“Ugh, tests!” Am I right? Surely, we can all agree that tests are NOT awesome.
But here I am, about to tell you that you absolutely should love this particular test. Why?
Well, ok… Let me tell you why.
The Virtues of the Norwegian language test
There are a few advantages of the Norwegian test.
First, it is a HUGE time and money-saver. Gone are the days when you had to take 250+ hours of Norwegian language courses to get your Norwegian permanent residency or citizenship. Nowadays, all you have to do is pass all four parts (reading, writing, listening, and oral) of Norskprøven for adults by Kompetanse Norge. At Lenoo, you can get from A1—B2 in about 110 hours or less. Think about everything else you can do with those extra 140 hours. Now think of all the money you'll save by not having to take an extra 140 hours of lessons for nothing. I don’t know about you, but I like to save time and money more than I hate tests.
Second, you can use it as proof of competence for job applications and advanced studies. Sure, the world would be a better place if you never had to take another test again. During interviews, the interviewer could simply ask you anything to test your knowledge and competence in the language. But let's be realistic, how awkward would be if, during an interview, someone asks you: What’s the Norwegian word for “elevator”? What’s the difference between begge and både? Translate this phrase for me: “I am late because my car broke down.” Could anyone get an accurate, thorough picture of someone’s overall Norwegian knowledge in a quick sit-down like this?
Having documentary proof of your language level with your norskprøve results, you could just silently insert your test results with your other requirements. The interviewer would now only have to ask, “What level did you get in norskprøven?”, to which you would respond, “B2,” and the two of you could move on to talk about salaries and whatnot.
The Norwegian test results are clear statements of your competency in the language. I’m not saying tests are great, but I am saying that they’re a handy shortcut when you want to prove your language chops. That’s why many governments, companies, and institutions require them from applicants.
The third virtue of the Norwegian test (and this is one is a bit more personal) is that by anticipating the exam, it will spark a righteous fire under you, compelling you to prepare! You’ll have an excellent motivation to hit the books, work those flashcards, and stay in on Saturday evenings.
Often, you can only achieve this kind of furious dedication when you know that you’ll be answering to "Someone Else". When you’re working for your own benefit, you can somehow lose that urgency, and studying doesn’t have the same seriousness as when it’s for a government-sanctioned assessment. You’ve got this one shot to prove yourself (unless you want to pay the fee and sit down to take the test again). As a result, your study and review sessions will result in very in-depth learning that you would not have otherwise had if you had not been so focused on preparing for the exam.
The last (but certainly not least) virtue of language proficiency tests is that after you pass them, they become bona fide confidence boosters. They add a spring to your step, and scaffolding to your chin so that it always remains up. To know that you scored a B1 or B2 on norskprøven is enough to make you wanna brag, even if it’s just to your mum.
So, see? This test is actually a GREAT test, especially if you know of entertaining and efficient ways to prepare for it, like with Lenoo’s online and classroom test preparation courses. We’ve got proven methods to get you the results you want on norskprøven quickly, painlessly, and dare I say... enjoyably!
You can find the next Norwegian test period on the Kompetanse Norge website. It is no coincidence that our online and classroom-based courses finish just in time for norskprøven! We want the information we share to be fresh in your minds when you take the test. You can register for the test with Kompetanse Norge.
Go ahead and start preparing. You've got this. And we've got you.