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What is the Norwegian social studies test?
The social studies test (samfunnskunnskapsprøven) is the final test in social studies for adult immigrants — a digital multiple-choice test that measures knowledge of Norwegian society: working life, education, health, family, history and democracy.
The test is anchored in the Integration Act and administered by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), which writes the questions and sets the syllabus. The test itself is run locally: municipalities hold it at approved test centres, often at the municipal adult education centre.
The test serves three purposes. It is the mandatory conclusion of social studies training for many immigrants, it is a requirement when applying for a permanent residence permit — and a pass in Norwegian is accepted by UDI instead of the citizenship test when applying for Norwegian citizenship. The three roles have slightly different rules, and that is where most misunderstandings arise.
Who has to take the test — and who chooses it?
The duty to take the social studies test follows from the Integration Act: if you have the right and duty to training in Norwegian and social studies, you as a rule also have a duty to sit the final test.
1. You have a duty under the Integration Act
Section 37 of the Integration Act states that people covered by the right and duty to training (section 26, first paragraph) must sit final tests in Norwegian and social studies. This mainly applies to immigrants aged 18–67 with a residence permit that forms the basis for permanent residence. If you only have a duty to training — without the right — for example as a labour immigrant from outside the EEA, you do not have to take the tests.
2. You are applying for permanent residence
When applying for a permanent residence permit, UDI requires documented knowledge of society: for applications submitted from 1 September 2025 you must have passed a test in social studies — it may be taken in a language you understand — in addition to an oral Norwegian test at level A2 or higher. There are exceptions and transitional rules, so always check the current requirements for your situation with UDI.
3. You are applying for Norwegian citizenship
For citizenship the social studies test is one of two alternatives: UDI accepts either the citizenship test (statsborgerprøven) or the social studies test — but the social studies test only if it was passed in Norwegian. More on that rule below.
How the test is built
The test consists of 38 tasks, of which 34 are scored — the last four are trial tasks that do not affect your result. Most tasks are multiple choice with three options; some are picture tasks. You need at least 26 correct answers among the scored tasks, and you have a maximum of 60 minutes.
| Element | Social studies test |
|---|---|
| Tasks | 38 — 34 scored, 4 trial tasks |
| Task type | Multiple choice with three options; some picture tasks |
| Pass mark | 26 of 34 correct (about 76%) |
| Time | Maximum 60 minutes |
| Where | Digitally at an approved test centre in your municipality |
| Result | Pass / fail — you receive a certificate stating the language you took the test in |
Languages — and the decisive “in Norwegian” rule
You can take the test in 23 languages, including Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk), English, Arabic, Somali, Tigrinya, Ukrainian and Spanish. You choose the language at the test centre. Questions can also be read aloud in some languages, and an interpreter can be arranged.
If you plan to apply for citizenship one day, the smart move is to take the test in Norwegian straight away: one pass then covers both requirements. Note that the Norwegian version is not linguistically simplified — unlike the citizenship test, which is adapted to level A2.
Social studies test vs. citizenship test
The two tests share a syllabus but differ in format, language and use.
| Social studies test | Citizenship test | |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks | 38 — 34 scored | 36 — 32 scored |
| Pass mark | 26 of 34 | 24 of 32 |
| Time | Max 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Languages | 23 languages | Norwegian only (adapted to level A2) |
| Counts for permanent residence | Yes | No |
| Counts for citizenship | Only if taken in Norwegian | Yes |
| Fee | Set by the municipality (500–1,300 NOK) — free once with the right and duty to training | Set by the municipality (300–1,800 NOK) — never free |
Our English guide to the citizenship test covers the other side: the Norwegian citizenship test 2026.
The syllabus: three subject areas
The syllabus is freely available at samfunnskunnskap.no — HK-dir’s online resource with texts and exercises in several languages. It is divided into three subject areas:
- Education, skills and working life — the school system from kindergarten to higher education, adult education, recognition of foreign qualifications; working life: employment contracts, pay, tax, holidays, sick pay, unions and NAV.
- Family, health and everyday life — family life and children’s rights, the health service (GP scheme, emergency care, hospitals, dental and mental health), housing, personal finances, key public agencies, rights and duties.
- Norway past and present — main lines of Norwegian history, geography, climate and population; democracy (the Storting, the government, municipalities, elections, parties); values and rights (the Constitution, the rule of law, gender equality, freedom of speech and religion).
For those following training under the Integration Act, the 75-hour social studies course is built on the same areas — the test is the natural conclusion of the course.
Registration, fee and test dates
The test is arranged by the municipalities, and both dates and fees are set locally. There is no national price or shared calendar — your municipality is always the right place to ask.
Following training? The test centre helps you
If you attend municipal training in Norwegian and social studies, your test centre assists with registration. Ask your teacher or the adult education centre.
Registering yourself? Use HK-dir’s portal
If you take the test without following training, you register yourself through HK-dir’s registration page — choose your county to see test centres and dates.
