Do you skip statsborgerprøven (Norwegian citizenship test) if you took samfunnskunnskapsprøven (social studies test) in Norwegian?
Yes, if you took it in Norwegian. That's the whole difference, and it's the rule most people miss.
The rule
| What you did | Permanent residence | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| Samfunnskunnskapsprøven in Norwegian | Covered | Covered, you skip statsborgerprøven |
| Samfunnskunnskapsprøven in another language | Covered | Not covered, you must take statsborgerprøven |
| Statsborgerprøven | Not relevant | Covered |
Why so many discover this too late
Because the two applications are years apart. You take samfunnskunnskapsprøven in your own language, get permanent residence, and the case is closed. Then three, four, five years pass, you apply for citizenship, and only then do you find out that the test you took doesn't carry over.
There's nothing wrong with that. It's just worth knowing in advance, because it affects a choice you make today.
What you should do about it
If you're about to take samfunnskunnskapsprøven soon, and your Norwegian is borderline: consider taking it in Norwegian. If you pass, you're done with both requirements.
If you're not there yet, take it in your own language without feeling guilty about it. Failing it in Norwegian costs you a new fee and doesn't get you any closer to your goal. You can take statsborgerprøven later, and the years that pass in the meantime tend to improve your Norwegian anyway.