Guides · updated July 2026
Norskprøven muntlig: questions & example answers
Real sample questions from every part of the Norwegian oral exam — each with a model answer in Norwegian and English. Use them to see exactly what a good answer sounds like, then practise saying your own version out loud.
What topics come up?
The examiner draws from familiar, everyday subjects. You won't be asked about anything specialised — just things from ordinary life:
Part 1 · Introduction
Telling about yourself
The exam opens with a friendly warm-up. Keep it simple and factual — name, country, how long you've been here, family, work, and what you like doing.
«Kan du fortelle litt om deg selv?»
Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Ja, gjerne. Jeg heter Maria, og jeg kommer fra Polen. Jeg har bodd i Norge i tre år. Jeg bor i Oslo sammen med mannen min og datteren vår. Jeg jobber som sykepleier på et sykehus. På fritiden liker jeg å gå tur og lese.
Yes, gladly. My name is Maria, and I'm from Poland. I've lived in Norway for three years. I live in Oslo with my husband and our daughter. I work as a nurse at a hospital. In my free time I like to go for walks and read.
Part 2 · Individual task
Describing a picture or telling a story
You speak alone for a couple of minutes — describe a picture, or tell about something from your own life — then answer a few follow-ups.
«Hva ser du på bildet?»
What do you see in the picture?
På bildet ser jeg en familie som spiser middag. Til venstre sitter en mann, og til høyre sitter en kvinne med et barn. De ser glade ut. Det ser ut som om de er hjemme på kjøkkenet. Jeg tror det er kveld.
In the picture I see a family eating dinner. On the left a man is sitting, and on the right a woman with a child. They look happy. It looks like they're at home in the kitchen. I think it's evening.
«Fortell om en vanlig dag.»
Tell me about a normal day.
En vanlig dag står jeg opp klokka sju. Først spiser jeg frokost og drikker kaffe. Så tar jeg bussen til jobb. Jeg jobber til klokka fire. Om ettermiddagen lager jeg middag og hjelper datteren min med lekser. Om kvelden ser jeg på TV eller leser litt.
On a normal day I get up at seven o'clock. First I eat breakfast and drink coffee. Then I take the bus to work. I work until four o'clock. In the afternoon I make dinner and help my daughter with homework. In the evening I watch TV or read a little.
Part 3 · Pair conversation
Talking with the other candidate
You and your partner discuss a topic together. Take turns, ask each other questions, and react to what they say — that back-and-forth is exactly what the examiner is listening for. Here's a short exchange on free time:
- A
«Hva liker du å gjøre på fritiden?»
What do you like to do in your free time?
- B
«Jeg liker å trene og gå på tur. Hva med deg?»
I like to exercise and go for walks. What about you?
- A
«Jeg spiller fotball med noen venner hver uke. Trener du ofte?»
I play football with some friends every week. Do you exercise often?
- B
«Ja, tre ganger i uka. Jeg synes det er viktig å være aktiv. Er du enig?»
Yes, three times a week. I think it's important to be active. Do you agree?
- A
«Ja, jeg er enig. Men noen ganger er jeg for sliten etter jobb.»
Yes, I agree. But sometimes I'm too tired after work.
Part 4 · Opinion
Giving — and justifying — an opinion
You're asked what you think about a topic. This is where A2 and B1 split apart: at A2 you describe your habits; at B1 you give an opinion and back it up with reasons. Same question, two levels:
«Hva synes du om sosiale medier?»
What do you think about social media?
«Hva synes du om sosiale medier?»
Jeg bruker sosiale medier hver dag. Jeg har Facebook og Instagram. Jeg ser bilder og snakker med familien min.
I use social media every day. I have Facebook and Instagram. I look at pictures and talk with my family.
«Hva synes du om sosiale medier?»
Jeg synes sosiale medier er både bra og dårlig. På den ene siden er det fint, fordi jeg kan holde kontakten med familien min i Polen. På den andre siden bruker mange for mye tid på mobilen, og det er ikke sunt. Etter min mening bør vi bruke det med måte.
I think social media is both good and bad. On one hand it's nice, because I can keep in touch with my family in Poland. On the other hand many people spend too much time on their phones, and that isn't healthy. In my opinion we should use it in moderation.
Phrases for when you get stuck
You will freeze at some point — everyone does. What examiners want to see is that you can recover and keep the conversation alive. These are the phrases that do it:
When you don't understand
«Kan du gjenta det?»
Can you repeat that?
«Hva betyr det ordet?»
What does that word mean?
When you need a moment
«Hmm, la meg tenke litt …»
Hmm, let me think a little…
«Det er et godt spørsmål.»
That's a good question.
To keep it going
«Hva synes du?»
What do you think?
«For eksempel …»
For example…
Practise these out loud
Reading model answers is the easy part — the exam tests whether you can say them under pressure. Norskprøven.ai drills these exact tasks with native Oslo voices, and lets you record yourself and compare.
Common questions
What questions are asked in the Norskprøven oral exam?+
The examiner asks about familiar, everyday topics — yourself and your family, work or studies, free time, where you live, a normal day, food, holidays and health. In the individual part you describe a picture or tell about something from your own life; in the pair conversation you and the other candidate discuss a topic together; and in the opinion task you're asked what you think about something and, at B1, why.
Can I get the exact questions in advance?+
No — the specific questions vary and aren't published beforehand. But the topics are predictable everyday subjects and the task types are always the same, so practising sample questions like the ones on this page prepares you well. The goal is to be fluent on familiar topics, not to memorise set answers.
How should I answer a picture-description task?+
Describe what you see simply and in order: say what's happening, then use position words (til venstre / til høyre — on the left / on the right), then add a guess (det ser ut som … — it looks like…). You don't need advanced vocabulary; you need to keep talking clearly for a minute or two.
What's the difference between an A2 and a B1 answer?+
At A2 you describe: short, connected sentences about what is or what you do. At B1 you give an opinion and justify it — you say what you think and add reasons (fordi … — because…), often weighing two sides. The same question can be answered at either level; B1 simply reasons where A2 describes.
Example questions and answers are illustrative, for practice only — they are not the actual exam questions, which vary and are not published in advance. Norskprøven.ai is an independent practice tool, not affiliated with HK-dir or UDI.