Knowing Norwegian is not the same as being prepared for the Norskprøven. The exam has specific task types, time limits, and formats that reward familiarity. This guide gives you 12 sample tasks across all four sections of the A2 test — reading, listening, writing, and oral — with model answers, examiner tips, and the most common A2 mistakes to avoid.
Official sample materials are available free at hkdir.no. The tasks here reflect A2 format and difficulty but are not official HK-dir materials. For permanent residence, only the oral (muntlig) result counts — but many candidates take all four sections together.
In this guide
Exam Format and Timing
The Norskprøven has four sections. The written sections are held on a computer at a test centre on the same day. The oral section is scheduled separately — usually within a few weeks of the written test.
Each section is graded independently — you receive a level result (A1, A2, B1, B2) for each section, not an overall mark. You can pass at different levels in different sections. For the permanent residence requirement, only the oral result at A2 or above counts.
Norskprøven study kit — the three books that cover most self-study preparation:
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- Norsk på 1-2-3 — the most widely used A1–A2 course book in Norway
- Norwegian Tutor — a grammar and vocabulary workbook with exam-style exercises
- Complete Norwegian — an audio-supported Teach Yourself course from beginner to intermediate
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Reading (Lesing) — A2 Practice Tasks
Read the message. Answer the question.
Hei! Kan vi møtes på kafé lørdag klokka to? Jeg kjenner en bra kafé i sentrum som heter Kafé Solsiden. De har god kaffe og kake. Send meg en melding hvis du kan komme. — Maja
Where does Maja want to meet?
Read the notice. Answer the question.
OBS! Heisen er ute av drift fra mandag 10. juni til fredag 14. juni. Vi beklager ulempene dette medfører. Bruk trappen i stedet. — Styret
What should residents do from Monday to Friday?
Read the email. Which statement is correct?
Hei Priya, Jeg ringer deg i morgen mellom klokka ni og ti for å snakke om prosjektet. Hvis det ikke passer, send meg en SMS. Vi kan ellers ta møtet på Teams onsdag ettermiddag. Ha det bra, Lars
Listening (Lytting) — A2 Practice Tasks
You hear this announcement at a train station:
"Toget til Bergen avgår fra spor tre om ti minutter. Passasjerer bes gå til spor tre nå."
What should passengers do?
You hear a voicemail:
"Hei, dette er tannlegen til Karim. Vi ringer for å minne om at du har time hos oss på tirsdag klokka elleve og tretti. Hvis du ikke kan komme, ring oss på 22 33 44 55. Ha en fin dag!"
When is Karim's appointment?
You hear two colleagues talking:
A: "Skal du på kurs neste uke?" B: "Nei, jeg har det ikke neste uke, men uken etter." A: "Ah, fordi jeg tenkte vi kunne ta lunsj den uken." B: "Ja, det høres fint ut — si fra når det passer for deg."
When is B going on the course?
Writing (Skriving) — A2 Practice Tasks
You cannot come to work tomorrow. Write a message to your manager. Include: why you cannot come, and when you expect to be back.
Jeg kan dessverre ikke komme på jobb i morgen. Jeg er syk og har feber. Jeg tror jeg er tilbake på torsdag. Beklager ulempen!
Hilsen [navn]
Write a short email to introduce yourself to a new neighbour. Mention: your name, where you are from, what you do, and one thing you like to do in your free time.
Jeg heter Ana og bor i leilighet 14. Jeg er ny i bygget og vil gjerne si hei. Jeg er fra Romania, men har bodd i Oslo i to år. Jeg jobber som sykepleier på Ullevål sykehus. På fritiden liker jeg å gå tur i Nordmarka — det er veldig fint om sommeren. Hyggelig å bo i samme bygg!
Hilsen Ana
You have borrowed something from a friend and are returning it. Leave a short note. Say what you are returning, thank them, and mention something about the item.
Jeg legger sykkelen din utenfor døren din. Tusen takk for at jeg fikk låne den! Sykkelen er kjempebra — veldig lett å sykle med. Jeg håper du har det bra.