Clarify the fee — or your free attempt
HK-dir states the price “can vary between 500 and 1,300 kroner”. If you have the right and duty to training, you can take the test free of charge once — the test centre registers you.
Bring physical ID — and choose your language
Valid physical ID is required (passport, Norwegian bank card with photo, original driving licence, EEA ID card, refugee travel document, alien’s passport, residence card). Digital ID apps are not accepted. Remember: choose Norwegian if the test is to count towards citizenship.
If you fail, you can retake the test — but the free attempt normally applies only once, so new attempts cost the municipality’s fee and mean waiting for the next test date.
The road on to Norwegian citizenship
A social studies test passed in Norwegian satisfies the knowledge requirement for citizenship — but it is only one of several pieces.
For most applicants aged 18–67, UDI also requires an oral Norwegian test at level B1 or higher (A2 in certain cases), a residence period (as a rule eight of the last eleven years, depending on your situation), a clean record, and the UDI application fee (6,500 NOK for adults). Full details, in English, are in our citizenship test guide; the authoritative source is UDI — test requirements for citizenship.
How to prepare
The most effective preparation is a combination: read the syllabus first, then practise in the test format. The test checks recognition of concrete facts — and that skill is trained by answering questions, not only by reading.
- Read the syllabus at samfunnskunnskap.no. The texts are free, available in several languages, and cover exactly the three subject areas the test draws from.
- Take HK-dir’s official sample test. It shows the task format — multiple choice with three options and picture tasks — before the real thing.
- Practise regularly in short sessions. Ten to fifteen minutes a day for two to three weeks sticks better than one long evening before test day.
If you plan to take the test in Norwegian — for example so that it counts towards citizenship — you can practise with Teorihuset. Our 600+ practice questions are organised by the same subject areas, with mock exams in the real format (34 questions, 60 minutes) and a short explanation in plain Norwegian for every answer. The site and app interface are available in English; the questions are in Norwegian, like the test you are preparing for.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions does the Norwegian social studies test have?
The test has 38 tasks, but only 34 of them are scored — the last four are trial tasks that do not affect your result. You need at least 26 correct answers to pass, and you have a maximum of 60 minutes.
Which languages can I take the social studies test in?
The test is offered in 23 languages, including Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk), English, Arabic and Spanish. You choose the language at the test centre. Note that it only counts towards Norwegian citizenship if you pass it in Norwegian.
Does the social studies test count towards Norwegian citizenship?
Yes — but only if you passed it in Norwegian. UDI states that a pass in another language is not sufficient. The alternative is the citizenship test (statsborgerprøven), which is always taken in Norwegian. In addition, most applicants must document oral Norwegian at level B1.
How much does the social studies test cost?
The fee is set by the municipality and therefore varies between test centres — HK-dir gives a range of 500–1,300 NOK. If you have the right and duty to training under the Integration Act, the first attempt is normally free. Retakes cost the municipal fee.
Who has to take the social studies test?
People with the right and duty to training in Norwegian and social studies under the Integration Act must sit the final test. In addition, a passed social studies test is required when applying for permanent residence, and a pass in Norwegian is accepted instead of the citizenship test when applying for citizenship.
What happens if I fail the social studies test?
You can retake it. The free attempt normally applies only to the first try — new attempts cost the fee set by the municipality, and you wait for the next test date. Use the result to see which topics to revise before the next round.
Is the social studies test the same as the citizenship test?
No. They are based on the same syllabus but are two different tests. The citizenship test has 36 tasks, exists only in Norwegian and is adapted to language level A2. The social studies test has 38 tasks and can be taken in 23 languages — but counts towards citizenship only when taken in Norwegian.
How do I best prepare for the social studies test?
Read the syllabus at samfunnskunnskap.no — it is free and available in several languages — and then practise questions in the test format. HK-dir has a sample test, and if you are taking the test in Norwegian you can practise with Teorihuset’s 600+ questions and mock exams.
Sources and references
- HK-dir — Les om prøven (Samfunnskunnskapsprøve) retrieved 2026-08-16
- HK-dir — Les pensum og øv til prøven (Samfunnskunnskapsprøve) retrieved 2026-08-16
- HK-dir — Meld deg på samfunnskunnskapsprøven (pris, oppmelding, ID) retrieved 2026-08-16
- UDI — Krav om prøver for å få norsk statsborgerskap retrieved 2026-08-16
- UDI — Permanent oppholdstillatelse retrieved 2026-08-16
- Integreringsloven kapittel 6 — Opplæring i norsk og samfunnskunnskap (Lovdata) retrieved 2026-08-16
- samfunnskunnskap.no — Pensum og læringsressurs (HK-dir) retrieved 2026-08-16
Related guides
Practise in Norwegian — on the syllabus the test actually covers.
Start with five free questions — no card, no sign-up. 600+ questions, mock exams in the real format and an explanation for every answer when you are ready. The app and site are available in English.