You can prepare for the social studies test even if you have little experience with computers. First practise using a mouse and selecting options on screen, then try HK-dir's official sample test. It shows the question type, while the actual test is taken on a computer at the test centre.
How is the social studies test taken on a computer?
The social studies test is taken on a PC at a test centre. You do not use your own phone or computer. According to the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), the test supervisor shows you to a seat and stays in the room while the test is in progress.
HK-dir describes a total of 38 questions. Most are multiple-choice questions with three options and one correct answer. There are also image questions where you select the correct place in the image. You have a maximum of 60 minutes. The format guide explains the numbers and pass mark.
| What you need to do | A simple practice exercise at home |
|---|---|
| Move the pointer on screen | Move the mouse to four different corners without clicking. |
| Click an option | Click once on an answer in a practice question. |
| Read before choosing | Point to each option while you read it. |
| Select the right place in an image | Practise clicking a clear area in a public sample question. |
| Use the next step on screen | Read the button before pressing it, and check that the page changes. |
You do not need to learn every computer program. The goal is to feel comfortable with the few actions you will use during a test.
Where can you find the official sample test?
HK-dir's page for the syllabus and sample test links to the test. HK-dir says the sample questions are similar to the real test and show how to answer on a computer. They are not the same questions as those on test day.
HK-dir's English guidance describes how to access the sample test: the first two pages are in Norwegian. Continue using a large link box with an arrow. On the third page, select a language from a menu and press a blue button marked “start the test”. This description comes from HK-dir. When we checked on 1 October 2026, the sample test link itself led to a login page, so we could not check the buttons inside the test. If this also happens to you, contact HK-dir or the test centre for updated access; do not guess a username or password.
If possible, use a PC with a mouse when practising with the official sample test. Ask the library or adult education service to help you borrow a computer if you do not have one. Someone can show you where to click during practice, but you should answer the questions yourself.
How to practise using a mouse and screen in three short sessions
Three sessions of 10–15 minutes can make the actions more familiar. Repeat them until you can do them without someone controlling the mouse for you.
Session 1 – point and click. Hold the mouse steady, move the pointer to a word and click once. Check whether the choice was marked. If you accidentally double-click, stop and see what happened before trying again. You can use an ordinary, harmless website or an open practice test.
Session 2 – read and choose. Open HK-dir's sample questions when the link works. Read the whole question and all the options. Point to the option you want and click only when you are sure where the pointer is. For an image question, find the right area before clicking.
Session 3 – complete a short practice round. Do several questions in a row. Notice how to continue and whether your selected answer appears on screen. Follow the instructions that are actually shown; buttons and order may change when the test system is updated. Also practise asking a test supervisor for practical help without asking for the correct answer.
What is the difference between a practice test and the real test?
SamfunnPrep is an independent practice service. The questions and screen in our free practice test are made for practice. They are not HK-dir's test interface and do not guarantee what you will see on test day.
You can use the practice test to practise reading a question and selecting one answer. Then use HK-dir's own sample test to become familiar with the public question format and screen. If you normally use only a phone, it is especially important to try a PC before you arrive. Touching a phone screen is not the same as moving and clicking a mouse.
A practice result also does not reliably say whether you will pass. Read the learning material at samfunnskunnskap.no and review explanations for wrong answers. Subject knowledge and computer habits need to be practised separately.
What should you do if ordinary practice is not enough?
If a disability or another documented situation makes the standard test difficult, you can ask for accommodations. HK-dir mentions, among other things, extra time and a separate room. Contact the test centre as soon as possible and no later than three days after you registered. Read the guide to accommodated tests and HK-dir's own rules before applying.
Limited computer experience alone does not automatically give you a different test format. Contact the test centre with practical questions before test day. Ask what kind of mouse and screen you will use, whether you can arrive early, and how to report a problem. Read the invitation carefully, bring approved physical identification and arrive in good time.
Ready to practise questions while building your computer skills? Try SamfunnPrep for free, and use HK-dir's sample test when you can access it.
