Prøve i Dansk is the official national examination system for adult learners of Danish as a second language. The exams are administered under the Danish Ministry of Children and Education and are used to document Danish language proficiency for education, employment, residence, and citizenship purposes.

There are three levels of Prøve i Dansk, each corresponding to a different stage of language proficiency and to the Danish education programmes Danskuddannelse 1, 2, and 3.

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Prøve i Dansk 1 (PD1)

• Target level: Basic Danish

• CEFR level: Approximately A2

• Who it is for: Learners with little or no formal education or limited experience with foreign languages

• Typical uses: Basic documentation of Danish skills, completion of Danskuddannelse 1

 

Prøve i Dansk 2 (PD2)

• Target level: Intermediate Danish

• CEFR level: Approximately B1

• Who it is for: Learners with some educational background and prior language learning experience

• Typical uses: Employment purposes, vocational education, completion of Danskuddannelse 2

 

Prøve i Dansk 3 (PD3)

• Target level: Advanced Danish

• CEFR level: B2

• Who it is for: Learners with higher education or strong academic language skills

• Typical uses: University studies, professional authorisation, and applications for Danish citizenship

 

Exam Structure

Each Prøve i Dansk exam consists of two main parts:

1. Written Examination

The written exam tests:

• Reading comprehension (læseforståelse)

• Written production (skriftlig fremstilling)

Depending on the level, the reading test includes multiple texts and task types, such as multiple choice, matching, and short written answers.
The writing test typically consists of two tasks, for example emails, short essays, or opinion texts.

• Dictionaries are not allowed in the reading section

• Dictionaries are allowed in the writing section (phrasebooks and translation tools are not)

 

2. Oral Examination

The oral exam assesses:

• Spoken fluency

• Pronunciation

• Vocabulary and grammar

• Ability to interact and communicate meaningfully

The oral exam usually includes:

• A prepared task (with preparation time)

• An unprepared task, where the candidate draws a topic and speaks spontaneously

The oral exam is conducted with trained examiners and typically lasts around 10–15 minutes.

 

Grading and Passing Requirements

All parts of the exam are graded using the Danish 7-point grading scale:

• –3, 00, 02, 4, 7, 10, 12

• 02 is the minimum passing grade

For Prøve i Dansk 3:

• Candidates receive three grades:

  • Reading comprehension

  • Written production

  • Oral communication

• The final result is calculated as an average, where oral communication counts double

• The exam is passed if the weighted average is at least 2.0

Important: Some authorities (e.g. for citizenship or professional recognition) may require candidates to pass each part individually, not just achieve a passing average.

 

Registration and Fees

• Learners enrolled in the relevant Danskuddannelse programme can usually take the exam free of charge

• Private candidates may register independently and must pay an exam fee

• Exams are held twice a year, typically in May/June and November/December