Failed the Norwegian citizenship test? How retakes work
Failing statsborgerprøven or samfunnskunnskapsprøven costs you a test fee and some pride — nothing more. There is no limit on attempts and no waiting period after an ordinary fail. The real question is how to make sure the next attempt is the last one.
Find your weak spots with a free testQuick answer
You can register again for the next available test date at your test centre and pay the fee for a new attempt. There is no limit on the number of attempts and no cooling-off period after a failed test.
The one exception is cheating: if you are caught, you must wait one year before resitting and pay for the retake.
First: read your result properly
Your result is available the day after the test on Min side and by email. Before booking a retake, look at how far you were from the pass mark — 24 of 32 scored questions on the citizenship test, 26 of 34 on the social studies test.
Missing by one or two questions usually means wording and nerves; missing by many points to whole topics that need studying. The two situations call for different preparation.
Make the retake count
Do not re-read everything. Find the categories where you lost points and study those first — democracy, history, working life, health, and everyday life are scored the same, but most people's gaps cluster in one or two areas.
Path to Norway's mock tests show a category breakdown after every session and generate new test variations that target your weak areas, so each practice round closes a specific gap instead of repeating what you already know.
- Identify weak categories from your practice results, not gut feeling.
- Practise full 60-minute sessions to rebuild timing and stamina.
- Book the retake once you consistently score well above the pass mark.
Illness and other special cases
If you were ill on test day and have documentation from your doctor, you can take the test at a later date without paying again — contact your test centre to arrange it.
For the application itself, what matters is a passed test at the time you apply — nothing stops you from retaking until you pass. If you are unsure how the timing affects your specific case, check UDI.
Common questions
How long do I have to wait before retaking?
There is no waiting period after an ordinary fail. You register for the next available date at a test centre and pay for the new attempt. Only cheating triggers a one-year quarantine.
Do I have to pay again for a retake?
Yes — each attempt is paid, at the price your municipality sets (300–1,800 NOK). The exception is documented illness on test day, where the test centre normally lets you sit the test later at no extra cost.
Does failing hurt my citizenship application?
The requirement is a passed test when you apply, and earlier failed attempts do not stop you from applying once you pass. If you are in doubt about your specific case, check with UDI.
Pass it on the next attempt.
Take a free mock test to find exactly where you lost points, then practise the weak categories until the pass mark has a safe margin.
Full official format — no signup needed. Sign up free afterwards to save your result.