Statsborgerprøven vs Norskprøven: which test do you need for Norwegian citizenship?
Short answer: if you are between 18 and 67 and applying for Norwegian citizenship, you most likely need both kinds of proof. Norskprøven shows your Norwegian is good enough (oral B1 or higher). The statsborgerprøve, or the social studies test, shows you know enough about Norwegian society. One does not replace the other.
Side by side
The quickest way to see the difference:
- What it tests: Norskprøven tests your Norwegian. The statsborgerprøve tests knowledge of Norwegian society.
- What citizenship needs: Norskprøven oral at B1 or higher. The statsborgerprøve passed, or the social studies test passed, in Norwegian.
- Format: Norskprøven has separate parts for reading, listening, writing and an oral test. The statsborgerprøve is a digital multiple choice test.
- Length and pass mark: the statsborgerprøve has 36 questions with three options each, a maximum of 60 minutes, and you need at least 24 correct. Norskprøven gives you a level (such as A2, B1 or B2) per part instead of pass or fail.
- Language: both are in Norwegian. The statsborgerprøve must be taken in Norwegian to count for citizenship.
- Who runs them: both are administered through HK-dir (prove.hkdir.no), and you book through a test centre, often your kommune.
Statsborgerprøven: what it covers
The questions are about Norwegian society: how democracy and elections work, rights and duties, work and education, family, health and everyday life, and Norway's history and present. The official syllabus material is on samfunnskunnskap.no, and HK-dir publishes practice material on prove.hkdir.no. Both are free. Start there.
To be honest about it: Snakke does not have social studies drills for the statsborgerprøve. Where we can help is the language you need to read the questions, which is the part people underestimate.
Norskprøven: what citizenship asks of it
For citizenship, the part that matters is the oral test, and the level you need is B1 or higher. In the oral you talk about familiar topics and hold a conversation with another candidate, giving reasons and opinions. The reading, listening and writing parts are useful for jobs and studies, but they do not replace the oral result for the citizenship requirement.
A sensible order to study in
Start with the language. The statsborgerprøve is written in Norwegian, so reading at around B1 makes the knowledge test much easier, and the oral test needs the most lead time. Once your Norwegian is steady, the statsborgerprøve is mostly a matter of reading the syllabus and doing practice questions.
- Weeks 1 to 6: daily speaking practice and reading short Norwegian texts about society and work.
- Book the oral Norskprøve once you can talk for two minutes on a familiar topic without switching to English.
- Then read the samfunnskunnskap.no material and do the official practice questions for the statsborgerprøve.
Read like the test: 'Alle norske statsborgere over 18 år har stemmerett ved stortingsvalg.' What does 'stemmerett' mean?
- The right to vote
- The duty to pay tax
- The right to work
Show the answer
The right to vote
'Stemme' means vote and 'rett' means right. Words like this appear across the statsborgerprøve, so knowing them in Norwegian is half the battle.
Get more free practice questionsThe statsborgerprøve is read in Norwegian.
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Build my NorwegianQuestions
Can I take the statsborgerprøve in English?
To count for Norwegian citizenship, the citizenship test or the social studies test must be taken in Norwegian.
Do I need both the statsborgerprøve and Norskprøven?
Most applicants aged 18 to 67 need both: oral Norwegian at B1 or higher, and a pass on either the statsborgerprøve or the social studies test. UDI lists the exemptions.
How many questions do I need right on the statsborgerprøve?
The test has 36 multiple choice questions with three options each, and you need at least 24 correct answers to pass. You have up to 60 minutes.
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