Norskprøven Guide: Norwegian Test Levels and 2027 Dates

Norskprøven is the Norwegian language test for adults. HK-dir, Norway's Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, makes it, and you take it at a test center in Norway. Its four parts are reading, listening, writing and speaking, and each one gets its own result.

1. A1–A2 test

   Writing and speaking

   Write a message, describe a picture and write about a familiar topic. In speaking, you introduce yourself, describe a picture and chat with another test taker.

   • CEFR A1–A2
   • 3 writing tasks
   • 90 minutes of writing
   • 4 oral questions
2. A2–B1 test

   Writing and speaking

   Describe a picture, write about a familiar topic, and send an email that gives your opinion. In speaking, you say what you think about a topic and why.

   • CEFR A2–B1
   • 3 writing tasks
   • 90 minutes of writing
   • 3 oral questions
3. B1–B2 test

   Writing and speaking

   Write an email with your opinion and a longer text of 250 to 350 words that argues your view. In speaking, you take a side on a statement and defend it.

   • CEFR B1–B2
   • 2 writing tasks
   • 2 hours of writing
   • 3 oral questions
4. C1 test

   A separate test

   Sum up a long conversation and argue a view in writing, then sum up texts and argue a view out loud.

   • CEFR C1
   • Pass or fail

You can take one, two, three or all four parts. Reading, listening and writing are on a computer, usually on the same day. Speaking is with an examiner, and most of the time with another test taker too.

• Norskprøven A1–B2
  • Reading75 min
  • Listening30–60 min
  • Writing2–3 tasks · 90–120 min
  • Speaking3–4 tasks · about 20–25 min

Up to B1, you hear each listening text twice, and at B2 you hear it once. No dictionary, notes or devices are allowed in any part. You write in Bokmål or Nynorsk, and you can speak in your own dialect.

For a few groups, such as stateless people, A2 in speaking is still enough for citizenship.

HK-dir sets four test periods a year. Your municipality decides which periods it holds and on which days.

Registration opens on Monday at 9:00 and closes on Friday at 23:59. Your municipality sets the price. You get the results for all four parts on the same day, usually about three weeks after the test. Results for winter 2026 come out on January 7, 2027. Only the writing result can be appealed.

Norskprøven has no reading list. It checks how well you use Norwegian about family, school, work and other parts of adult life. Reading and listening to Norwegian on those topics, at a level where you understand most of it, makes the test feel easier. This is called comprehensible input.

• 🎧Listen While You ReadPick Norwegian where only a word or so in each sentence is new, and play the audio as you read. Set aside 20 minutes, two or three times a week.
• 🗣️Talk With a PartnerThe speaking test is usually in pairs, so practice chatting about family, work and the weather with a friend or a classmate.
• 📝Try the Sample TasksBefore you sign up, try HK-dir's sample tasks for all four parts. Its Nivåvelger tool, which is in Norwegian, helps you pick a level for writing and speaking.

Ordering Coffee and a Cinnamon Bun

🍜

Bestille kaffe og kanelbolle

Lv 1

Kari er på en kafé.

Kari is at a café.

Lars

Hei! Hva vil du ha?

Hi! What would you like?

Kari

Jeg vil ha en kaffe og en kanelbolle.

I would like a coffee and a cinnamon bun.

Lars

Vær så god.

Here you go.

Kari

Takk.

Thanks.