Hilsen Kofi
Oral (Muntlig) — A2 Practice Tasks
Part 1: Introduction — Practice
The examiner asks about your background, daily life, work or study, family, and hobbies. Answers should be natural and expanded — not just one sentence.
"Kan du fortelle litt om deg selv?" (Can you tell me a little about yourself?)
Part 2: Picture Description — Practice
You are shown a picture of an everyday scene and asked to describe it. Speak for about 90 seconds — describe what you see, who is in it, what is happening, and what you think about the situation.
Imagine: a picture of a family eating dinner at a table. "Kan du beskrive bildet?" (Can you describe the picture?)
Part 3: Role Play — Practice
The examiner gives you a scenario card. You act out the situation — the examiner plays the other role. Keep going even if you make mistakes. The examiner will ask follow-up questions to give you more speaking time.
Scenario: "Du vil bestille time hos fastlegen. Du har hatt vondt i halsen i tre dager." (You want to book an appointment with your GP. You have had a sore throat for three days.)
A2 Vocabulary to Know
These are the words that come up repeatedly across all four A2 sections. If you can use them naturally, you are ready for A2.
5 Common A2 Mistakes
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Giving one-sentence answers in the oral
When the examiner asks "Hva liker du å gjøre i helgene?" and you say only "Jeg liker å gå tur," you've answered but shown almost no language. Always add a detail: where, when, with whom, how often, why. One sentence = A1 performance. Four sentences = A2.
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Missing required content in the writing tasks
Every writing task lists specific content points you must include. Missing one of them lowers your score even if your Norwegian is excellent. Before finishing, re-read the task and tick off every point: did I include reason, date, and return day? Examiners check this systematically.
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Confusing Norwegian time expressions in listening
"Halv tre" = 2:30, not 3:30. "Kvart på tre" = 2:45. "Kvart over tre" = 3:15. These come up every time. The listening section at A2 tests times and numbers in almost every task. Practice writing them down as you hear them.
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Trying to understand every word in reading
The reading section has texts that will contain words you do not know. This is deliberate — the test measures whether you can find key information despite unfamiliar vocabulary. Read the question first, then scan the text for the answer. Do not read every word from start to finish.
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Not practising typing Norwegian special characters
The written sections are on a computer. If you cannot type ø, æ, and å quickly and accurately, you will waste time and make spelling errors. Practice typing these characters on your own keyboard before the exam — they are in different positions depending on your keyboard layout settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pass all four sections to use the result for permanent residence?
No. For permanent residence, only the oral (muntlig) section result is required — you need A2 oral. The reading, listening, and writing sections are assessed separately and do not affect your immigration application, though many candidates take all four to get a complete language certificate.
Can I take just the oral section and skip the written sections?
Yes. You can register for the oral section only. This is cheaper, less preparation time, and still meets the permanent residence requirement. Many candidates do this if they only need A2 oral for immigration purposes and do not want the full certificate for other uses.
What happens if I get A1 in the oral — do I fail completely?
The oral section is graded from A1 to B2. If you score A1, you do not meet the A2 requirement for permanent residence and will need to retake. You can retake as many times as you need — there is no limit on attempts and no mandatory waiting period. Use the result to understand specifically what you need to improve.
How long is A2 preparation for someone starting from zero?
Most adult learners reach A2 oral in 100–200 hours of study, depending on their starting point, language background, and how much Norwegian they use in daily life. Native speakers of German, Dutch, or Swedish typically need less time. The more Norwegian you use in real situations outside a classroom, the faster you progress. See our full guide on how long it takes.
Are there official free practice materials?
Yes — HK-dir publishes sample tasks for all four sections on their website at hkdir.no. These are the closest thing to the real test you can access and are completely free. Always complete these before your exam date. The practice tasks in this guide reflect the same format and difficulty level, but are not official materials.
What is the difference between A2 and B1 preparation?
At A2 you need to handle familiar, predictable situations using simple, clear language. At B1 you need to handle unexpected situations, express opinions, and sustain longer conversations on topics beyond your immediate daily life. Most learners need 200–400 additional study hours to move from A2 to B1. If you are targeting citizenship, see our complete Norskprøven preparation guide.