Prøve i Dansk 2 (PD2): the complete guide

Prøve i Dansk 2, usually called PD2, is the Danish exam at level B1. It is the exam at the end of Danskuddannelse 2, and it is the language requirement for permanent residence in Denmark. This guide goes through the written and the oral part, what B1 means in practice, when the exam is held, and how I would prepare for it.

What is Prøve i Dansk 2?

The Danish education for adults has three tracks, and each one ends with its own state exam: Danskuddannelse 1 with Prøve i Dansk 1, Danskuddannelse 2 with Prøve i Dansk 2, and Danskuddannelse 3 with Prøve i Dansk 3. PD2 is the exam after module 6 on DU2, the track for people with shorter schooling. The modules before it end with module tests; you can see them on the page about Danskuddannelse 2 and its module tests.

In Danish you will hear it called Prøve i Dansk 2, PD2 or danskprøve 2. Your teacher might say: Skal du op til Prøve i Dansk 2? (Are you taking Prøve i Dansk 2?)

What does Prøve i Dansk 2 correspond to?

PD2 is at level B1 on the European scale (CEFR) for reading and writing, and B1+ for speaking. In everyday words: you can talk about your work, your family and your plans, explain why you think something, read everyday texts like letters from the school or the municipality, and write a clear, simple email. You do not yet need to discuss abstract topics in depth; that is the B2 level of Prøve i Dansk 3.

Why you might need PD2

• Permanent residence (permanent opholdstilladelse): a passed Prøve i Dansk 2 is the language requirement. A higher exam, PD3 or Studieprøven, counts too.
• Citizenship requires more: Prøve i Dansk 3 plus the citizenship test. If citizenship is your goal, PD2 is a step on the way, not the end.

The full picture, with the alternatives and the supplementary requirements, is on which Danish test you need for residence and citizenship. The rules change, so always check the current requirements on nyidanmark.dk before you apply.

The written exam

The written part has two areas, reading (læseforståelse) and writing (skriftlig fremstilling). You get a grade for each.

Reading 1 (30 minutes)

You get a booklet with short, practical texts and a set of questions. Your job is to find the answers in the texts and write them down. Like the scanning part of PD3, it is about finding things fast, not reading every word.

Reading 2 (60 minutes)

Longer texts, where you show that you understand the content. You may not use a dictionary in either of the reading parts.

Writing (1½ hours)

• Task 1: a short formal message, for example to a company, a school or an association. You choose between two tasks, 1A and 1B.
• Task 2: an informal email to a friend, of at least 100 words.

In the writing part you may use a dictionary, but not a phrase book with ready-made sentences.

The difference between the two tasks is the point. In the formal message you write Kære … or Til …, say clearly what you want, and end with Venlig hilsen. In the email to a friend you write Hej Sara, answer what your friend asked, and end with Kærlig hilsen or Mange hilsner.

The oral exam

You take the oral exam in pairs, with another candidate, an examiner and a censor. It has two parts, and you get one grade for the whole oral exam.

Part 1: your own topic

You choose a topic yourself and prepare a short presentation of about two minutes. After it, you get questions about your topic. This is the only part you can prepare in advance, so prepare it well: an opening sentence, three points with a reason each, and a closing sentence.

• Jeg vil fortælle om mit arbejde.I am going to talk about my work.
• Jeg kan godt lide mit job, fordi jeg møder mange mennesker.I like my job because I meet a lot of people.

Part 2: a conversation with the other candidate

The two of you get a topic with pictures and talk about it together: you say what you think, ask the other person, and agree or disagree. Here you cannot prepare the topic, but you can prepare the phrases:

• Hvad synes du?What do you think?
• Det er jeg enig i.I agree with that.
• Jeg er ikke helt enig.I don’t quite agree.
• Kan du sige det igen?Can you say that again?

How the grades work

You are graded on the Danish 7-point scale (7-trinsskalaen), with a grade for reading, writing and the oral exam. The oral grade counts twice when the average is calculated, so speaking matters most. The exact rules for passing are on danskogproever.dk, the official site from the ministry.

When is Prøve i Dansk 2?

PD2 is held twice a year, in May/June and in November/December. You sign up through a language centre (sprogcenter), also if you study on your own. The exact dates, the registration deadline and the fee for people who are not enrolled change every year, so check them on danskogproever.dk or ask your language school. Do not trust a date in a blog post, including this one.

Can you give me some examples of Prøve i Dansk 2?

Since 1 July 2024 the real exams and answers are confidential, so nobody can legally show you a full real PD2. What you can find is the format and the official guidance on danskogproever.dk, and practice sets from your language school. Be careful with sites that sell “real PD2 tasks”.

The good news: the formats are simple to practise. Find answers in short texts against the clock. Write formal messages and emails to a friend. Give a two-minute presentation about your own topic, and talk about pictures with someone else. The free course has these formats at B1 in module 4, with reading sets, emails and spoken tasks.

How to prepare for PD2

1. Choose your oral topic early and say the presentation out loud every day. Not a script; a plan with three points.
2. Practise talking with a partner. Part 2 is a conversation, so practise asking Hvad synes du? and reacting to the answer.
3. Write one email a week of 100 to 120 words, and count the words. Answer every question in the task.
4. Do reading 1 with a timer. Thirty minutes goes fast. The skill is knowing where to look.
5. Check your verb in second place. I går arbejdede jeg, not “I går jeg arbejdede”. It is the most common mistake at B1.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between Prøve i Dansk 2 and 3?

PD2 is B1 and ends Danskuddannelse 2. PD3 is B2 and ends module 5 on Danskuddannelse 3. PD2 is enough for permanent residence; citizenship needs PD3.

Can I take PD2 without going to a language school?

Yes. You sign up through a language centre as a self-study candidate, and if you are not enrolled you pay a fee.

Is PD2 hard?

It is a real exam at B1. In my experience, what students underestimate is the time in the reading and the preparation of the oral topic, not the grammar.

Can I use a dictionary at PD2?

In the writing part, yes, but not a phrase book. In the reading parts, no.

Sources, checked November 2026: danskogproever.dk, the pages “Om Prøve i Dansk 2” and “Om Prøve i Dansk 2 (PD2): indhold og niveau”, and the executive order on the tests, BEK nr. 1687 of 16 December 2025 (retsinformation.dk).