Danish has more official tests than most learners expect: module tests at the language school, three state exams, a university exam, and two small tests for family reunification. These guides explain each of them in plain English, what is in them, and how to prepare. I am a Danish teacher, and most of the people I teach are working towards one of these. The free course on this site has the tasks from the tests as practice.
The three systems, in one minute
Almost every test you will meet belongs to one of three systems. Knowing which one you are in saves a lot of confusion.
| System | Tests | Who takes them |
|---|---|---|
| Module tests (modultest) | One after each module at the language school: modultest 1 to 4 on Danskuddannelse 3, 1 to 5 on Danskuddannelse 2 | Everyone enrolled in the free Danish education (danskuddannelse) |
| State exams (danskprøver) | Prøve i Dansk 1, 2 and 3, and Studieprøven. Held twice a year | Anyone, enrolled or not. PD2 is needed for permanent residence, PD3 for citizenship, Studieprøven for university |
| A1 and A2 tests (Danskprøve A1 og A2) | Two short oral tests with deadlines | People who got their residence permit through family reunification with a spouse or partner |
Which guide do you need?
- You go to a language school and your teacher has mentioned a test: start with the module tests explained.
- You need Danish for permanent residence or citizenship: read which Danish test you need first, then the PD3 guide.
- You moved to Denmark to live with your partner: the A1 and A2 tests have deadlines, so read that one soon.
- You want to study at a Danish university in Danish: that is Studieprøven.
A note on sources
The formats on these pages follow the public information from the Danish authorities (danskogproever.dk and nyidanmark.dk) as of 2026. The real tests are confidential, so all examples here are my own. Rules and dates change, so always check the official pages before you sign up.
The guides
- Prøve i Dansk 3 (PD3): the complete guideWhat is in Prøve i Dansk 3, how it is graded, when it is held, and how to prepare for the oral and the written part. Written by a Danish teacher.
- The Danish module tests (modultest) explainedWhat the Danish language school module tests look like, module by module: oral, reading and writing parts, times, how you pass and how to prepare.
- The Danish A1 and A2 tests for family reunificationFamily reunification? You must pass a Danish test at A1 within 6 months and A2 within 9. What the oral tests look like and how to practise.
- Test your Danish level (free)A short free Danish test: listen, read and choose, and see roughly which level and module you are at, with a tip for what to learn next.
- Which Danish test do you need for permanent residence and citizenship?Permanent residence requires Prøve i Dansk 2; citizenship requires Prøve i Dansk 3 plus the citizenship test. What each test is and how to plan.
- Indfødsretsprøven: the Danish citizenship testWhat is on indfødsretsprøven, the Danish citizenship test: the format, the pass mark, the dates and how to read the questions in Danish.
- Medborgerskabsprøven: the test for permanent residenceMedborgerskabsprøven in English: who needs it for permanent residence, what the questions are about, the dates and how to prepare the Danish.
- Danish language levels A1 to C1, explainedWhat A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1 mean in Danish, which module or test matches each level, and what you can say at each step.
- The Danish grading system (the 7-point scale)How the Danish 7-point grading scale works, from -3 to 12, what passes, and how test grades like PD3 are calculated.
Updated 13 September 2026