The 25 competence aims, explained

The questions on the samfunnskunnskapsprøven (social studies test) and statsborgerprøven (Norwegian citizenship test) aren't random. They're written against the curriculum for social studies for adult immigrants, which is a regulation with 25 competence aims.

If you want to know what might come up, it's the curriculum that matters, not a book.

The aims don't carry equal weight

This is the most important thing to take away, and almost no one says it: some competence aims give far more questions than others.

The two heaviest are the education system and Norwegian history, with just over 8 per cent of the test each. The lightest, such as special days and religious holidays and equality, sit around 1.4 per cent.

That means reading everything equally thoroughly is a poor use of your time. An hour spent on the heaviest aim is worth six times as much as an hour spent on the lightest.

The themes

The 25 aims group into a few themes, and that's how people actually think about them: working life, health, school, democracy, welfare, family, equality, history, and law and justice. The articles below cover one theme each.

But don't start by reading

The fastest route is to take a free practice exam first. Then you'll know which of the 25 aims you're actually missing, and can read those instead of all of them.