempted cheating can have the following consequences:
- You will be told to leave the premises
- You will not get a test certificate
- You must wait one year to resit
- You will have to pay to retake the test
Cheating may be discovered during or after the test, or when it is being marked.
If you are caught cheating, you will be issued with a formal decision. You may appeal this decision. Read more about appealing.
Forging your test certificate is considered document forgery and can lead to prosecution.
Practical information
On the day of the test, you must show a valid form of identification.
Valid identification (ID):
- A valid passport
- A Norwegian driving licence – original and duplicate
- A Norwegian bank card bearing a photograph
- A national ID card issued by a country within the EEA
- A refugee travel document and immigrant’s passport
- A residence card
- An asylum seeker’s ID bearing a signature and place of birth