The writing section of the Norskprøven is where many candidates lose points they did not expect to lose. Reading and listening feel passive — you either understand or you do not. Writing forces you to produce Norwegian from scratch, under time pressure, on topics you cannot predict. This guide explains exactly what the tasks look like at A2 and B1 with worked examples, how scoring works, the five most common mistakes, and how to prepare efficiently.
Contents
Format and Time Limits
The writing section is taken on a computer at your test centre. You have 90 minutes for two tasks. No dictionary, phone, or notes are permitted. The oral section is scheduled separately on a different day — the writing section is part of the same sitting as reading and listening.
- 2 short tasks
- Task 1: ~30–60 words
- Task 2: ~50–80 words
- Everyday situations — messages, notes, forms
- Simple vocabulary expected
- Past tense required in many tasks
- 2 tasks: one short, one long
- Task 1: ~60–100 words
- Task 2: ~100–180 words
- Opinion texts, formal letters, explanations
- Connected paragraphs expected
- Range of tenses and connectors required
The writing section does not require you to reach B1 to get an A2 result — you are assessed at whatever level your writing demonstrates. A strong A2 text is better than a weak attempt at B1.
What the Tasks Look Like
At A2, tasks are practical and predictable. Common types include: a short message to a neighbour or colleague, a note explaining an absence, a message cancelling or rescheduling something, a brief description of yourself or your daily routine, or a reply to an invitation.
At B1, tasks require more independent production. Common types include: a longer message or semi-formal letter about a problem, a text giving your opinion on a topic with reasons, a description of a situation with explanation, or an application or complaint letter.
Both levels always state clearly what you need to write, who you are writing to, and what information to include. Read the task carefully — failing to include all requested points is the single most common reason for a lower result.
Sample Tasks with Model Answers
Jeg vil bare si at Per er syk i dag og ikke kan komme på jobb. Jeg tok morgenmøtet hans klokka ni. Alt gikk bra.
Er det noe annet jeg bør gjøre? Gi meg beskjed hvis det er noe.
Hilsen Jonas
Jeg skal ha et lite selskap hjemme på lørdag kveld. Vi begynner klokka 19 og slutter rundt midnatt.
Beklager for støyen på forhånd. Hvis det er et problem, kan du ringe meg på 412 34 567.
Hilsen Ana i leilighet 4B
For det første gir norsk tilgang til arbeidsmarkedet. Mange jobber krever at du kan kommunisere på norsk, og uten språket er det vanskelig å få en fast jobb. For det andre er norsk viktig for å forstå det norske samfunnet — regler, rettigheter og hverdagslige situasjoner. Uten norsk er man avhengig av andre for å klare seg.
Noen mener at engelsk er nok i Norge, siden mange nordmenn snakker godt engelsk. Men jeg er uenig. Engelsk fungerer i turistsituasjoner, men ikke i dypere relasjoner med naboer, kolleger eller myndighetene.
Konklusjonen er at norsk er nøkkelen til full deltakelse i det norske samfunnet.
How Scoring Works
Writing is assessed holistically — examiners read the text as a whole rather than counting individual errors. There is no formula. The examiner asks: does this text communicate clearly at the expected level?
A single grammar mistake will not fail you. What lowers your score is a pattern of errors that makes the text hard to follow, very limited vocabulary used repeatedly, or a text that ignores parts of the task. At B1, length also matters — a 60-word response to a task expecting 150 words cannot reach B1 regardless of quality.
Connectors and Phrases That Lift Your Score
Using connectors signals to the examiner that you can produce structured Norwegian, not just isolated sentences. These are particularly important at B1 but useful at A2 as well.
| Norwegian | English | Use |
|---|---|---|
| fordi | because | giving reasons |
| selv om | even though | contrasting ideas |
| men | but | simple contrast |
| derfor | therefore / so | drawing conclusions |
| for det første / for det andre | firstly / secondly | listing arguments |
| i tillegg | in addition | adding a point |
| på den ene siden … på den andre siden | on the one hand … on the other | balanced argument (B1) |
| etter min mening | in my opinion | opinion texts |
| jeg er enig / uenig | I agree / disagree | responding to a statement |
| konklusjonen er at | the conclusion is that | closing a B1 text |
The 5 Most Common Mistakes
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Not addressing all parts of the task If the task asks for three things and your text only covers two, you have not completed the task. Read the prompt twice before you start. After writing, check each required point is included.
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Ignoring the V2 word order rule The verb must come second in Norwegian main clauses. If you start with a time expression: I dag jobber jeg — not I dag jeg jobber. This is immediately visible to a Norwegian examiner and consistent errors count against you.
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Only using the present tense Tasks often require the past tense. A text that uses only present tense — because it is easier — caps you at A1. At A2 you need past tense. At B1 you need past, present, future, and conditional.
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Writing too little at B1 A 70-word text cannot demonstrate B1 proficiency regardless of accuracy. You need enough text to show range of vocabulary, sentence variety, and structured argument. Aim for the middle of the expected range.
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Not practising without a dictionary No aids are permitted in the test. Candidates who have only ever written with a dictionary available panic when they cannot check a word. Practice writing complete texts from memory — uncertainty about one word should not stop you finishing the task.
How to Prepare
Write regularly under time pressure. Set yourself a task and write without stopping. Then review, correct, and compare with a model answer. Do this two or three times a week in the month before the test.
Learn the task types and their conventions. Norwegian written communication has conventions that differ from English — how you open and close a formal letter, how you address someone you do not know. Know what each task type looks like. The official sample tasks at hkdir.no are the best reference.
Get feedback. Feedback is the difference between practising writing and improving at writing. Even one or two sessions with a tutor focused specifically on your writing will identify recurring errors more efficiently than self-study.
Fix your specific grammar weaknesses. After writing a few practice texts, patterns emerge. Most English speakers get the same three or four things wrong: V2 word order, adjective agreement with neuter nouns, and past tense of irregular verbs. Find your pattern and fix it specifically.
Practice typing Norwegian special characters. The test is on a computer. You need to type ø, æ, and å without thinking. Set up a Norwegian keyboard layout before exam day or learn the shortcuts for your keyboard.
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On the Day
Read each task twice before you start writing. Note exactly what is being asked — how many points to address, what format is required (message, letter, opinion), and roughly how long your response should be.
For longer B1 tasks, spend 90 seconds writing a rough plan — three or four bullet points — before you start. This prevents the most common B1 error: a text that starts well and loses coherence when the writer runs out of ideas and starts repeating themselves.